Surviving Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

Oh no! how sad
Do you have an automatic coop door? I was looking at them but I am afraid of just this issue...how does it know when all the birds are in??? I have 2 Barred Rock hens that push the envelope every night and don't go in until it's almost completely dark. Luckily I lock them in the run first and then let them roam until they decide to go in...then I count them all and shut the coop door.

I find this kind of amazing. When I check to see if all the birds are inside, I just look for Pocahontas, my barred rock hen, if she is on the roost ,I know the rest are all in. She is a dwadler and the very last one in every night.

 

[holm25]

Oh no! how sad
Do you have an automatic coop door? I was looking at them but I am afraid of just this issue...how does it know when all the birds are in??? I have 2 Barred Rock hens that push the envelope every night and don't go in until it's almost completely dark. Luckily I lock them in the run first and then let them roam until they decide to go in...then I count them all and shut the coop door.

Nope. I don't have a pop door like most coops either. Just a human sized door. I always hate locking birds up before dark because sometimes one is hiding in the brush like or something. I feel terrible that the little Buckeye for eaten... He was turning I to such a nice rooster... The other was a mutt so no hurt feelings as I was dreading butchering already. I just don't want anymore birds to get killed... I was tempted to let my breeding birds out but now they are going to stay locked up until the predator is dealt with...

 

[Siggie]

I find this kind of amazing. When I check to see if all the birds are inside, I just look for Pocahontas, my barred rock hen, if she is on the roost ,I know the rest are all in. She is a dwadler and the very last one in every night.

YUP, mine are 2 barred rock hens also! Wow, maybe dawdling is in the breed

Nope. I don't have a pop door like most coops either. Just a human sized door. I always hate locking birds up before dark because sometimes one is hiding in the brush like or something. I feel terrible that the little Buckeye for eaten... He was turning I to such a nice rooster... The other was a mutt so no hurt feelings as I was dreading butchering already. I just don't want anymore birds to get killed... I was tempted to let my breeding birds out but now they are going to stay locked up until the predator is dealt with...

I lost one this past January to a Fox in broad day light...but I attribute that to the snow being 4 ft deep and and the frigid temps...otherwise I would have to be mad at the Fox. No need to go hunting though, it got killed on the road about a week ago. "Can't we just all get along"

I'm lucky, my chicken numbers are still low enough that I can count them on my fingers and toes

 

[MNChickMom]

Holms - That is terrible news. Unfortunately, I do not have any extra buckeyes to sell to you. But I do have these wonderful Dominques and only 7 of them....how would you like one of those instead?

 

[duluthralphie]

Holms - That is terrible news. Unfortunately, I do not have any extra buckeyes to sell to you. But I do have these wonderful Dominques and only 7 of them....how would you like one of those instead?

Hey I have about 50 of them!!!

 

[duluthralphie]

I am going to (at this moment anyways) Get rid of all my Legbars this year. I joined the Legbar club about a month ago and have not even received a reply.

I have questioned on here repeatedly about the SOP. They want a large comb that flops to the side on all colors of legbar, the reason I kind of got is " because that's what it is in England where they originated"..

Which is only valid in my mind if we had Englands Climate. We don't. I asked for some kind of language that would allow smaller combs and larger crests that would make the bird attractive up here.

I have not received a reply, and have decided if I am cutting back, pretty blue eggs or not, and regardless of how much I like them. The large floppy comb is a non-starter for me...So they will ALL be leaving this year.,..

unless of course I change my mind, which I do... But I really want less birds... Even my 50 or so whites..

 

[MNChickMom]

I am going to (at this moment anyways) Get rid of all my Legbars this year. I joined the Legbar club about a month ago and have not even received a reply.

I have questioned on here repeatedly about the SOP. They want a large comb that flops to the side on all colors of legbar, the reason I kind of got is " because that's what it is in England where they originated"..

Which is only valid in my mind if we had Englands Climate. We don't. I asked for some kind of language that would allow smaller combs and larger crests that would make the bird attractive up here.

