Surviving Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

Emorical. I think roosters also crow in competition with each other. "Hey, don't look at him. Look at me." Their innate mission in life is to procreate--see their blood line passed on, insure progeny. Crowing is putting out a location. It's saying it's chow time, ladies...the food lady is coming to me. Come be my dinner date."

How many hens do you have for the 4? I would say if you are 15 or less...one rooster is your goal.

I had 3 roosters for 6 hens when I started out. I thought I could get them all to live in harmony. One rooster was an easy decision for eliminating. The second was a bantam that knew his place under a big New Hampshire. But ultimately he was culled too. Boys competing made for bared back hens. And of course they had crowing contests. Not a big deal in my neck of the woods and with well insulated walls.

But the issues kept coming up.

Ever since I've gone down to one rooster (for my flock size of 10 birds) No more issues. It's sort of like magic.

Edited for grammaticals and smiley.

 

[duluthralphie]

Success.

 

[EMorical]

Please try the hair band around the neck so we can find out if that may work on those little critters. I want to know.

I have debated that!! Read loads of stuff yesterday on those collars - seems that either they somewhat work; kinda work well; or they end up expediting the trip to freezer camp. IF I had a pet I would definitely be more into trying some versions of the collars. BUT, since these particular guys are mostly around for protection and flock control...

Probably not worth my time THIS time, but in the future...perhaps!

Emorical. I think roosters also crow in competition with each other. "Hey, don't look at him. Look at me." Their innate mission in life is to procreate--see their blood line passed on, insure progeny. Crowing is putting out a location. It's saying it's chow time, ladies...the food lady is coming to me. Come be my dinner date."

How many hens do you have for the 4? I would say if you are 15 or less...one rooster is your goal.

I had 3 roosters for 6 hens when I started out. I thought I could get them all to live in harmony. One rooster was an easy decision for eliminating. The second was a bantam that knew his place under a big New Hampshire. But ultimately he was culled too. Boys competing made for bared back hens. And of course they had crowing contests. Not a big deal in my neck of the woods and with well insulated walls.

But the issues kept coming up.

Ever since I've gone down to one rooster (for my flock size of 10 birds) No more issues. It's sort of like magic.

Edited for grammaticals and smiley.

Yeah - down to one is my goal with my current number of hens. (10 now; more ladies this summer) Was hoping to kinda wait and see who the "best" candidate for head rooster would be - I was mostly wanting to know what people with more chicken husbandry experience than I did had to say about the waiting; and also about the night crowing (I agree with @holm25 - I think my naught ones came by it via heredity)

I enjoy everyone's knowledge and putting up with my questions

!!!

 

[duluthralphie]

I wonder if I have night crowing?

I have a lot of roosters, either breeders spares or those waiting to visit the nice Asian lady... I never notice them if they do.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Holm, I suggest that you remain a bachelor indefinitely. The two most expensive things in life are a wife and children. A gentleman of culture and financial worth will have females coming after him. Thus companionship is not dependent upon marriage ?

Speaking of Ginger, my favorite refreshment when in Jamaica is Gangster Punch. It is comprised of Ginger Beer and Rum.

The weather has turned ugly near the big lake. The rain is changing over to snow.

Gangster Punch!!!!!! That sounds incredible. I may even start using the term 'gangster punch' when DH misbehaves.

It should come in a pump bottle instead of a spray can.....

I have a blu-kote pump bottle. I was almost thinking the spray can would be better.

Sorry for the photo bomb. Just was out taking some pictures over the weekend.

Those Guineas! Lol

I still don't know if I like them or not.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Success.

That's pretty cool. Nice work.

 

[duluthralphie]

@EMorical You might want to read this:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1150004/paralyzed-by-no-crow-collar#post_17990670

I have no idea except I saw this thread and knew you were looking at these.




I remade some feeders, I think they are better than the old ones. I still have a little spillage tonight but not like before. A few more days will tell for sure..


And.... I moved the 2 week chicks outside. I hope they do ok.

. I made them a fairly enclosed brooder. It was 87 degree right under the heat light, that should be enough. I told them to pack their long johns and cuddle together.



Now for the rest of the story,,, I got my first turkey egg today, this is 2 months too early. It looks like a turkey pullet. It is about large chicken size, and medium brown. The end is really pointed and it has the turkey spots. It was lying on the floor near the new feeders. My chickens are smarter than to lay there.

