Surviving Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

It is extremely important to know that your knowledge is incomplete. The problem is that for many it is easier to be a proclaimed expert if you are ignorant of many of the key facts related to the topic.
It would seem that many of these Cream Legbar enthusiasts lack basic poultry knowledge. They believe that because they are enthusiastic about the variety they should be able to dictate a SOP.
They have incomplete knowledge of poultry genetics and of the policies and procedures of the APA.

I sure have no idea, I personally just want birds that look good to me and lay pretty eggs. You have converted me to the combs in Minnesota are bad. I hate looking at the Winter made cushion combs on my previously single combed birds.

 

[jerryse]

It is extremely important to know that your knowledge is incomplete. The problem is that for many it is easier to be a proclaimed expert if you are ignorant of many of the key facts related to the topic.
It would seem that many of these Cream Legbar enthusiasts lack basic poultry knowledge. They believe that because they are enthusiastic about the variety they should be able to dictate a SOP.
They have incomplete knowledge of poultry genetics and of the policies and procedures of the APA.

I agree .

 

[jerryse]

The white sport is not a problem . Possibly hard to auto sex but I believe you can breed for enough of a tint in the chick down to achieve this . The 50% rule has nothing to do with chick color . It is to allow colors like blue that only produce 50% blue when bred together . Same for tufts on Araucana .

I see a problem with the proposed weight . This is not a dual purpose breed . We did this in Ameraucana . It is hard to get that weight . Many Ameraucana are under weight . My Legbar will not come close to 7 pounds .

People always seem to pick the hardest goal .

You need a American Legbar with the option of rose comb for cold areas . This is not a UK climate . Combs freeze .

 

[holm25]

MNchickmom I would put the pop door about 3-4 inches off the ground. I should get pics of our coop its quite cool how it was built!

 

[MNChickMom]

Holm~
Pictures of your coop would be great.

 

[holm25]

I need to get pics of the pop door. The walls were made of individual pieces of wood which I thought was really cool! The poop bored is one of my favorite parts! It keeps the coop so dry! U can see in the full coop pic how the coop has an add on. Well it looks like it anyways! The coop has a middle wall and a door to the other side of the coop which is almost the exact same.


I love this coop! I havent had any issues with frostbite except for on my CX hen and one point on my AussieX roo.


And at the bottom of all the walls u can see it has a concrete foundation and floor which is buried underground.

 

[duluthralphie]

The white sport is not a problem . Possibly hard to auto sex but I believe you can breed for enough of a tint in the chick down to achieve this . The 50% rule has nothing to do with chick color . It is to allow colors like blue that only produce 50% blue when bred together . Same for tufts on Araucana .

I see a problem with the proposed weight . This is not a dual purpose breed . We did this in Ameraucana . It is hard to get that weight . Many Ameraucana are under weight . My Legbar will not come close to 7 pounds .

People always seem to pick the hardest goal .

You need a American Legbar with the option of rose comb for cold areas . This is not a UK climate . Combs freeze .

Those are excellent ideas, I know none of mine would make 7 pounds. They are skinny little birds more like bantams than CX's.

We need a Minnesota option on all breeds. Combs do not last up here.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have a question on the fan idea.

Do any of you use a fan?

Would a fan be a bit drafty? you are no longer relying on warm moist air rising and venting you are mechanically moving that air. Does that make a difference?


Even with my breeding huts/coops I am trying to keep the air entering and exiting on the same side of the coop to avoid a draft. Can this be done with a fan? Wouldn't you be moving too much air?



Just things I have been thinking about on this cold day.

 

[jerryse]

Those are excellent ideas, I know none of mine would make 7 pounds. They are skinny little birds more like bantams than CX's.

We need a Minnesota option on all breeds. Combs do not last up here.

Yes that is the Leghorn in them . 7 pounds is not a realistic goal . That is more like hatchery barred rock weight .

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Left 2eggs Legbar right eggs EE . There is Legbar in the mix . The top 2 are male I think . These are from the single barred male so not real accurate as some may not have barring . I hatched these trying for a crele male with 2 barring genes . He is the cockerel in pictures 2 and 3 . Eggs are slightly green tint . There is some wheaten Ameraucana in the mix which shows in the light chick .
Here is a group shot of today's hatch .

Jerry let it be known that these chicks are gorgeous. And if opportunity arises that they want to make a certain northern state their residence...I'm all for that.

Carribean Blue Eggs or no....LOL....

When we were kids, Holm's age" every cow had a name, but we always called " come boss" or "bossy" if we wanted them to come.. I could tell you some of the pet names my Dad use to have for the cows during milking time. He used these names when one kicked, or swatted him across the face with a wet poop filled tail..

I am afraid to use the actual pet names would get me put back on double secret probation again... BTW Bellybutton was NOT one of the names...



Jerry your Creamette eggs look greenish are they more green than blue or is the photo off. I have all blue eggs from the CLB's but I get one green one.

I think Bossy was used alot on our farm too. Too many years ago to remember stuff.

Question for MN coop experts......We are doing the last of the modifications to our shed to turn it into chicken coop.

1. How many inches off the cement floor should the bottom of the pop door be? We will be using a deep litter method of straw and pine shavings.

2. Any special tips/tricks to allow for when installing the 12 inch vent fan?

Thank you!

I'm glad you have Holm to help you with the Deep Litter questions. But I will tell you this...that I think the Deep Litter Method is actually a method more effective for Mid to Southern States. You can add electric plates to keep the poo and litter warm enough to keep breaking down. But it seems like alot of extra stuff to do almost. I'm not a fan of it and if it's not done right....Ammonia build up and unhealthy living conditions for birds can arise. Just my two cents only for Deep litter and Minnesota weather conditions. Also I'm just a plain fan of keeping nice clean pine shavings or straw and birds out of their own muck as much as possible. If it's not frozen solid I'm moving the poop out of my coop.

We need a Minnesota option on all breeds. Combs do not last up here.

I can attest to that and so can my New Hampshire Rooster.