Surviving Minnesota!

[BantyChooks]

Oh and Ralphie...I think if more kids these days were swatted on the butt a few times we wouldn't have such disrespectful youth!  

More than a few times, IMO

 

[EMorical]

Happy Easter, all!

 

[MNChickMom]

More than a few times, IMO

While you are at it, make sure some of parents get a behavior enforcer as well. We attended easter vigil services last evening and some parents were more disrespectful than some 3 year Olds.

 

[MNChickMom]

Happy Easter all. I did breakdown a day buy white eggs for dyeing. But wouldn't you know it we made some really beautiful dyed brown and light brown eggs. We are off to celebrate Easter with my Grandma.

 

[Cluckies]

Happy Easter Everyone! Have a Blessed day!

 

[Cluckies]

morning everyone! Thanks to everyone for all your great input on my new chicks. I am providing the starter feed with fresh herbs, and some veggies and water with rocks in the bottom so they won't drown. I have been spending hours just sitting and watching the chicks and of course taking pictures! (I know I'm nuts so no need to point it out) I have watched the broody break up the starter pellets and the chicks will either pick up the crumbled pieces or actually take them right from the end of her beak! She continually showed them how to peck at the crumbles on the plate until they started doing it themselves...it was amazing! The chicks would occasionally peck at a piece of veggie or the herbs but mostly went for the crumbled starter feed. I have seen all of them drink so I am a little more relaxed and not thinking they will dehydrate.

I have good news and bad news though....my broody had two more chicks over Friday night/Saturday morning....I had to leave them locked up Saturday because we had a class down in Duluth but then skipped out and came home around 1pm.... I found a dead chick in the center of the coop.

Sadly I think since the roosters fight when they are locked up and not free ranging, I think they may have accidentally stepped on it and killed it...I don't want to think one of my birds killed it on purpose...I have watched the other hens come into the coop to lay, check them out without any aggression and even the sub-rooster came in and didn't have issue with them or show any aggression at all. Even the broodies were calm with no growling when the other birds showed curiousity. but in any case I built a (really ugly) make shift cage to go around the two nest boxes that the two broodies are sitting in. It IS ugly but it will work for protecting the chicks when they all need to be locked in the coop/run.

Also, maybe some one can weigh in on my next observation.....I FREAKED OUT yesterday when two of the chicks decided to visit the other broody...then they both squeezed under her! She looked a little surprised at first but then settled down and never gave it another thought! I watched this go on for about 2 hours yesterday...they are SHARING the chicks! I though she would attack them and originally thought maybe thats how the one died but she accepted them without a thought. Then the chicks just went back and forth between the two broodies???!!

Hence my idea to make the cage cover both broody hens....

Oh and Ralphie...I think if more kids these days were swatted on the butt a few times we wouldn't have such disrespectful youth!

Sorry for the loss of your chick

so sad.

I have heard of broodies sharing chicks, or one taking over all of the chicks, you'll have to see what happens. So cute! I'd be watching constantly too, so fun!
Funny thing, when I had my chicks, Cluck-Cluck was 2 weeks older than the others, one was very small and a couple days younger than the other four (Fi) she would squish under Cluck-Cluck thinking Cluck-Cluck was her mother as she was bigger, lol

Ralphie put a cage around one of his broodies last year that had her clutch in an old stump, funny. The cage is a good idea until they are a little bigger.

 

[ejb3810]

Thoughts and prayer for all on this day !
Jerry, we might work something out related to the pile of logs now at my place for a few pullets. It did cost me quite a bit to have the trucker haul them here and BC would not assist in directing him to the location for pickup so it took him a little longer to find them that it should have.

Ralphie, on the one hand I feel bad about your experiences in chicken marketing, but on the other hand you are attaining some valuable life lessons. It sounds as if your plan going forward is a step in the right direction. Chicken keeping should be fun and enjoyable without having to deal with insufferable fools. Now if you could just be cured of that cuddling affliction.