 

[Cebarmlds]

Hey bogtown, I was in your neck of the woods today. Out on Pine Siskin Trail, beautiful area!

 

[MNChickMom]

So the kids were sooo excited to actually get some hatching eggs from the Buff Orps that I decided to order a HovaBator from Incubator Warehouse. Being a first time hatcher I chose the kit with the egg turner, fan and hygrometer. Today it arrived and I started the set up process only to find that I was missing the Egg turner and hygrometer. Of course I only unpacked everything after their normal business hours. So we wait to find out until tomorrow.....

Maybe this is a sign that we should leave all hatching to the professionals.

On a personal note...Son is sleeping in his bed for the first time in 2 weeks. His XRays are showing enough healing that he does not need to be at a 45 degree angle when sleeping. (Or maybe it was his expression of displeasure in sleeping in the recliner to the Doctor.

I have been put on yet another antibiotic as apparently I developed a kidney infection along with the kidney stone. I would have never guessed. But at least I can delay surgery by another week with this antibiotic. The worst news of all though....My 96 year old (young) grandmother fell on Monday, breaking her pelvis in 4 places. I admire Grandma's tenacity! Mind you she is completely sound by mind and knows all 41 grandchildren and their spouses, she does slip up on her 84 great grandchildren. Her conversation with the Ortho doctor went like this.....

D: "Well Mrs. W. it looks like you may have to do some rehab in a nursing home."
G: "Only if it is under my terms, and I am at Assumption Nursing Home."
D: "We can look into Assumption, but what are your terms?"
G: " I will only be using a walker to give you a slap across the place the sun don't shine. Walkers are for old people. I didn't get to be 96 years old by sitting around on this broken bum."
D: " Well Mrs. W. you will need to take things a little slower and we will want you to start with a walker"
G: "And I suppose you are going to say my son can not transport me to the nursing home in his truck."
D: " No Mam, we need to ensure everything stays in place for one week before we start to much activity."
G: "What you don't find out won't hurt you young man."

Long story short...she did ride in a care cab and I am praying for the sanity of the poor nurses that have to deal with her 200% German ancestry.

 

[holm25]

So the kids were sooo excited to actually get some hatching eggs from the Buff Orps that I decided to order a HovaBator from Incubator Warehouse. Being a first time hatcher I chose the kit with the egg turner, fan and hygrometer. Today it arrived and I started the set up process only to find that I was missing the Egg turner and hygrometer. Of course I only unpacked everything after their normal business hours. So we wait to find out until tomorrow.....

Maybe this is a sign that we should leave all hatching to the professionals. 

On a personal note...Son is sleeping in his bed for the first time in 2 weeks. His XRays are showing enough healing that he does not need to be at a 45 degree angle when sleeping. (Or maybe it was his expression of displeasure in sleeping in the recliner to the Doctor. :/  I have been put on yet another antibiotic as apparently I developed a kidney infection along with the kidney stone. I would have never guessed. But at least I can delay surgery by another week with this antibiotic. The worst news of all though....My 96 year old (young) grandmother fell on Monday, breaking her pelvis in 4 places. I admire Grandma's tenacity! Mind you she is completely sound by mind and knows all 41 grandchildren and their spouses, she does slip up on her 84 great grandchildren. Her conversation with the Ortho doctor went like this.....

D: "Well Mrs. W. it looks like you may have to do some rehab in a nursing home."
G: "Only if it is under my terms, and I am at Assumption Nursing Home."
D: "We can look into Assumption, but what are your terms?"
G: " I will only be using a walker to give you a slap across the place the sun don't shine. Walkers are for old people. I didn't get to be 96 years old by sitting around on this broken bum."
D: " Well Mrs. W. you will need to take things a little slower and we will want you to start with a walker"
G: "And I suppose you are going to say my son can not transport me to the nursing home in his truck."
D: " No Mam, we need to ensure everything stays in place for one week before we start to much activity."
G: "What you don't find out won't hurt you young man."

Long story short...she did ride in a care cab and I am praying for the sanity of the poor nurses that have to deal with her 200% German ancestry. 

Good luck on your hatch when your incubator comes!

Glad to hear your son is doing better! Sorry to hear you're having some issues. And sorry to hear about your grandma. She sounds like quite the character! My great grandma is 92 and she is also tough as nails!