Surviving Minnesota!

[KlopKlop]

@KlopKlop
Your sprouts look great! Do you have any mold? I have read oats are more likely to mold. I've only sprouted wheat.

@Cluckies
I'm so sorry about your cousin's son. That is so sad.

I had mold issues up front when i had lids on the bins. I washed everything out with soap and rebuilt this current version which is working much better. no mold, but it is growing a tad slower than i hoped but i think that is a combo of using oats (people say they grow slower) and the lower temps in my basement (i suspect it is 60 at best) none the less the grass is growing and the chickens love it, so i will continue to grow it. One pan makes 4 feedings (2 coops for 2 days) so as long as i get a pan grown every 3-4 days they will get oats mroe than they wont which is good enough for me.

My weaker guy seems to be doing fine. I have the two left, These are not going anywhere. One of these will be my replacement rooster, If I keep the creamettes.

The person that got the Chicks from Jordan texted me they lost one. The one they thought was a girl. I still think they have a girl and a possible girl. BUT I told them I would get them a couple more, but they want me to hold off. I just do not want anyone saying I do not give them what is agreed upon. Worries me some. People from the cities with pet chickens to me do not (not all people some people) seem to understand 20% of all chicks die as chicks. They are fragile, they are only a fetus for 21 days and sometimes things go wrong and they are not complete. They just fail to thrive. When they get 2 chicks I just know they expect them both to live, I want to say, get three and hope for 2, but. That is the negative nanny in me.

Sorry to hear about your nephew, Cluckies.

Hopefully the PC"s will be in their own pen today. Thanks EJB, I am sure you told me their age, as sure as I am I forgot it. Dang an old brain is not what it was....They are sure nice looking birds for going on 2!




Edited to add the red print.

Funny that you consider Jordan 'in the cities' it is all relative though haha

THat said you are very correct here... chicks wont have 100% survival and those chances are directly tied to the way they are cared for. I was fortunate this year to have 100% survival rates in my pullet chicks (not so in my broiler chicks unfortunately) but I also busted my but making sure everything was just right for them.

I did learn my lesson about putting the chicks right onto shavings on day 1 this year. We always did that growing up and i never remember having issues. This year a bunch ate the shavings and got all plugged up. this year i will be putting them on paper towels or similar at first.

 

[jerryse]

This site is acting up today . It keeps loading pages that I have left . I found a couple of sources for Arctic raspberries . Some named selections . All are thorn less low growing ground cover . Need pollinators .. Perfect for my breeding plans . Most brambles self pollinate . So to get a hybrid you only need to plant 1 clone among or near your pollen parent . Very hardy possibly from snow cover . Easier than removing pollen parts and then hand pollinating . Timing can be difficult . I still have not mastered tomato and bean hybrids due to timing . Thinking of several crosses to blackberries to create a northern Boysenberry type . The northern MN wild blackberries are one cross I want . Hoping for large berries due to hybrid vigor .

Boysenberries used the California dewberry which needs a pollinator . Crossed with raspberry .

Seeds must have a acid or bleach treatment . I use chickens to do this . Then a moist warm period like summer and then a moist cold period like fall, winter, spring . So chickens then plant in a pot and keep moist until spring .

 

[KlopKlop]

I really need to go out and shovel one of my coops... but it is windy and gross looking and i am not being ambitious!

 

[Rhetts]

Cow experts: Can you tell the calfs position from feeling the out side of mom or do you need to check from the inside?

 

[duluthralphie]

Cow experts: Can you tell the calfs position from feeling the out side of mom or do you need to check from the inside?

There is a spot you should feel (bump) the head but as you get closer to delivering it moves. It is ahead of the pelvis bump on the side and little low. high gut area. very high.

At this point you should not feel the head there, if you do you have a while to wait, IMHO..

We use to bump the calf for "fun" as kids, but Dad was not a fan of us doing that. So it was done limited amount. I guess it was considered learning for us farm kids.



Rhett, I have always heard horse back riding will send a woman into labor. Do you have a saddle and horse the cow could ride on and in?

 

[holm25]

Cow experts:  Can you tell the calfs position from feeling the out side of mom or do you need to check from the inside?

I dont have any experience with position. Is she in labor yet??

 

[duluthralphie]

We will all breath easier when this dang calf pops out!

 

[jerryse]

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Re: DIY Hatcher

« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2016, 11:33:40 AM »

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The controller is the same brand I used. I don't think that model was available when I built a few years ago.
Whether GQF or homemade, I suggest not using the GQF style electronic thermostats inside Hatcher cabinets (OK inside Setter cabinets). All the down/fuzz from the chicks gets into the units, thru little vent holes, and they don't last. Use compressed air to blow them out occasionally. They are expensive to keep replacing. Switch over to wafers or go with a controller that mounts outside the cabinet. Just my opinion from my experience with them.

I saw this on the Ameraucana Alliance site . Thought Ralphie might find it interesting . I can also find you a outside controller that is better and cheaper than the GFQ .

 

[holm25]

X2

 

[duluthralphie]

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Re: DIY Hatcher

« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2016, 11:33:40 AM »

• Quote

The controller is the same brand I used. I don't think that model was available when I built a few years ago.
Whether GQF or homemade, I suggest not using the GQF style electronic thermostats inside Hatcher cabinets (OK inside Setter cabinets). All the down/fuzz from the chicks gets into the units, thru little vent holes, and they don't last. Use compressed air to blow them out occasionally. They are expensive to keep replacing. Switch over to wafers or go with a controller that mounts outside the cabinet. Just my opinion from my experience with them.

I saw this on the Ameraucana Alliance site . Thought Ralphie might find it interesting . I can also find you a outside controller that is better and cheaper than the GFQ .



That is interesting!

I have an outside the cabinet controller thermostat. But I am not putting it in this season, I want time to work out the bugs when I do it. I got the directions for converting the 1202 also. EJB gave me an extra wafer thermostat also so I am just leaving things like they are for now. Thanks Again EJB.. that incubator is a dream come true for me!

I never thought of down and dust screwing up the wafer..

I think I have it covered I have 4 thermometers in it and 2 hydrometers in it. I have also found the "dish" with it covered 3/4 of the way with a plastic cutting board is keeping the humidity right at 25%. It goes through a lot of water. I would like it at 20% but I think I can live with 25%.


Your thoughts?




PS I would love to see all the plants sometime at your cabin. Maybe you should have a Minnesota picnic up there for us.....( nothing like inviting us to your place)

Wait, as I re-read it it appears the wafer is the better method over the newer controller.