Surviving Minnesota!

[KlopKlop]

No, I was going to but my Rainbow rooster bit the big one before he had a chance.  Based on how Bertha lays eggs, I am tempted to skip all the fancy breeds at some point and just have CX over Rainbows, they are a true dual purpose bird and with the increased body mass they seem to tolerate the cold, like it is not there.  As they said earlier my concern  is heat in Summer.

The only thing I could see as a 'problem' with that is feed conversion. My rainbows eat A LOT! That may or not matter to you but it is something to consider

 

[duluthralphie]

The only thing I could see as a 'problem' with that is feed conversion. My rainbows eat A LOT! That may or not matter to you but it is something to consider

It does during the winter, during the summer and fall they all seem to Free range more than I feed them. I Actually do not think they eat much more than the others though. The Boys with the Guinea Hen never seem to run out of feed. Maybe they are just living on love in there.

 

[KlopKlop]

It does during the winter, during the summer and fall they all seem to Free range more than I feed them. I Actually do not think they eat much more than the others though. The Boys with the Guinea Hen never seem to run out of feed. Maybe they are just living on love in there.

I suppose, I didnt think about that in the summer. I can definitely get on board with your idea as that being your DP flock. My rainbows are beautiful and well mannered girls. Plus the boys are actually worth growing out and eating.

That said, i do enjoy my BAs and RIRs in my layer flocks. I havent really thought about what our long term goals/plans are in terms of how long we will keep our laying hens around before we add new pullets. Right now almost all of our hens are the same age except for 12 of the BAs who are about 6 months older or so. The bulk of the flock will be 1 year this spring.

That is for future farm meetings though. we dont need to think about it until next year probably. if we will hatch our own chicks or buy new chicks. Or maybe we get lucky and a broody or two handles the problem for us

 

[holm25]

This fall I thinkI am going to butcher all my Welsummers and use chicks I hatch to replace them. I definetly need to find some more Buff Brahmas. They aee the second prettiest chicken I have ever seen. I know there is a breeder with nice ones in MN so will have to see...

 

[Cluckies]

Last night while the flakes fell softly on my little log coop. Fiona the Cream legbar fell from the roost I had placed her on. Crawling into the nest box before was not a good sign and I knew almost for sure I'd find her on the coop floor. I'm sad but realistically she was another breed I had determined not what I wanted.

I'm not sure what happened. She had ACV in her water almost always. She had intestinal sloughing almost constantly. I had wormed her at her arrival and this fall. But a few months back her pretty whitish blue ears turned a yellowish color ( liver symptoms?) and in true chicken form she was spry until yesterday when I found her in the nest box.

No diamond encrusted eggs. And time to move on.

Rip little Fi.

Oh no, so very sorry, that is so sad

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I was thinking she could use BC's she gets a new one in a couple months anyways...

In May. I have like a half a picture left of space on this phone too. A video is hit and miss let alone a baby watch video. Lol

 

[duluthralphie]

In May. I have like a half a picture left of space on this phone too. A video is hit and miss let alone a baby watch video. Lol

This is not just some lame excuse to keep us from duct taping your cell phone to the back end of a cow is it?

You know you can put it in a plastic bag if you don't like cow poop on it.

 

[The BlanchRanch]

Oh no. Sorry BC. So horrible.

104 posts!! You guys are CRAZY!! Nice work!!

I think I am going to make it a point to ride by some BYCers this summer to see all the wonderful chickens you guys will be raising.

 

[KlopKlop]

Oh no. Sorry BC. So horrible.

104 posts!! You guys are CRAZY!! Nice work!!

I think I am going to make it a point to ride by some BYCers this summer to see all the wonderful chickens you guys will be raising.

You are welcome to come by here. then we could make a run for the driftless

 

[Cluckies]

@KlopKlop Ok, now after seeing how cold it is going to get -8 for a high on sunday, I think your combined coop idea may have merit. the dimensions you gave are plenty big for that many birds, as long as you have ventilation up high, it would be fine as long as they get along. also, aren't they used to free ranging together? I've not see your two coops though, so can't say for sure...