Surviving Minnesota!

[lilbear412]

I'm over in Chisago county. My aunt lived in Elk River years ago. I had a friend break me into chickens several years ago, at my request. Now she's my sheep enabler, too. My first flock was a mixed heavy breed special from Sand Hill Preservation. I got 50 little chicks and a checklist that said how many I had of each, but the chicks themselves were not marked. The kids and I had a lot of fun figuring out what we had. There were blue jersey giants, iowa blues, speckled sussex, orloffs, gold and silver laced wyandottes (not all on one chicken!), rhode island whites and reds, orpington, cochin, mottled java, and I can't even remember what else now. My prize Rhode Island Red rooster from that batch died earlier this winter. He was so sweet we could just pick him up and walk around with him. I think you'll like the breeds you have. I imagine you've done your research on temperament if you chose those for your first flock. I haven't ever had Ameraucanas, just the easter eggers which are usually either off-type/sport Ameraucanas or mutts. I have layers and also raise meat birds for myself and others.

I usually brood in the spring, because I do not have an indoor brooding area. I have a night box with a run - the heating plate or (in the past) heat lamp for chicks was in one corner of the box, and I put food and water out in the grassy run. The chicks would go in and out and self regulate themselves. I think they feather out quicker that way. This is totally outside, though, and typically not until last week of april/first week of may.

You may enjoy this thread. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update Any way that you can let them come and go from the heat will be better for them. I was considering the ceramic bulb - a reptile bulb, right? - that you're talking about when I switched away from heat lamps. I think you could definitely set something up for them with that, using the cave idea in that thread.

Here's another idea you might like: http://www.plamondon.com/pasture_hover.html

Don't be shy about pictures!!

I am not sure if my reply attached to this specific comment so see my reply below..lol i am pretty techy but i don't spend a lot of time on bulletin boards anymore.

 

[ejb3810]

And another thing, the forecast is for 2 to 4 inches of snow here today. They can put that where the sun does not shine! Come to think of it, the sun won't be shining if we get the snow, but it is shining now.
Let's hope next week's forecast comes true. Highs in the 40s and no snow.

 

[lilbear412]

I'm over in Chisago county. My aunt lived in Elk River years ago. I had a friend break me into chickens several years ago, at my request. Now she's my sheep enabler, too. My first flock was a mixed heavy breed special from Sand Hill Preservation. I got 50 little chicks and a checklist that said how many I had of each, but the chicks themselves were not marked. The kids and I had a lot of fun figuring out what we had. There were blue jersey giants, iowa blues, speckled sussex, orloffs, gold and silver laced wyandottes (not all on one chicken!), rhode island whites and reds, orpington, cochin, mottled java, and I can't even remember what else now. My prize Rhode Island Red rooster from that batch died earlier this winter. He was so sweet we could just pick him up and walk around with him. I think you'll like the breeds you have. I imagine you've done your research on temperament if you chose those for your first flock. I haven't ever had Ameraucanas, just the easter eggers which are usually either off-type/sport Ameraucanas or mutts. I have layers and also raise meat birds for myself and others.

I usually brood in the spring, because I do not have an indoor brooding area. I have a night box with a run - the heating plate or (in the past) heat lamp for chicks was in one corner of the box, and I put food and water out in the grassy run. The chicks would go in and out and self regulate themselves. I think they feather out quicker that way. This is totally outside, though, and typically not until last week of april/first week of may.

You may enjoy this thread. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update Any way that you can let them come and go from the heat will be better for them. I was considering the ceramic bulb - a reptile bulb, right? - that you're talking about when I switched away from heat lamps. I think you could definitely set something up for them with that, using the cave idea in that thread.

Here's another idea you might like: http://www.plamondon.com/pasture_hover.html

Don't be shy about pictures

OK here goes with some pictures:

 

[MinnesotaNice]

And another thing, the forecast is for 2 to 4 inches of snow here today. They can put that where the sun does not shine! Come to think of it, the sun won't be shining if we get the snow, but it is shining now.
Let's hope next week's forecast comes true. Highs in the 40s and no snow.

