Surviving Minnesota!

[Cebarmlds]

I'm sure she could! and she turned out to be a good mommy, but she is still freaky around me although she let me handle the keet eggs when she was setting on them..

The hollyhocks need to be fenced around here or they get eaten (deer for sure maybe bunnies?) They will not flower until the second year so keep trying.

 

[duluthralphie]

I did not know that. I will try again next year then. I think they are the coolest flower.

 

[memphis]

Ralph...plant Hollyhock seed this fall. The n another batch next fall so you will ha 've some blooming each year.
Lovely SS!

 

[duluthralphie]

Ralph...plant Hollyhock seed this fall. The n another batch next fall so you will ha 've some blooming each year.
Lovely SS!

I will try that...



I have been reading up on Holly Hocks, it appears they are not really meant to grow in the middle of a sand dune....

 

[lvie]

Cheers from Central MN. Looking to start a flock of 6-8 layers. Building a modified Purina coop, 4x8, probably a 6x8 run. My question....insulate the coop or not needed?

Insulate it and then don't use any heat.

 

[lvie]

Depends Tfred. Welcome.

Is the coop out in the open to some northwest winds? Or blocked? Will your breeds of layers have large combs that can frost bite? Just layers so if they do nip a bit your okay with that? Or will they be showed in a fair?

Personally I did insulate my roof. And left my walls uninsulated the first winter. Brutal winter on my single comb birds. About two years I put up reflectix on the walls. About every two years I need to tear out my ceiling insulation due to mice nests. - A reason to not insulate I guess. I guess it's really up to you. Many do not. Ventilation in the winter is probably more important than insulation.

I agree with BC about the combs. The metal roof on the covered run has blown on insulation because when the snow melts it creates condensation. I have always covered my coop with plastic and used heat lamps. Too expensive to continue that mode. This year we build a 3 x 6 enclosed area within the covered coop and I have a radiant heat source to add to it. Heat is only important, in MHO, when it gets down to 20 and below.

 

[holm25]

Last winter I didn't heat my coop at all... My birds did just fine. But my coop is insulated...

 

[BantyChooks]

Last winter I didn't heat my coop at all... My birds did just fine. But my coop is insulated...

I skipped heat last year. The year before I did put in a heat lamp, but nearly burnt my coop down.... My coop is leaky as a sieve, so I just covered up all the windows I could. The birds all survived anyway. They're pretty tough.

 

[lvie]

Two chickies so far.

 

[Tfred1399]

View attachment 1077925 Two chickies so far.

We're a long ways from this of course, but the idea of breeding and how excited the kids will be intrigues me.

Fun!