Surviving Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

Hello, I'm from southern Minnesota, this is my first time getting pullets, we have had broilers for years. This year I wanted to try fresh eggs, since we go through enough eggs. We currently have 15 barred rock, 3 week old, pullets. I am working on finishing up their coop, hoping the middle of May get them into their new home.

Welcome Blondi7199.

Barred Rocks are super friendly birds. But you probably already have seen friendlies with your broilers (even more so). You're birdies will have their feathers and ready for the coop by mid May! Post some pics of your building. Sounds great!

 

[Cebarmlds]

Welcome to us~~~~~

Only a few of us bite... Beware those few, luckily they are mostly way up north..


Good luck on the chicks!

 

[blondi7199]

Welcome Blondi7199.

Barred Rocks are super friendly birds. But you probably already have seen friendlies with your broilers (even more so). You're birdies will have their feathers and ready for the coop by mid May! Post some pics of your building. Sounds great!

We moved it to the farm earlier this week.

 

[Momof3plustwins]

What would cause the white spots on the eggs? They disappear when I wash them but as they dry they show back up.

One chicken likes to lay "balls" instead of eggs.

And occasionally I get an overachiever on egg shape and size. Double yoker I am sure.

 

[Briannosaurus]

Hey, all!

I'm new to having backyard chickens -- at least as an adult. My neighbor when I was a kid had two and we had a shared backyard! It was fantastic.

Now that I have my own place (St. Paul regulations), I've started prepping for my own ladies! I've been reading up and have prepped a small coop, but am now hoping to level up! I'm going to animal control this week for the permit and already have neighbor's ok, so once they're all set up outside, I'm thinking I'll begin making a plan on winterizing the coop.

I got a cheapie kit off Hayneedle that will need insulation. It's made of cedar board. The existing structure can be moved into my shed if need be at the coldest parts of winter. I'm really anxious about this, though and am wondering (other than reading the winterizing post) what you suggest for starting.

Best!
Bree

 

[MinnesotaNice]

Jerry can correct me if I am wrong. I would not get rid of the others. They could have the gene for the conjoined toes and then again they might not.

I am not sure about the toes but so many things in chickens are controlled by more than one Allele and from more than one location. I think most of the good birds have bad genes, you just need to try and eliminate the ones where it is obviously a dominant trait.

Maybe if you could get all the toes to become webbed you could call them Chucks and sell them to the lessor poultry people that like dux....

Chucks! That's a million dollar idea!

Here is a graphic on Earthworm->Cecal worms-> and Histomoniasis. It explains pretty well the life cycles on how everything works. And because I've had a case of histomoniasis (blackhead) in a chicken, I now worm.



After reviewing my post. Cecal worms can be picked up as eggs as well from grazing on ground with lots of bird droppings that are infected with the eggs. So Earthworms for transmission is only one mode.

Dogs and Cats eating off the ground. that's why we worm them.

Speaking of.....I should really worm my flock.

Hello, I'm from southern Minnesota, this is my first time getting pullets, we have had broilers for years. This year I wanted to try fresh eggs, since we go through enough eggs. We currently have 15 barred rock, 3 week old, pullets. I am working on finishing up their coop, hoping the middle of May get them into their new home.

Welcome!

What would cause the white spots on the eggs? They disappear when I wash them but as they dry they show back up.


One chicken likes to lay "balls" instead of eggs.


And occasionally I get an overachiever on egg shape and size. Double yoker I am sure.

I get it on one of my eggs, too. I almost wondered if it was one of my hens hitting the oyster shells too hard.

 

[BantyChooks]

Jerry can correct me if I am wrong.  I would not get rid of the others.  They could have the gene for the conjoined toes and then again they might not.

I am not sure about the toes but so many things in chickens are controlled by more than one Allele and from more than one location.  I think most of the good birds have bad genes, you just need to try and eliminate the ones where it is obviously a dominant trait.

Maybe if you could get all the  toes to become webbed you could call them Chucks and sell them to the lessor poultry people that like dux....

Welcome to us~~~~~ 

Only a few of us bite... Beware those few, luckily they are mostly way up north..


Good luck on the chicks!

again. I don't bite, eh!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

What would cause the white spots on the eggs? They disappear when I wash them but as they dry they show back up.

One chicken likes to lay "balls" instead of eggs.

And occasionally I get an overachiever on egg shape and size. Double yoker I am sure.

It can be bloom. My slw will lay a brown egg with whitish spots.

About winterizing the coop there are different thoughts on it. Depending on your breeds and flock goals. I do suggest choosing a breed of chicken without the tall single comb. Cushion comb or rose comb is what will not frost bite in Minnesota.

I do recommend the excellent threads on wintering. Keep in mind somebody in West Virginia does not have the same winter as you do. Research. Research research. Heat lamps are dangerous and insulation is not always needed.

 

[lvie]

Hi Briannosaurus and welcome you are hereby christened Br - is that okay chickeners or does br stand for something significant? I know bs does.

ah hem.
now as I was going to say, based on my vast experience as a chickener . . . . I believe in St. Paul you may have up to four hens. INSULATE the coop. That would only be of importance, to me, when it gets down to 20 degrees and lower. Believe me, at 10 below you will be worrying about your hens. Keep the water thawed with some device of your choosing and feed corn before be to heat those ladies up while digesting throughout the night. IF you insulate that little kit koop (I have them too and insulating them is sooooooo easy) then do not worry - their body heat will keep them warm in that cute little box as long as they have fresh, unfrozen water to get to.

IMHE and IMHO. Go ahead chickeners - have at me!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I'm hearing 5-8 inches of snow Sunday into Monday. What?!