Surviving Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

And he didn't drop dead? My, now that's a surprise. Holm must just have bad luck.

He better never drop dead, you have no idea what I went through to get him..

I hatched him, sold him, haggled to buy him back, quarantined him, babied him and he still hates me.......So I have time and money into him.

 

[holm25]

@duluthralphie it is amazing how a firm grip on the neck makes them settle down isn't it?

 

[holm25]

Look what I found yesterday In a few weeks we will have 6 little kittens to give away! They are highly trained mousers and come from great mousing lines! Just ask Ralphie

 

[Tfred1399]

They are just kicking everything out while they make the nest perfect, keep throwing them back in, you will thanks yourself for it later.

Also I know someone said straw or hay, but mine throw it out. Try a different size or texture wood chip from what you have on the floor, or oak leafs.

Possible shavings aren't deep enough? They make nests in all three boxes, toss out balls, but the center of the nest is always on bare plywood.

I added fresh tonight with some dry oak leaves. Balls back in play.

 

[duluthralphie]

Let them lay on plywood for now..mine do not like a lot of nesting material...but mine might be spoiled rotten.

 

[MNChickMom]

I did some rooster cuddling tonight.

Here I am holding Knothead, who is either Wienerhead's Brother or Nephew. I a holding him Holm's style.

View attachment 1131191

It seems to stop a lot of the squirming and negative behavior, I can see why Holm likes it..

Below is knothead sitting nicely and enjoying my company.
View attachment 1131193

I also held deadeye Jack but he never fought at all as long as I had fake hamburger for him to chew on.

He looks strangely similar to "pyscho" or possibly "pyscho's brother" in which case you can cease cuddling it is a worthless cause.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

They are just kicking everything out while they make the nest perfect, keep throwing them back in, you will thanks yourself for it later.

Also I know someone said straw or hay, but mine throw it out. Try a different size or texture wood chip from what you have on the floor, or oak leafs.

Mine love dried grasses or straw curled into a loose wreath placed into the nest box. Also when they kick out bedding they are doing it to any type to make a sort of well for the eggs. I placed a 2-3 inch lip at the bottom of the nest boxes to hold in bedding of any sort. They will get it down to bare plywood or flooring and I've found that when they lay and the egg drops it can crack so I did invest in some plastic nest box egg crack preventers that look like this:

http://m.flemingoutdoors.com/kuhl-plastic-nest-pads.html?ref=lexity&_vs=google&_vm=productsearch

Sometimes in the winter if I'm using the dried grasses they will try to pull some out to eat. More messes in the winter too because they're in the coop.

Finer shavings for nest boxes are harder to kick out

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Through the hub-bubb of camping, dad, chicken sitters. Miss kitty brooding in the corner nest box stole one of patsys eggs and kept it hidden between her thighs and breast. I got her up to break her . Saw the egg figured I better candle... a welsummer will be here in about a week or less. Huge air cell and lots of dark space. #sorrynotsorry I guess.

 

[Tfred1399]

Good morning. I've passed the dreaded 4am. It's both late and early.
6 y/o up because the youth fairy didn't come again. (Whoops) 3 y/o up because he peed. Now I'm up wondering about chickens.

 

[ejb3810]

BC that Black rooster looks very good. Is it something you got from an Illinois resident ?
Holms, your cats are quite prolific. Even when relocated to the Mn. Banana Belt.
I have my fingers crossed, as it looks like a day with no rain. Now if my birds can only fly fast enough to win a race !