Surviving Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

Those are neat. But cost more than an old square baler would

Where did you see cost on it?

 

[KlopKlop]

Where did you see cost on it?

http://www.earthtoolsbcs.com/html/bcs_implement_prices.html#haymaking
That doesn't include the walk behind tractor to drive it

 

[duluthralphie]

http://www.earthtoolsbcs.com/html/bcs_implement_prices.html#haymaking
That doesn't include the walk behind tractor to drive it

$9,000 for that!!!!

I can buy a lot of hay and straw for $9,000!

 

[KlopKlop]

  $9,000 for that!!!! 


I can buy a lot of hay and straw for $9,000!

Yup. Now, if there were plans that you could build your own, that would be nice

 

[Dandelioness]

Hi all. I am planning on getting 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

Hi, Sleepy Owl

People ask which are my favorite and I'm like - ALL THE CHICKENS!! My very first flock was a grab bag of sorts because I couldn't choose, I received a list of how many of what I had gotten, and spent some time on the Feather site web page looking at the chick ID pages. It was a lot of fun! I do have some favorite breeds now, that I wouldn't be without, but I still remember that first flock and how varied and colorful it was.

I have a little silkie hen that is amazing! She would hatch a doorknob if you let her, and when she's running around the yard with chicks, she goes all kung-fu on any cat dog or whatever that gets too close to those chicks!! LOL I am hoping to hatch out enough eggs from her that I get some more silkies before she goes blessedly broody again this year. I gave away a couple Australorps that weren't laying and kept going broody, and I still kick myself. I bet they would have been good broody mamas, too.

I've been battling frostbite on single combed types, especially the roos. It sounds awful, but once they get past that first year and get the "MN rosecomb" or whatever the nickname is, they don't get frostbite the next year. I am trying to avoid it altogether, though. Wyandottes and Ameraucanas (mine are Easter eggers) I have never seen a lick of frostbite on them. I have also thought about starting buff brahmas. There are some people here who have Buckeyes and they are another small-combed dual purpose breed.

Anyhow, I opened up my coop even more, the south side was almost completely open this winter, and insulated the roof which was just tin before. I also added a droppings board which always has like 1/2" of barn lime (like a really shallow kitty litter pan) to keep the bedding and air pretty dry. I have a cheapo hygrometer/thermometer combo and I try to keep the humidity at 60% or less. I saw teensy touches of frostbite in the teens, but nothing during the really cold spells this year. I did NOT have a young rooster with a single comb to see if there was any frostbite with a large-combed type. So I can't say for sure yet if I'm out of the woods.

Welcome to the thread!

 

[duluthralphie]

When looking at chickens look at partridge Chanticlers too, EJB taught me about them. They are super birds, get large lay daily almost and that cushion comb is indestructible.

Personality wise they are mellow, except the one that went broody, she was not a pleasant broody. a sentence in gitmo broke her though and she is laying again.


I came out to see a hawk making a dive with that death shrill whistle of theirs this afternoon. Luckily all the chickens except Swen were in the coop or under the deck. The all went in the coop early, I assume because of the hawks. There were 4 other circling high!

I need the ravens back to keep them at bay. Is it hawk migration time or am I going to be invaded with them this year? Hopefully the eagles will drive them away.

 

[SleepyOwl]

Bantam Cochins are my fav, brahmas I like, I recommend black Australorps, great egg layers and are very friendly. Wyandottes can be a little mean to other chickens.

I also loved the Cochins that I have had. They are the sweetest birds I have had so far. I am sure the Silkies would have been about the same, but I got rid of them as soon as they were grown. (Sold the hens to get rid of the roo. So glad I am not in town anymore. ) I have never heard that about Wyandottes before. I only have one, a hatchery hen. One of the first chickens I ever got. She is nice, but maybe I got lucky?

