Surviving Minnesota!

[ejb3810]

Stringbean there is a couple right in your neighborhood who raise Marans and sell chicks and started birds I believe. the name has escaped me at the moment but that is what happens as one continues to approach the century mark.

 

[I Love Layers]

I am going to try a new feeder too. The search for the perfect feeder goes on,and on, and on.

I am finding those I made are jamming and the feed is packing in the throat just before the feeder part.

The feeder in my brooder made of PVC is the perfect feeder! Your birds will waste no food. I have 19, two to three week old chicks, in the last 2 weeks, using one of the PVC feeders they have eaten less than 2 gallons of feed, that is with access to it 24/7. I also have one for my layers and the amount you save on feed is tremendous! Plus they are really easy to make, all we used was a hole saw and duct tape(covering up the ends of the pipe since we are cheap and don't want to buy caps lol)

 

[xXStringbeanXx]

I found that to happen under them and they got stuck in weird places with it, then died. While the idea is great, I found the actual use of it lacking and went back to heat lamps. If you want something other than a heat lamp I suggest you try the heating "plates" they make for chickens. They sit on them. There is a thermostat built into them so they do not get too hot.....Some times the old way is just the simplest and best.

I’m going to keep trying, as I have (and this is one attempt) had good results with this. Even mister skeptical is starting to like it and sees the birds feathering out faster. Due to the shape of the giant stove box I converted into a brooder, there is an escape tunnel out the back too. I’m already plotting new ways based on others thoughts. Could easily build it into a platform style heater instead of a big archway...

Stringbean there is a couple right in your neighborhood who raise Marans and sell chicks and started birds I believe. the name has escaped me at the moment but that is what happens as one continues to approach the century mark.

I’m sure I’ll run into them. Wonder if they are one of the two Houses I pass that sell eggs.

 

[holm25]

Sitting in the hospital... My Great Grandma fell last night and broke her hip... At 94 that is quite a big deal...

 

[I Love Layers]

Oh no! I hope she gets better!

 

[ejb3810]

My prayers are with you Holms. That is a major concern at that age.

 

[duluthralphie]

Sitting in the hospital... My Great Grandma fell last night and broke her hip... At 94 that is quite a big deal...

At that age anything is a big deal! She has my prayers. Best of everything to your whole family.

You people on BYC are bad for me!

I advocate never candling eggs. Today I broke the rule, out of boredom and it being the 90th day of January and all.....


I managed to drop one egg after I candle it, confirming it was a non-starter.

I am thinking I am back to saving and marking eggs. I found only a couple PC eggs that were any good.

2 toad eggs is all, less than half the CLB eggs, and only 2 white legbar eggs. The turkey eggs were doing good, to see any development in them at day 5 is amazing.

Besides the egg that did not bounce when it hit the cement floor, I threw out two other eggs. One was a patched egg, It had lost too much volume the other was one that I missed during the initial candling that had a crack all around the bottom.

 

[I Love Layers]

I felt bad for the birds this morning so I shoveled them a small path to eat this morning

Pictures of the Blues

 

[holm25]

Thanks all... It seems like we have been here more than our fair share the last few weeks...

 

[duluthralphie]

I forgot to mention Knucklehead might be on his way out of the breeding pen. It appears he has no idea he is suppose to be breeding.

I am thinking of giving one of my cockerels from last fall a couple girls. I like his looks even as a cockerel.... Also I picked up the "black" PC cockerel yesterday....He screams like a girl. But sure looks nice.

One of the larger Cockerels (Jan 5th hatch) came over and acted all roostery, like he was going to protect the PC. It was funny to watch.