Surviving Minnesota!

[ejb3810]

I am somewhat disappointed that we have not received a thorough report regarding the Minniechickmama poultry operation. I am also somewhat disappointed that after a couple of beautiful days it is 38 degrees here, and the wind is off the lake at substantial velocity. This means it seems 10 to 20 degrees colder than the actual temp. Ralphie, I am sure you remember those days and are glad that you have moved to the Minnesota Banana Belt!

Jerry, that is why it is called fishing as opposed to catching. Those scaled rascals often don't wish to cooperate?

Ralphie, good to read that your Dominique hatch was such a success. On the other hand the Buckeye hatch was not too good. How many of the White Sport Legbars do you have at this point?
Are you still attempting to sort out which birds are producing them, or do you have that figured out?

 

[lvie]

Quote:

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A bath, a blow dry and a doo. You want him to look his best. You are probably okay doing it too as his name is not Hoppi.

 

[bantiesrule]

Here are the new bantams . Not young as he had long spurs I trimmed and she had long nails . No spring chickens as the saying goes . He has the winter dubbed comb .

They look like they are blue milles.

They are beautiful! Mille Fleurs get whiter with age right? Cause my rooster who has a mostly black tail is growing in new white tail feathers.

Some do, some don't. I think most do though. I'm not sure with the milles but I know my chocolates sure fade through the summer. They are such a deep, rich chocolate in the winter and now, with the sun, they are already getting lighter. By the end of summer, they look really washed out.


My sister and I went to Waverly, Iowa for the swap there this weekend. I came home with the sweetest pair of Porcelain old english. I'll try to get pics but my camera is a pita and only works when it wants to-need to get a new one.

 

[MNChickMom]

@erlibrd sorry to hear about your loss.

We had a busy weekend soaking up the the sun and wind. Just loved walking around the yard seeing all the trees budding one day and bursting with leaves the next. The little chicks were integrated with the big chicks....remarkably everyone is getting along. They were introduced to grit on Friday and mealworms on Saturday.....needless to say everytime anyone walks into the coop we are now ran up to instead of ran away from. The rainbows, speckled sussex, and asian blues are the most greedy....

Rock picking, and seeding oats has began on the farm. Thank God I have my day job to relax at and catch up with BYC.

 

[holm25]

Ok EJB here is what I thought. Minnie had a beautiful set up! It was interestimg and fun to see all her different birds there and all the beautiful green grass!!


Ralphs set up is awesome too! In fact I might have to learn how to build a breeding tractor/pen like his for my Buckeyes! I think the only thing I would do different is just get a small tarp and cover them so they dont bleach in the sun before shows! Other than that everything was amazing! Beautiful birds, beautiful set up and adorable dogs!!


Btw I meant cover the top of the run so the birds dont bleach. Although Ralphs birds didnt look bleached!

 

[Violetsfeathers]

Violets - if the hen is not in distress, eating and drinking, and there's no sign of infection, best just alone. If you are able to cover the wound to prevent others from pecking at it even better.

Thanks! I didn't even know it was there until I held her, her feathers cover it up.

 

[MinnesotaNice]

I hope everyone had a great weekend! The weather was beautiful! I was busy at work all day Sat and Sun, but still got some free child labor out of my son. DH built him a rabbit hutch and my son chose this color. At first I was worried it was Packer Green. Yuck. It looks more John Deere green now. I can roll with that.

I have a broody Olive Egger that is driving me nuts. She's the worst broody hen I've ever seen. She nest hops which peeves off my other hens and she breaks a few eggs everyday just by being clumsy. She's also out the coop door in a flash if she thinks food is involved. Then, I think she forgets she's broody for a few hours. If I didn't like her beautiful olive eggs so much......

 

[chickenlover292]

My whole family slept in this morning

I was going yo get up at 6 and take care of the birds but I didn't, my older sister just woke me up at 10 til 7.

My track meet for today was cancelled.. I'm kind of sad about it since I wanted a really good 200 hurdles run again.
But that gets me more time to get ready for the milk cow tomorrow!!

I have a Golf Meet in Oxbow Tomorrow, and if nobody knows what that course is, it is the toughest course in our region!

 

[holm25]

I hope everyone had a great weekend! The weather was beautiful! I was busy at work all day Sat and Sun, but still got some free child labor out of my son. DH built a rabbit hutch for his bunny and he chose this color. At first I was worried it was Packer Green. Yuck. It looks more John Deere green now. I can roll with that. I have a broody Olive Egger that is driving me nuts. She's the worst broody hen I've ever seen. She nest hops which peeves off my other hens and she breaks a few eggs everyday just by being clumsy. She's also out the coop door in a flash if she thinks food is involved. Then, I think she forgets she's broody for a few hours. If I didn't like her beautiful olive eggs so much......

Lol it looks good!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Good Morning Ed. Driving to MinnieChickMama's is half the treat. Verdent rolling hills with the limestone crushed gravel drives in contrast and immaculate barns and coops and other outbuildings telling the story of farm life of well cared-for livestock with beautiful pastures to graze. And Shelters. Old farmhouses painted and kept up. Bulbs popping up in their flower gardens. Lawns getting mowed already. Minnie's farm sets the same. Her Brooder house and pens carefully set up and fenced off the green lawn. Green all around each breeding pen. I did not go into the breeding areas, but viewed them just from the driveway. Minnie and I have had traded bio-security conversations and I didn't want to push the ballot with her. I think I could have if I asked. But I didn't.

We chatted on the limestone driveway for 40 minutes. Enjoying BYC topics and getting to meet each other face to face. But felt like old friends nonetheless. We already know alot about each other. Which is a weird internet created thing. Her place is beautiful. Projects in progress here and there. Just like my place and probably a majority of us.

Then the eggs: Blue Silkie, New Hampshire, Welsummer, EE and Ameraucana eggs. Beautiful colors and variations. Carefully tucked my precious cargo in a cooler and brought them home 5 hours back through the rolling hills and back through the city and home to Lake Country, and to my teacher friend. Hopefully the cockerel count will be low and we'll be graced with a high percentage of pullets.