Surviving Minnesota!

[Cebarmlds]

Is he eating size yet?

For a toddler.

 

[BantyChooks]

My first rooster crow of the day was a minute ago. I have had about 100 since. I so love the sound of crowing roosters!

I only have 8 crowing roosters but along with the neighbour's birds there's probably about 20 that sound off from dusk to dawn. Yes, yes, I know, you have more than that by a power of tree, but you're just nuts.

 

[lvie]

Good Morning Chickeners . . . . Nice to read you. Welcome ChicksMN. I know of Lakeville. Went to school there for a few months during my senior year. One school then.

I have read about the rotation method of pasturing chickens. It seems like a good idea if a person has the space. as long as the flock has access to that nice 6 x 8 coop from all three runs during the duration of each rotation. Netting, supported by cross beams of some kind, would work I bet. I would go that route because of the cost and it can always be changed out later. Whatever you do will need some kind of support anyway. Have you ever been on this adventure before? That is, Chickens.

I am thinking of another downsizing. I went from 24 to 17 and then was gifted Ony - who, by the way, is doing very well now. She has finally figured out how to get up on the outdoor roost (in the run) to get into the coop for roosting overnight. Otherwise I was putting her on the roost each night. So she is really thriving now. Ralphie, if you want to show her in Hutch I will help get her ready. Such a sweet thing.

My downsizing plan is to put the one RIR and BO and Ony over in the coop with the other twelve for the winter. That would be 16 in that coop with access to the little bit of run that they have. One source of water and food for the winter instead of trying to keep it fresh in the small coop. That means that two birds are going to freezer camp IF I follow through with this plan. I have not had one egg out of that small coop in over a month now and previously I was getting only one egg. That is five free-loaders. The BO and RIR look beautiful but is that any reason to keep them in my flock when they are not laying?

I have dusted them and they do not look or act like they have lice or mites. I have wormed them. I have added extra protein and supplements to their food. It has been all summer with the one egg a day and maybe three blue eggs. All summer. Maybe the BO should go to freezer camp also. I guess I am asking what you think fellow chickeners. Will those BO ever lay again? This is their second winter.

 

[jerryse]

Morning .

 

[MNChickMom]

Yokis and Buckeyes?

You are correct o wise one.

7 little yokis and 4 Buckeyes - 1 toad started but quit by about day 7, 2 more early quitters. I had some trouble with the temp dropping to 98 degrees. I hope to fix that with my new to me "used" incubaters.

 

[MNChickMom]

I am thinking of another downsizing.
The BO and RIR look beautiful but is that any reason to keep them in my flock when they are not laying?

Will those BO ever lay again? This is their second winter.

One should never cull a Buff Orpington they are tooo beautiful and they clean up all the spilled food so nicely......and every other morsel of food available.

Now, in seriousness....I have only had both show quality and hatchery stock buff orpingtons...they are all finicky about coming back into laying after a molt, after being traumatized by being re-homed, and are slow to start up in the spring again. We keep our hatchery buff orpington for one reason only she is an amazing broody momma. No one and I no one will come between her and her chicks.

 

[MNChickMom]

Welcome ChicksMN!

As for a run, we prefer putting a industrial tarp over our runs as it also provides shade in the summer. We have 3 runs, one has the bird netting (it is in a shady part of our yard) and the netting is going on winter #3. Like DuluthRalphie commented zip ties (cable ties) become your best friend for quick fixes.

 

[BantyChooks]

Like DuluthRalphie commented zip ties (cable ties) become your best friend for quick fixes.

Absolutely.

 

[duluthralphie]

Ivie, Thanks for the offer and I would have taken you up on showing her monday.

But they printed the final list yesterday. We have 24 cream legbars being shown from 5 exhibitors! I am so happy, we will be the first 4x4 qualifying show for Cream legbars! We have a board meeting on Saturday of the Cream Legbar club, so if you have any request or suggestions about the SOP's let me know. I have a couple I want to bring up, which will go no where, but I will be arguing for smaller combs and larger crests on both sexes.

I know the color of the crest on the gold creole girls will be brought up. The debate is whether Black is an acceptable color, I think it should be the big black crests are beautiful. Of course, what legbar is not beautiful.

 

[BantyChooks]

Of course, what legbar is not beautiful.

A wicked broody one?