Surviving Minnesota!

[Cebarmlds]

Just poking my head in to say hello to my Fellow Northerners! I’ll be sure to come up with some good area related things to talk about eventually here, but for now I’m just going to hang around and see what it’s all about!

Welcome

 

[jerryse]

Checked the eelpout festival website . Safe ice and no restrictions . As I predicted .
Warm up coming in March . More accurate than a groundhog .

 

[xXStringbeanXx]

Oh No... cat salesmen!

I’m not sure I want to find out about the perverted toads...

I do want to know when you guys would suggest starting a flock. We were thinking of ordering our chicks at the beginning of March. We have plans for 25 chicks altogether and a pair of goslings... any input?

 

[BantyChooks]

No, I think he is just out to lunch !

Permanently!

Oh No... cat salesmen!

I’m not sure I want to find out about the perverted toads...

I do want to know when you guys would suggest starting a flock. We were thinking of ordering our chicks at the beginning of March. We have plans for 25 chicks altogether and a pair of goslings... any input?

I'll leave it to Holm to explain that one.

March is good. I like a bit earlier so they're laying before winter, or at least almost so, because otherwise they hold out until spring. Since they're being shipped waiting til March is probably wiser.

 

[I Love Layers]

Oh No... cat salesmen!

I’m not sure I want to find out about the perverted toads...

I do want to know when you guys would suggest starting a flock. We were thinking of ordering our chicks at the beginning of March. We have plans for 25 chicks altogether and a pair of goslings... any input?

I love Chanteclers, but not sure if you can get them from any hatchery. Other good breeds for our climate is Australorps, Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, Faverolles, and Easter Eggers. I have Leghorns, who don't seem to do bad but the other breeds listed seem to do way better in our climate.
If you are planning on waterfowl you probably want to order at least 4.

 

[xXStringbeanXx]

I love Chanteclers, but not sure if you can get them from any hatchery. Other good breeds for our climate is Australorps, Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, Faverolles, and Easter Eggers. I have Leghorns, who don't seem to do bad but the other breeds listed seem to do way better in our climate.
If you are planning on waterfowl you probably want to order at least 4.

Well that is good information to have on the water fowl, I’ll re-examine that! A third of the chickens are actually going to be meat birds, but otherwise my all winter birds are looking like they will be Brahmas and ISA Browns. I had read they were good in cold weather also. I got a no on Easter Eggers as the significant other has no interest in eating eggs that aren’t brown. He is stubborn and won’t budge on that!

 

[duluthralphie]

PC are the way to go..... And toads are edible!

 

[BantyChooks]

Well that is good information to have on the water fowl, I’ll re-examine that! A third of the chickens are actually going to be meat birds, but otherwise my all winter birds are looking like they will be Brahmas and ISA Browns. I had read they were good in cold weather also. I got a no on Easter Eggers as the significant other has no interest in eating eggs that aren’t brown. He is stubborn and won’t budge on that!

Just a warning... what hatcheries and websites tout as 'good for cold weather' and 'cold hardy' really have the invisible prefix 'if you think MO is a cold state'.

 

[I Love Layers]

Well that is good information to have on the water fowl, I’ll re-examine that! A third of the chickens are actually going to be meat birds, but otherwise my all winter birds are looking like they will be Brahmas and ISA Browns. I had read they were good in cold weather also. I got a no on Easter Eggers as the significant other has no interest in eating eggs that aren’t brown. He is stubborn and won’t budge on that!

ISA Browns are not the best birds to have past the first molt. In my experience, I think @holm25 and @BantyChooks said the same thing a while back. Brahmas are good birds that should suit the climate well.

 

[BantyChooks]

ISA Browns are not the best birds to have past the first molt. In my experience, I think @holm25 and @BantyChooks said the same thing a while back. Brahmas are good birds that should suit the climate well.

I almost said that too, but I was trying not to be too overbearing. I am pretty strongly biased against ISA browns.