Surviving Minnesota!

[Elise Ferguson]

Speaking of cats, I was about to put our kittens out on the curb last night. I had all the chicks lined up and walking into the coop so I could put them to bed last night when the kittens ran in and scared them all out. It was a scene from a cartoon, feathers and chickens flying out the pop door. Then the stupid cats took a dump in the shavings. I coaxed the chickens for 45 minutes before they would finally go back into the coop, hesitantly. Kittens are going to bed before the chickens from now on.

 

[BantyChooks]

I do manage to keep Single combs intact all winter without heat. I'm not sure how but I do... I'm planning on keeping back slot of birds I hatched this fall to keep the coop warm... We will see if it helps... I think I can keep 65-75 birds in my coop with all the extra roost room I have. I'm not sure...

Do you have magical powers?

 

[holm25]

Do you have magical powers?

Yes. Yes I do. But I have been trying to keep them a secret

 

[BantyChooks]

Yes. Yes I do. But I have been trying to keep them a secret

Now why didn't you share them powers with me? I could have saved a lot of electricity.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I will say as a fancier of chickens I have had the buff orpington on my list of 'wants'. But after reading some comments I'm feeling like I would be dissatisfied with the breed after having them for a while.
Things that keep me satisfied:
More unique color of eggs-divirsity in the egg carton
Eggs & Lack of broodiness
Longevity in production years
Looks- Lawn Ornamentation
Thriftiness with feed
Aerial predator camo

These are just the things that I know I admire a chicken for. I love the buff color on birds. I really do. I like reds too. But I know aerial predator wise blacks and partridges are the way to go.

 

[Momof3plustwins]

Oh, my it has been awhile since I popped in! Well I have been overwhelmed with commitments! Things are settling into a nice grove though with home, work, school, kids' sports, church, and graduate school. So here is my update.
I hatched out 15 mixed chicks and I think I just may have gotten a replica of the color I wanted from an earlier hatch that went to a friend. It was black with gold wyandotte lacing on the bottom half of the body with a red/gold head. I am excited about that! They are 2 weeks old now.
My Toad Trio are doing well. I think I have gotten a few eggs from them. Usually I find them on the floor. @duluthralphie what size nesting box do you have for your Toads? I even think one of my new chicks maybe part Toad. They are all pretty big because I only chose the bigger eggs to incubate. So we will see here soon if it starts to out pace the others.
I let the 2 turkeys out to free range. I left the door to the portable coop open so they could come in for feed and water as needed but they do not roost in there over night. I do not know where they go but I see them at least once or twice a day so I know they are still around. That is all I really wanted anyway.
Otherwise everything is about the same in our life. I hope everyone else has been just as boring. Because boring is the way I like it. Too much excitement just bring drama!

Happy Day to all!

 

[duluthralphie]

Oh, my it has been awhile since I popped in! Well I have been overwhelmed with commitments! Things are settling into a nice grove though with home, work, school, kids' sports, church, and graduate school. So here is my update.
I hatched out 15 mixed chicks and I think I just may have gotten a replica of the color I wanted from an earlier hatch that went to a friend. It was black with gold wyandotte lacing on the bottom half of the body with a red/gold head. I am excited about that! They are 2 weeks old now.
My Toad Trio are doing well. I think I have gotten a few eggs from them. Usually I find them on the floor. @duluthralphie what size nesting box do you have for your Toads? I even think one of my new chicks maybe part Toad. They are all pretty big because I only chose the bigger eggs to incubate. So we will see here soon if it starts to out pace the others.
I let the 2 turkeys out to free range. I left the door to the portable coop open so they could come in for feed and water as needed but they do not roost in there over night. I do not know where they go but I see them at least once or twice a day so I know they are still around. That is all I really wanted anyway.
Otherwise everything is about the same in our life. I hope everyone else has been just as boring. Because boring is the way I like it. Too much excitement just bring drama!

Happy Day to all!

I have a nest box about 14 inches high and 22 inches wide for the toads. They use it once in a while. They were using it all the time until the new ones started laying now they just make a indentation in the sand and fill it with eggs,



BTW the nest box only fits one toad at a time.


I think we need toad pictures and half-breed toad pictures.

 

[Cebarmlds]

Yes pictures please.

Still without power.

 

[MNChickMom]

Here is the temporary breeding pen for the buffs. Permanent pens will have hardware cloth.

 

[holm25]

Here is the temporary breeding pen for the buffs. Permanent pens will have hardware cloth.View attachment 1141247 View attachment 1141247 View attachment 1141249

Nice!