Surviving Minnesota!

[holm25]

Annadale the Tarentaise

Lady the Painted Jersey

Sleepy Loretta the Charlais cross cow

Jessy the EE hen who is really enjoying the sun!

Some of the flock

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Enough snow has cleared under the pine trees that Roger has all the girls out free ranging in a limited range. I hope he keeps his eyes open. Bumper crop of eagles in the last year or so.

on Egg Eaters: I have hens that will clean up the broken eggs, rubber eggs. But they tend to leave the ones in the nest alone. I also leave golf balls in the nest. So when they decide to peck something ...that usually gives them enough of a rattle to decide not all eggs are made the same...maybe? I think letting them outside the coop often is another way to keep them from spending too much time in coop and finding things to do. But I realize that not all have that option.

 

[duluthralphie]

Enough snow has cleared under the pine trees that Roger has all the girls out free ranging in a limited range. I hope he keeps his eyes open. Bumper crop of eagles in the last year or so.

on Egg Eaters: I have hens that will clean up the broken eggs, rubber eggs. But they tend to leave the ones in the nest alone. I also leave golf balls in the nest. So when they decide to peck something ...that usually gives them enough of a rattle to decide not all eggs are made the same...maybe? I think letting them outside the coop often is another way to keep them from spending too much time in coop and finding things to do. But I realize that not all have that option.

I use the ceramic eggs also. They look enough like an egg. if one was to try and beak it, I bet it rattles their 4 brain cells.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Does this affect their eating or drinking in any way? Not that I care, I would eat the egg eater!!


BTW How do I know my Broody hen has given up her Broody ways? When I am in the shed she just yells at me for being mean.

I have two broody hens in my garage jail right now. I wait for the "broody cluck" to dissipate, which is around 3 days or so. I'm sure it's different for each hen though. I have a hen that goes broody every 2 months or so.....she's a frequenter in the garage jail

 

[holm25]

My next broody is going to hatch chicks I think. I prefer broody raised over human raised. The broody hens do a much better job than any human could.





Oh and I got two duck eggs the other day! Turns out they were waiting for me to give them a tire/nest box!

 

[duluthralphie]

My next broody is going to hatch chicks I think. I prefer broody raised over human raised. The broody hens do a much better job than any human could.





Oh and I got two duck eggs the other day! Turns out they were waiting for me to give them a tire/nest box!

Do you use them for target practice? How far can you shot them with wrist rocket?

 

[holm25]

Do you use them for target practice? How far can you shot them with  wrist rocket?

No way! I need to save them! I have some people who want ducklings! So I need to set at least twenty eggs each time I set eggs! I'm managing to sell Pekins for $6.00 and Muscovys for $7.50. Well at least getting orders for them. I am still waiting on the muscovys to lay!

 

[KlopKlop]

I was busy (and out enjoying the weather) this weekend and didn't keep up. Just went back and read through.

@duluthralphie If you end up not doing CXs this year and need a CX fix you are always welcome to come visit I can see the reasoning in Judy's argument but that doesn't help your case to get CXs this year. If I know you at all I would still bet that you have at least a few


When I ordered chicks today the lady thought I might be able to get my SS and GCs sooner if I was willing to come pick them up (due to hatching times of each breed) can you imagine how dangerous it could be to go to a hatchery? I know I would have to ask to look around at what they have extras of

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Good News:

Sadie is on her way back from Vet with DH as I type with just swelling around her internal stitches. I thought for sure that odd lump was intestine. But I guess it is not. All is well. Thank God. I needed a break. And I got it.

It's gorgeous out there. I'm waiting on the rain to remove more snow. But so far there's nothing on the horizon. may be a little hazy in the west...but not real promising looking.

 

[KlopKlop]

Over lunch DW and I were discussing how the flock must like it after the rain when worms come up. A free buffet!

Then we started to wonder where worms go during the winter when the top layer of earth freezes. Do they just stay deep and hibernate or something?