Surviving Minnesota!

[SleepyOwl]

Hi all. Haven't been here in a while.

I am planning on getting more chicks soon. So many breeds to choose from.

Trying to limit myself. LOL

For sure I am getting some Blue Laced Red Wyandottes, and probably also some Silkies and Ameraucanas. I want the Silkies because I want some mamas to do a lot of my raising babies work for me, and my last cochin died. I might get some calico cochins also, as I have a really nice roo to go with them. (I picked out 3 calico chicks last year, and of course they were all boys. The older hen I lost this winter was a cc.) I was going to get mostly orpingtons, but decided that, at least for now, I am going to focus on breeds that have "cold hardy" combs. I will still have some orps, just because I like them, but not sure I will get as many as I had first planned. Hence, the Wyandottes, Ameraucanas and Silkies. I might add Brahmas, also. I decided this because even though I had a pretty good spot for my chickens, the Bresse boys got quite a bit of frost bite. Of course, my Cochin boy has a regular comb, and he didn't get a lick of frost bite.

The Bresse do have very large combs though. I'll have to see how it goes with the Orpingtons. I have some Legbars I'll have to watch, too.
I have had chickens for years, but this is the first winter that I had roosters. I knew about frost bite, just didn't think about it when buying those Bresse. LOL

 

[KlopKlop]

I think we are more of a fall and winter group.  This time of year comes and we get busy.

I don't think we have even made the top 10 list in a while.

I just moved my last batch of chicks to there last cage before going outdoors.  I am trying  to decide if I should put Igor and her 3 friends in with them.  Judy does not want me too, I think she has fell in love with Igor. I caught her holding and petting Igor last night.

I have a few hours to decide. I am leaning towards her going  into the soon to be outside birds cage..

We definitely chatter less in the warmer times of the year but I am enjoying starting to see the plans everyone talked about in the last months starting to come to fruition. Plus pictures are better in the summer!

 

[holm25]

Sad news my big old Cochin rooster Zeus is not doing good. Mr. T beat him up really bad. He has went far into the middle of a brush pile and I cant get him out. He is to far gone to save I am afraid. I decided not to try to hard to get him so he can just go in peace.


So if someone needs a beautiful turkey that could have a home with his only little spot pm me. Thought I would ask here before he goes to the far off land of craigslist or the smoker.

 

[KlopKlop]

The roto baler has got to be the coolest thing Allis made.....my father in law got his working last summer. I will see if I can dig up a picture or movie clip of it in action. You may have to forgo the green in front as we bleed green!

I appreciate the rotobaler for the interesting and unique piece that it was, it was really a pioneer of its time. I just don't think I would want to own one. Having to stop to wrap and drop bales plus the fuss of having to have the hay raked just so to keep from having football shaped bales....

 

[duluthralphie]

I appreciate the rotobaler for the interesting and unique piece that it was, it was really a pioneer of its time. I just don't think I would want to own one. Having to stop to wrap and drop bales plus the fuss of having to have the hay raked just so to keep from having football shaped bales....

I agree with you. While I think they were the forerunner of the large round baler, they were never very practical in use. Hard to handle, stack and if not raked perfect pear shaped or egg shaped.

BUT it would be cool to own one, they are a piece of history, sort of like the Edsel. an idea ahead of it's time.

 

[KlopKlop]

Sad news my big old Cochin rooster Zeus is not doing good. Mr. T beat him up really bad. He has went far into the middle of a brush pile and I cant get him out. He is to far gone to save I am afraid. I decided not to try to hard to get him so he can just go in peace.


So if someone needs a beautiful turkey that could have a home with his only little spot pm me. Thought I would ask here before he goes to the far off land of craigslist or the smoker.

I thought mr T is visiting ralphies to make mottled babies?

 

[KlopKlop]

When I bought my farm there was an old Deere 2 popper in the grove that I tried to negotiate to be left when they sold but unfortunately his nephew wanted it for a project so I lost

 

[lvie]

Thanks eveyone! Good to chatter. I looked up the curled toes stuff on chicks. Its simply remarkable what the internet provides. She needs Rivoflavin (b-12) and also d-3 (thiamine) and manganese. I have to pick up the manganese. Then I crush it and add it to the water. Along with the Poly vi sol and vitamin E. She is a pretty special chick!

Ugh! Then I need to make her a playpen so she can be by the other chicks but not get trampled by them. LOL. Do you believe all this? Learning alot and not sure if I want to do it again. She has spunk though.

 

[MNChickMom]

I agree with you. While I think they were the forerunner of the large round baler, they were never very practical in use. Hard to handle, stack and if not raked perfect pear shaped or egg shaped.

BUT it would be cool to own one, they are a piece of history, sort of like the Edsel. an idea ahead of it's time.

It was a fun restoration project with my husband and father in law. It was amazing to see the engunity they had "back in the day" with levers and belts. My kids (9 and 11) thought it was cool that they could pick up and stack a round bale. We had a 2 cyclinder Johnny Popper (Hand clutch) on it the first time we tried......learning experience....will use Alley (Foot Clutch Allis) next time.

 

[KlopKlop]

It was a fun restoration project with my husband and father in law. It was amazing to see the engunity they had "back in the day" with levers and belts. My kids (9 and 11) thought it was cool that they could pick up and stack a round bale. We had a 2 cyclinder Johnny Popper (Hand clutch) on it the first time we tried......learning experience....will use Alley (Foot Clutch Allis) next time.

Does your Allis have a foot clutch with a hand clutch too?