I have not received a reply, and have decided if I am cutting back, pretty blue eggs or not, and regardless of how much I like them. The large floppy comb is a non-starter for me...So they will ALL be leaving this year.,..

unless of course I change my mind, which I do... But I really want less birds... Even my 50 or so whites..

But you put soo much work into them....you can't just let them go. I think you should keep a few.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I am going to (at this moment anyways) Get rid of all my Legbars this year. I joined the Legbar club about a month ago and have not even received a reply.

I have questioned on here repeatedly about the SOP. They want a large comb that flops to the side on all colors of legbar, the reason I kind of got is " because that's what it is in England where they originated"..

Which is only valid in my mind if we had Englands Climate. We don't. I asked for some kind of language that would allow smaller combs and larger crests that would make the bird attractive up here.

I have not received a reply, and have decided if I am cutting back, pretty blue eggs or not, and regardless of how much I like them. The large floppy comb is a non-starter for me...So they will ALL be leaving this year.,..

unless of course I change my mind, which I do... But I really want less birds... Even my 50 or so whites..

I feel what you say Ralphie. You've developed some gorgeous birds on your own right. Taken what you had and made it better IMHO. That being said if you're feeling like they are not right for you or a slack in the market, then you are wise to this.
Being flexible with your breeds and knowing what the local market wants is where you need to be, if you want to sell them.
That being said, I find chicken buyers are fickle. (me included sometimes) Some of your Craig's list stories would drive me nuts.

 

[jerryse]

Not many turkeys here Ralphie . Truck was ready on return trip . Rooster comb injection ? Had not heard that one . Hope it is not a home remedy . Lets see at least one Mn pear graft took . Not looked at the apple grafts yet . Turkey was hanging around that area . Let her be . Digging should start in about 2 weeks then concrete work . Plan to be back around June 5 . Things are lining up . Doing a basement . Butch talked me out of it . Then concrete guy recommended a concrete floor in the crawl space . I said might as well do a basement if I am paying for a concrete floor . Never had a shed or basement I could not fill . Got to get the floor joists cut and drying in June . Shed heats up nice on sunny days . Hit nearly 80 in the shed the 2 warm days up north . A fan blowing warm air dries things fast .

 

[duluthralphie]

But you put soo much work into them....you can't just let them go. I think you should keep a few.

I feel what you say Ralphie. You've developed some gorgeous birds on your own right. Taken what you had and made it better IMHO. That being said if you're feeling like they are not right for you or a slack in the market, then you are wise to this.
Being flexible with your breeds and knowing what the local market wants is where you need to be, if you want to sell them.
That being said, I find chicken buyers are fickle. (me included sometimes) Some of your Craig's list stories would drive me nuts.

It is not the market, and thanks, I have build the flock up IMHO. I have great birds for Minnesota (well hens anyways) I like the larger crest partially because it makes a smaller comb which is better in our climate.

I get a feeling, on some of these breeds it is whoever forms the "club" or Association first writes the SOP's for their birds and really not caring about the good of the breed. In our area Single combs are unsightly and potential fatal to the roosters.

I spent well over $300 heating Cuddles cage to keep his comb whole for showing, and then we got an unexpected cold and I lost the tips anyways. Now the idiot got into a fight and he has gouges in his comb. I told him he better hope they heal!!!

When we get right down to it a chicken is a chicken. I have started liking breeding towards a standard but I want it to be a standard that is right. Even my SS could be on the line, Unless I always want to show cockerels and never a cock. It will be harder for me to give up the SS than the Legbars.

SS are like pets to me, they are in the barn when I am, I can pick them up almost anytime I want. Cuddles expects to be picked up.

I let my second oldest chicks out today. My best PC for this fall, is now a naked neck.

Either the turkeys or a rooster ripped the back of his neck open he has no skin from the skull down about 2 inches. I have him in the hospital and antiseptic salve on it. I looked at his replacement, not the bird i want to show......I might lose to a certain young Gilman girl, which will kill me...


DO NOT TELL HER!!!!

I have broodies everywhere. I am not sure what to do with any of them. I don't want more chicks.


BC that wild bird at the feeder is a Longville Oriole, You can tell by the darker color and humongous size. Extremely rare, nice photo of it.