 

[bantiesrule]

morning everyone! Thanks to everyone for all your great input on my new chicks. I am providing the starter feed with fresh herbs, and some veggies and water with rocks in the bottom so they won't drown. I have been spending hours just sitting and watching the chicks and of course taking pictures! (I know I'm nuts so no need to point it out) I have watched the broody break up the starter pellets and the chicks will either pick up the crumbled pieces or actually take them right from the end of her beak! She continually showed them how to peck at the crumbles on the plate until they started doing it themselves...it was amazing! The chicks would occasionally peck at a piece of veggie or the herbs but mostly went for the crumbled starter feed. I have seen all of them drink so I am a little more relaxed and not thinking they will dehydrate.

I have good news and bad news though....my broody had two more chicks over Friday night/Saturday morning....I had to leave them locked up Saturday because we had a class down in Duluth but then skipped out and came home around 1pm.... I found a dead chick in the center of the coop.

Sadly I think since the roosters fight when they are locked up and not free ranging, I think they may have accidentally stepped on it and killed it...I don't want to think one of my birds killed it on purpose...I have watched the other hens come into the coop to lay, check them out without any aggression and even the sub-rooster came in and didn't have issue with them or show any aggression at all. Even the broodies were calm with no growling when the other birds showed curiousity. but in any case I built a (really ugly) make shift cage to go around the two nest boxes that the two broodies are sitting in. It IS ugly but it will work for protecting the chicks when they all need to be locked in the coop/run.

Also, maybe some one can weigh in on my next observation.....I FREAKED OUT yesterday when two of the chicks decided to visit the other broody...then they both squeezed under her! She looked a little surprised at first but then settled down and never gave it another thought! I watched this go on for about 2 hours yesterday...they are SHARING the chicks! I though she would attack them and originally thought maybe thats how the one died but she accepted them without a thought. Then the chicks just went back and forth between the two broodies???!!

As long as the broody accepts them, I wouldn't worry about the chicks but unless the broody is close to hatching, I wouldn't let the baby chicks go under her as she might decide they are hers and quit setting on her eggs.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Happy Easter blessings to you all. I love this holiday. I think it has something to do with the fair days and green budding, birds laying eggs, baby animals, chocolate, ham...

Ralphie I detect resignation in your post and the give and take that comes in a marriage with Judys retirement coming. Dealing with entitled customers. You've put in tons of work and much to be proud of but it may feel just as good to have a smaller, more efficient flock that as Ed says will give you more pleasure in your hobby.

 

[lvie]

Happy Easter Chickeners . . . . Beautiful day. I went down to Watertown and ate a brunch with my youngest son, his wife, his mother-in-law and two sons'. Very nice. the 4 1/2 year old was very proud of the breakfast he made.

My son and d-i-l have been contemplating having chickens for a couple of years now. I think they are almost there and indicate that they want four of my hens. That would be fun! I also offered them the 'hospital' coup I just put together. If they add run space it would be a good set up for them. This son would insulate it for winter use.

I am downsizing. I will keep a few birds that are my favorites for now, I would like a couple from Jerryse, and I would say that around six birds for me would be fine. I have a friend that wants the rest. Have at them. I never said I would do this forever and I have too many birds. Don't need a roo anymore as they are not free-ranging. It feels good to have the quantity of birds downsized and to acquire a few of the other breeds that I desire.

Also - no garden for this year. Its the Ralphie getting old syndrome. Yes, that bump on the head probably sped up the process of downsizing but there is something that happens in the adventure of living long enough. I am not a sit arounder and NEITHER is Ralphie - not by a long shot. It is an interesting process where cutting back becomes a relief instead of trying to surge forward into new territory and acquiring more interests. I am lovin it and it feels good.

My DS acquired a new wife yesterday. It was a very small outdoor wedding in St. Paul on Raspberry Island. The rain stopped about 45 minutes before the 2:00 wedding and the sun came out about 1/2 hour before. The air heated up and it was very pleasant. I cried. Not that I cry at all weddings - hardly. Just that this was special. The reception was close to the island at her sons' party room in the apartments where he lives. Very cool. The kids loved the Easter crayon bags I made them and older kids like getting a chocolate bunny and five dollars. So I have a new d-i-l. I went to Chaska to pickup four grandchildren and transport them to the wedding. It was their Dad getting married and he could not possibly have done all that driving and been relaxed for the ceremony. So I got to listen to their conversation in my vehicle on the way back to their mothers home.

and

and

. They were pumped. Enjoy the rest of your day.