Surviving Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

What kind of experiences has anyone had with ordering hatching eggs off of ebay? I'd like to get some more OEs.

$20 for 4 BLRW from Kentucky. 0% Advertised $15 and then $5 shipping. I should have flushed Andrew Jackson down the toilet and saved myself aggravation.

Previously Jerry has pointed out factors that can make it a losing proposition even if packed with the greatest of care by the breeder. Temperature extremes (Heat/Cold) & Handling by the USPS box handlers from facility to facility.

 

[jerryse]

$20 for 4 BLRW from Kentucky. 0% Advertised $15 and then $5 shipping. I should have flushed Andrew Jackson down the toilet and saved myself aggravation.

Previously Jerry has pointed out factors that can make it a losing proposition even if packed with the greatest of care by the breeder. Temperature extremes (Heat/Cold) & Handling by the USPS box handlers from facility to facility.

That is why I bought Legbars from Heidi . Was not willing to risk shipped eggs . This time it was the Swedish Flower Hens that got me to buy .
$28.00 total for the dozen and a short trip from southern IL .

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Anywhere from zero to 50% . Anymore than 50% is fantastic . Mine that are coming are off ebay . Here are a few things I look for . Eggs no more than 3-4 days old . If they do not have more than 2-3 hens then they may not be fresh enough . I never buy small numbers like 6 or less . Too small a chance of getting a start . If you are not real set on any one color Tractor Supply often have Old English bantams or is that Olive Eggers .

Olive Eggers. I wish I would have tossed a few of my Ameraucana eggs in the toaster when I still had my BCM rooster. He loved my blue egg layers.

I'll hold off and keep an eye on CL for chicks or eggs.

$20 for 4 BLRW from Kentucky. 0% Advertised $15 and then $5 shipping. I should have flushed Andrew Jackson down the toilet and saved myself aggravation.

Previously Jerry has pointed out factors that can make it a losing proposition even if packed with the greatest of care by the breeder. Temperature extremes (Heat/Cold) & Handling by the USPS box handlers from facility to facility.

Not good.

 

[MNChickMom]

help....please take a look at the chicken the background. It is suppose to be a barred rock hen.....but it has big white spot on its head does that mean he is will provide dinner instead of breakfast?

 

[chibisan]

Mind if I just jump in and say hi? I'm trying to learn as much as I can, just found out that my city (White Bear Lake) finally approved chickens! So thinking we may get some next summer, to give me ample time to research and plan! And really convince the husband that we need some chickens

Total newbie here, are there areas on this forum best for learning about keeping them here in MN as far as coops appropriate for our winters go? I've got so much to learn!

 

[lvie]

Mind if I just jump in and say hi? I'm trying to learn as much as I can, just found out that my city (White Bear Lake) finally approved chickens! So thinking we may get some next summer, to give me ample time to research and plan! And really convince the husband that we need some chickens

Total newbie here, are there areas on this forum best for learning about keeping them here in MN as far as coops appropriate for our winters go? I've got so much to learn!

Mind if I just jump in and say hi? I'm trying to learn as much as I can, just found out that my city (White Bear Lake) finally approved chickens! So thinking we may get some next summer, to give me ample time to research and plan! And really convince the husband that we need some chickens

Total newbie here, are there areas on this forum best for learning about keeping them here in MN as far as coops appropriate for our winters go? I've got so much to learn!

Welcome to this thread Chibisan. How many chickens does White Bear Lake allow you to have? I am one year into this adventure myself so that means I have not completed a full cycle of raising chickens because they have not molted (loose their feathers and regrow new ones.) Learning happens fast and your questions will be answered here. Any question you have. This was a good idea on your part and i wish I would have found this site before I started my adventure.

Anyway, welcome.

 

[duluthralphie]

Mind if I just jump in and say hi? I'm trying to learn as much as I can, just found out that my city (White Bear Lake) finally approved chickens! So thinking we may get some next summer, to give me ample time to research and plan! And really convince the husband that we need some chickens

Total newbie here, are there areas on this forum best for learning about keeping them here in MN as far as coops appropriate for our winters go? I've got so much to learn!

WELCOME to BYC and the thread. This is a good thread to get your questions answered.....

I set eggs today.. Just a little over tray. I hope they hatch in 21 days exactly so I can take them to the Crow Wing county swappy thingy...


I hope I did not set too many. I have some turkey eggs hatching the 13th too, (oops) Some people never learn.

I set :

29 Creamettes.
22 blue EE eggs
13 Minnesota Australorps
7 BA
4 toad eggs
4 PC
2 SS

The SS and PC kind of fell down on the job this week. The Minnesota Australorps eggs worry me a little as the oldest is 13 days. Could be some duds there.

 

[holm25]

Well we sperated the cows today. Got the open and ones that have calved out on pasture after building new fence. Now theres 5 cows in the corral. Lady is staying in since shes being milked and her calf. Plus 4 that havent calved. And we have a bred cow who escaped out into the pasture... Couldnt get her back in... So she'll have to calve out there if she does not come back in.

 

[holm25]

Here they are out in the front pasture.

And I took a pick while milking. My Great Grandma would be proud of that

When she milked foam would just pour out she milked so fast!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Mind if I just jump in and say hi? I'm trying to learn as much as I can, just found out that my city (White Bear Lake) finally approved chickens! So thinking we may get some next summer, to give me ample time to research and plan! And really convince the husband that we need some chickens

Total newbie here, are there areas on this forum best for learning about keeping them here in MN as far as coops appropriate for our winters go? I've got so much to learn!

Welcome chibisan. Starting a year ahead on your research is a great idea. I think my start researching was 4 months before a board was cut and nail was hammered. The coop will be your first order of business. The coop index- pages on BYC are thorough and offer a plethora of design ideas. You can lose yourself in all the good ideas there. There is a great debate on wintering chickens insulation or none. Heat or none. I will tell you that the best advice I wish I would have got was to pick out Rose or cushion combed chickens and not the large single combed varieties that seem to be popular at the feed store.

My little bit of advice is lots of ventilation and a coop that is tall enough to allow head space for moisture to move up and out without condensing on the birds. And from my light winter reading of posts after posts about winter frost bite, I think folks with a single slant roof line do better than those with a peaked gable roof line. My two cents only on winter coop designs.