Surviving Minnesota!

[Cebarmlds]

Lvie are you giving the chick electrolytes?

Yes my coop is insulated.

 

[hmarg06]

I think I did introduce myself about a year ago, and that was about all I posted so that's why no one knows me. I can do it again though. Like you've gathered by now, I'm from SE MN. I currently have Buckeyes, Blue Laced Red Wyandottes, Muscovies, and a pair of Mandarin ducks. I haven't shown any birds since I was in 4-H, but someday would like to possibly get into it again. I'll have to buy my own house first, and actually have a place to breed chickens. I rent a farm house from my gma, but my cousin has all the workable spots on the farm taken, and what I have just doesn't work. I'm actually thinking of cutting wayyyyy back. If anyone needs any Buckeye cockerels, or Blue Laced Red Roosters, please, let me know. I'll give you a deal. The Buckeyes are hatchery (I'm probably just going to end up eating them), the BLRW are not. I also may have a a pair or two of scovies I'd let go. I need to get my feed bill to where it needs to be haha! I'd consider selling the Mandarins also, but I'd like about what I paid for them, I think $80. I didn't mean for this to turn into a sales pitch, but I guess it's been on my mind, and why not start with poultry lovers. I live vicariously through all your breeding and showing ventures, and imagine that I'll get to join in in the sooner vs later future!

 

[BantyChooks]

Blue Laced Red Wyandottes

Hey, were you the one with the gorgeous BLRW cock in some contests? Red barn behind the bird, I think? Username seems right now that I think on it.

I wasn't subscribed a year ago so thanks for re-posting

 

[BantyChooks]

Anyone offering me Coyotes can keep those haha. Some nights they start up their howling while I'm closing up the chickens, and my God, I feel like I'm walled in. It comes from every direction around me. One was only in a few rows in the cornfield that ran next to my yard this year when I was out playing with my dog, luckily he doesn't seem to pay them any attention. I'm not sure if that's good or bad?? The field is only about 40 yards from the house, and we were between there and the field. Too close for me.

But I have so many pretty ones you could have

 

[hmarg06]

Yea, I did enter him in the calendar contest, and he got picked!

Thank you for the offer of coyotes, I'm sure yours are quite lovely, but that would be one of the animals I wouldn't accept

 

[holm25]

Hmarg how do you like your Buckeyes? I have Buckeyes from some great breeding stock and I love them. BUT I am not happy with my babies from this year. I have found some white on the young cockerels and am hoping they grow out of it. If not I guess I will send them to new homes.... I do have some nice pullets though...

Never have had adult wyandottes... Probably never will.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Very cool! I'm glad you can still pass on the love of farming to your kids! I like visiting lakes, but I think I's miss the bluffs if I left. I grew up in Wilson, which is just outside Winona city limits, but I worked in Lewiston for a while, and know that area pretty well!

I hate to keep bringing this to the top, I only go on here about this time on weekdays while I eat my lunch.

Anyone offering me Coyotes can keep those haha. Some nights they start up their howling while I'm closing up the chickens, and my God, I feel like I'm walled in. It comes from every direction around me. One was only in a few rows in the cornfield that ran next to my yard this year when I was out playing with my dog, luckily he doesn't seem to pay them any attention. I'm not sure if that's good or bad?? The field is only about 40 yards from the house, and we were between there and the field. Too close for me.

I'm going to try to participate in conversation a little more. I've just been stalking the thread for about a year now . I feel like I kind of know you guys, but you have no idea who I am.

Well you seem like our kind of people and glad you spoke up and are not just stalking. we are sort of an intimidating crew, set in our ways, crotchety, fun-polkers, (or is that just me...?! ) Anyways you are welcome. Besides you need to keep me in tune with the bluff country area.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

@hmarg06 There is a breeder just off HWY 52 for Buckeyes. She has worked on them with great effort and has a very nice line (originally from Duane Urch lines) She is getting out of most of her birds but the Bucks are her pride and joy. She's on BYC irregularly. Minniechickmomma is her handle on here. You will find they are very nice birds. Large. Nice demeanor. Overly friendly, excellent foragers (and mousers). She's not too far of a drive for good stock. She cares alot about her birds and their development and it shows.

 

[duluthralphie]

Hmarg how do you like your Buckeyes? I have Buckeyes from some great breeding stock and I love them. BUT I am not happy with my babies from this year. I have found some white on the young cockerels and am hoping they grow out of it. If not I guess I will send them to new homes.... I do have some nice pullets though...

Never have had adult wyandottes... Probably never will.

I know of a purpose for those cockerels,,,And I would gladly take one!!!

 

[hmarg06]

I did send a message to the e-mail on Urch's site, or list, about getting some Buckeyes, but never got a response, and it was probably too late in the year anyway. I just ordered some from Meyer instead. I'd rather have non hatchery stock at some point though, they seem smaller than what I thought they'd be. They are pretty obnoxious really, in an endearing way. I'm always tripping over them, and they seem to want to bite my clothing. It's the cockerels that do it, and it doesn't seem to be aggressive. It's more like they're playing with my pants? They just peck and grab them lightly, more like a nibble, than a peck.

I'm fine with eating the extra Buckeye cockerels, but I haven't been able to eat any of Wyandottes. They come from great blood, and are so pretty, it kills me to think about eating them. I have 2 hens, and 7 roosters/cockerels, it's ridiculous. They really aren't that hard on the hens even oddly. They are all so gentlemen-ly I just can't do it I started with a dozen and had 7 hens and 5 roosters, but somehow every one I lost was a hen. Even more aggravating, everything I hatch turns out to be a cockerel