Surviving Minnesota!

[nordicacres]

Wow, great first post Bogtown Chick! I haven't been on here in a long time!



Maybe some of you remember the chick that was born on our hobby farm last Fall? It was solid black with a white spot on the back of its head. I wrote it off as a male, everyone thought it was a male, turns out it is a PULLET and she's laying. Woot! Our very first chick raised by a hen and I nearly snuffed out its life so as not to raise another rooster

We are looking into putting an automatic door on our chicken coop. We do not have electricity in the coop, unfortunately. Can anyone recommend a reliable solar automatic door? TY.

 

[duluthralphie]

As far as blackhead goes, I thought it had to be in your soil first in order for it to be passed along. If it isn't there then they won't get it. Do correct me if I am wrong please!! All my birds (chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks) free range the same areas and yes they eat earthworms so far no blackhead issues and my turkeys will be 2 in June.

I think you are correct. I think chickens can bring it but they need to come form someplace that has it...or I am wrong, it is one of them..


But I think you are correct.

 

[Dandelioness]

There will be no Purple egg layers anytime soon, as I have move on to develop a hen variety that lays a Sky Blue Pink egg.

LOL gotcha

 

[Cluckies]

Amen to hollow promises. I just broke the news to the dh about future plans for the chickies and he was so 'disgusted.' Yikes! He said to me " last year you said that six was all there would be."   How does one chicken crazy lady respond to that? I DID NOT promise! How can a chickie person resist?

Its right in your sentence! LAST YEAR YOU SAID ONLY SIX! He never asked about this year!

The force is strong in this one!

 

[Cluckies]

Worked hard today filling in a trench which we dug for electrical to the coop, the clay sunk down, so i added more. Then got to see this beautiful sky...

Then this

A good day, and a good night!

 

[Cluckies]

Welcome home Aussie!

Cute Chicks Holm!

Sounds wonderful Jerry, can't wait till we have that going on!

Hi to the rest! hope every one had a great day!

 

[Dandelioness]

Interesting stuff about the NPIP certification, Ralphie.

I had a similar experience with my friends as we looked over the laws about processing. I can sell things I raise & process directly to consumers from my place, but it must be labeled "NOT FOR RESALE". No big deal, but people have started asking us to process the birds THEY have raised for personal consumption (they grow it, we process, they get them right back) and that's where it starts making you dizzy. "Wipeable walls," "separate septic and well," "location of and material your ice scoop is made from," and other important things start coming into play. We could process at their places and still fall under the exempt status, but if we do it here there is a ton of licensing, inspection and overhead. >sigh< Is it a wonder no one processes chickens for others?

It sounds like you'll be okay with some modifications, though.

Looks like we're all keeping busy with spring-y things. I got to hold some new lambs the other day, got another litter of kits with one more coming any day. I received my hanging scale today. You can use it with or without a scoop. Planning on rationing more strictly, I have just been eyeballing or hefting the feed buckets so far. I could also use it to weigh live birds, produce, bunnies...I can't wait to weigh something!

 

[Dandelioness]

Worked hard today filling in a trench which we dug for electrical to the coop, the clay sunk down, so i added more. Then got to see this beautiful sky...

Then this

A good day, and a good night!

Nice!

 

[Rhetts]

I did a egg to hen count today. Today was the best they have ever laid to date. I got 76.7% should I round up or down LOL!! Well, is that a good percentage or not really?

 

[nordicacres]

I did a egg to hen count today. Today was the best they have ever laid to date. I got 76.7% should I round up or down LOL!! Well, is that a good percentage or not really?

I think so! A few days ago I got 45 eggs out of 50-something chickens (including six roosters). Nearly every hen we have laid that day. First time that has EVER happened. Normally we get a little over two dozen per day. Sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more.