I hope the weather stays nice until next Friday. After that, I'll be in sunny Arizona and it can snow away here in Minnesota

I, however, have much happier chickens when they don't have to walk through snow.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

It is snowing out there for us, too. Starting to look white-white. But If Yahoo weather is worth a hoo-ha...then it will quit at 1 pm and it will begin to melt. We are in for a glorious weekend. and Week temp wise. I'm looking forward to that rain putting down the white stuff in my yard. Time for chickens to Free Range. I'm sick of depooping.

Wednesday afternoon we leave for Minneapolis and then Ixtapa by Early Afternoon Thursday. My Pina-Colada Hand is open and waiting. I'm not packed but I'm ready to go. I see the temps up here in the tundra will be tropical as well while we are away.

 

[duluthralphie]

BC I can be your personal pool boy if you sneak me into your luggage!

MinnesotaNice It is not nice to not care if we get snow!!!! I am done with winter!


EJB I cannot see how much snow we are suppose to get but it is scheduled to start snowing at 11am and then turning to rain at 3pm. It is not suppose to get below freezing so hopefully it will be a non-event.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

That sounds good Ralphie. I'd like a pool boy. One with a special affinity to chickens--> Well you can't beat that! LOL.
I mostly like Pina Colada's but if there's a Strawberry Daiquiri foul up...I don't mind a splash of that in the Pina Colada as well.

Oh I can't wait for the smell of coconut suntan oil, Mexican cuisine, Mariachi bands playing, the sound of the surf, all of it mixed up into a beautiful week of 80-90 degrees.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

@Bogtown Chick , your vacation sounds much more nice than mine! No Mariachi band, sound of the surf, or Mexican cuisine. I don't even get any Pina Colada's since I'm growing a baby. I'm starting to think I'm not going on vacation at all.

 

[Dandelioness]

I didn't realize how brand spanking new you were, LilBear! Welcome to BYC! Those chicks are coming along nicely! That half-grown preteen stage is pretty cute. If you have any accidental roos, now is the time you see them start to strut.

Ralphie - I don't blame you. I read through your thread and tried real hard not to learn all that myself! Especially all that SOP stuff. My daughter and I are into rabbits now, and you get bunny snobs, too. I just like to pet the bunnies and watch the chickens. I feel like it's okay as long as everyone's fluffy. I do like seeing what others are doing with their backyard breeding projects, though.

My local Wunderground station says we'll be getting off and on snow with maybe an inch accumulation. Just enough to cover up the chicken poop in the yard.

Hope all you vacationers make it there and back again safely. I've never been a vacationer, but I have always, before I settled in MN, lived someplace nearby the ocean. Lately, I've had a deep longing to touch the sand and salt water. It sounds corny, but when Minnesotans live other places, they miss the grass and trees and bluffs the way I miss the oceanside. My husband sees it and has started saving up his vacation days to take the family out west for a week or two. But who will watch the animals?? LOL

 

[MinnesotaNice]

I have a friend chicken sitting for us that has no chicken experience whatsoever. These are my care instructions that I think scared her the most:

1.) Just ignore the clucky hens in the nest box. They'll growl at you, but it's okay.....just slip your hand under them and grab the eggs. Be fast. No eye contact.

2.) When you open the run and coop door all of the chickens will run out into the yard. Don't be afraid. Just grab the bag of mealworms and shake it when it's time for them to go back in. There might be a few stragglers, but they'll eventually roam your way. If all else fails, do the chicken dance.

3.) Make sure you actually give them mealworms or you will have ****** off chickens. On how to care for ****** off chickens, refer to the next page.

4.) Steve the Rooster only loves me. Don't show fear or turn your back on him.

5.) If you see Joey the Silkie running into walls, feeders, etc. you have to trim her beard, crest, and muff. Yes, she has a beard. Scissors are in the chicken care box, which is located under the chicken attack box.

6.) In the event that you encounter a chicken death, remove all organs, embalm the chicken, put on funeral pyre of sticks, sing an Irish tune, and light the pyre. Make sure you contain the fire to 3ftx3ft per East Bethel fire regulations.

7.) Good luck with the poop board. Hazmat suit is hanging in the garage.