Quote: Thanks! I think my post was a little misleading. Think I will go edit it. I'm not new to this thread... just haven't posted in a while. (I come and go. ) I agree, I also love ALL the chickens. LOL Well, there are a few I wouldn't want, like the big game birds, or those ugly Chinese ones. Heh, heh. Otherwise, I like most of the regular varieties.

I have had chickens for 4 years. I lived in town up until last year. Finally realized my dream of moving onto a little farm! Now I am working on getting a few breeds to raise to sell chicks and hatching eggs.
So now, I want to add a couple breeds, but am having a hard time limiting myself to a couple... because, I want ALL THE CHICKENS!

 

[holm25]

Today was a good day. Had alot of fun with my birds. Spent lots of time with the cows. Talked to Ralph for a long time and talked about lots of fun things. All sorts of things today! I got pics but the upload picture button wont load so no pics right now. It was just a nice day... And the best news is that my Cochin rooster Zeus is living in my bedroom!! I told my mom what happenes to him and she was so sad she said take this sweatshirt and rap him up. We brought him hime and he is staying in a giant kennel for big dogs. He is going to make it but I dont know if Mr. T will. I am going to put him on craigslist and hope someone who likes to keep a small flock of turkeys want to add some color to their flock and future offspring.

 

[duluthralphie]

I also loved the Cochins that I have had. They are the sweetest birds I have had so far. I am sure the Silkies would have been about the same, but I got rid of them as soon as they were grown. (Sold the hens to get rid of the roo. So glad I am not in town anymore. ) I have never heard that about Wyandottes before. I only have one, a hatchery hen. One of the first chickens I ever got. She is nice, but maybe I got lucky?

Thanks! I think my post was a little misleading. Think I will go edit it. I'm not new to this thread... just haven't posted in a while. (I come and go. ) I agree, I also love ALL the chickens. LOL Well, there are a few I wouldn't want, like the big game birds, or those ugly Chinese ones. Heh, heh. Otherwise, I like most of the regular varieties.

I have had chickens for 4 years. I lived in town up until last year. Finally realized my dream of moving onto a little farm! Now I am working on getting a few breeds to raise to sell chicks and hatching eggs.

Right now I have 17 misc chickens, including 3 of our original hens that are 4 years old. I gave a bunch of chickens to my sister last year, and replaced them with chicks that are now about 5 months old. Lets see... my 4 year old hens are all hatchery, a Brahama, a Wyandotte, and an EE. The rest are all from breeders, 2 Bresse, one hen one roo, one Bantam Cochin Rooster, on Silkied Ameraucana, and then my new bunch... 4 CLs and 5 Orpingtons, 2 chocolate and 3 chocolate cuckoo. I have also had Silkies, SBEEs, regular Ameraucanas, Australorps, and a couple hatchery mixes. I ended up selling a lot, because I would get excited and buy eggs, then have too many birds, or roosters I needed to off load. That is why I am so excited now. I can actually buy birds hoping for roosters, and have as many as I want. Well, as long as I can feed them all, and I don't drive my husband completely bonkers.

So now, I want to add a couple breeds, but am having a hard time limiting myself to a couple... because, I want ALL THE CHICKENS!

I can guarantee you a roosters if you want some, Of course they are very little roosters.


It is the job of the chicken owning spouse to drive the other spouse nuts.

 

[SleepyOwl]

I can guarantee you a roosters if you want some, Of course they are very little roosters.


It is the job of the chicken owning spouse to drive the other spouse nuts.

Haha, you quoted me before I edited my post. I thought it was too rambly.

Yes, I am sure I will have roosters coming out of my ears before long. LOL I actually have one that I didn't list there. He is in a holding cell right now. He will probably be soup next week.

My husband was teasing me a few weeks back. Here I am with all these chickens, and having to stop at a neighbor's to buy eggs.

My Bresse girl gives me about 6 eggs a week, and one of my old hens started laying again recently... about every other day. Not quite enough to feed this family. I think (hope) by this time next year, I will be begging people to take my extra eggs though.