Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[kristip]

ok... after going to the great madison area coop tour.. I have so many questions. Does anyone here have a floor in your coop or is it just an oddity? i saw one person advertising a coop with floor and dont know if the cost is worth it. We are looking to build it now... if I can get Dh some good examples of what we want. Do you insulate the indoor coop area for winter?
We want a coop that we can walk into the run area or maybe the nest box part of the coop area( we are thinking in total 8-10 feet in length.... anyone have any good WI coops to show me?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Sweetfolly]

Quote:
Based on the fact that they both came from the same place, I suspect you have a Buff Orptington (YES, there's a Buff Orptington DUCK - there's a Buff Orptington chicken too

), and a Buff Orpington x Rouen or Mallard cross. Genetically, it makes sense. The color on the mixed-breed one is actually called "Blue Fawn", which I think is funny because that's exactly how you described it! It's the "Gray" (Mallard) pattern with one copy of the Blue dilution gene. The color on the one that I think is a pure Buff duck is...well, Buff.

It's the only duck BREED that's named after a color variety. Originally, they came in other colors and were just called Orpingtons, but the Buff is the preferred color, so here in the US they've only ever been known as Buff Orpingtons, or simply "Buffs". They're both just stunning, and the little 'scovy looking up at the camera is priceless!

I'm exhausted. Worked a 6-hour shift yesterday after I finished my schoolwork for the day, and skipped school today (it's just orientation week, so it's not like there are any strictly enforced due-dates, but I'm trying to work ahead so I have time to slack off later in the semester

) and worked a 9-hour shift today.

I need money to buy more Calls! Going to pick up the pair of Whites tomorrow, and possibly three more Call ducklings (they're really pretty, they're going to be sort of a Snowy or Silver Apricot color) from AlpineRanch tomorrow night or Tuesday. And then I'm DONE for the year, I promise!

BCC - LOVE the Splash silkie!

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Quote:
I have both floors and no floors, all depends what you need, the wost part with floors is if there is any space between the floor and ground you have the perfect hiding place for varments, and if you want to see a variety of coops I have, a 8x10 storage shed, 2 poly-dome calf hutches, a barn, a milk house, a duck shed that been turned into a place for chickens, a contractor shed, and a lean-to that has removable walls

 

[bigzio]

Evening Raiquee, just about to shut this box of bolts down for the day. Potatoes love ferterlizer. Once I dig the hole for the seed, i splash prolly a half (basic 10-10-10 ) cup onto the seed before I cover with soil.Then, later after the plants have grown to prolly 10" , I spread along the plants before they are hilled. I would never go with only variety. I like to plant at least one red and one white variety...the difference in the harvest can be either humbling, or shocking....fun for sure no matter what. It really helps one know what spud likes your soil. It seems to me that the kennebec have a green tendacy....smooth skin, but need a good hilling for sure.....wanna keep the sun off the spuds.
The june bug grubs can raise havoc with eaten spots in the spuds. Usually near the end of rows next to the sod is worst...when I dig a white mean old tato rubbing grub...the chicks have a feast.

Even all the little tiny spuds at harvest should be scrubbed and cooked for a kettle of the best little spuds...gotta leave the skin on....little butter....heaven...and a feeling of something special.
Sorry to Ramble... ~ bigzio

 

[Raiquee]

Annarie) Very intresting, thanks for the responce! They both have a decent amount of blue on them, the females is a lighter and the drakes is more prominant. But both definatly have blue on them. Do buffs generally have blue on them? If the buffs have no blue and just generally buff colored, I think I may have two crosses. Although he had another hen that didn't have hardly any blue on her. Well, I think I'll just call them my Blue Fawns for my own happiness

It's funny, because for chickens I know I want buff orps, as I love their color. I think I have a buff problem!!! I know, doesn't that scovie have a sassy face going on there! I feel so bad taking him out tonight, I've been checking on him and last I checked he had his his neck stretched over top of the hen. I just don't want any more scovie accidents!!!! Glad school is going good for you. I only had one day, but have a full week starting monday. So i'm chatting it up on my last weekend of freedom! I will post more pics of the duckies when they are outside.

Bigz) Thanks for the advice. Care to explain "hilling" to me? I always ask about potatoes and everyone says they aren't in my zone so therefore can't give me advice

Glad to have a WI thread!!!

 

[Sweetfolly]

Quote:
Buff is actually an unstable color, because it has the blue dilution! Genetically it's Dusky (which masks the eyestripes and the white neck-ring and claret breast in the males), plus the Brown dilution, the Buff dilution, and one dose of the Blue dilution.

Now, a true Buff only has one dose of the Blue dilution. There are also lighter and darker versions that have no Blue dilution (Brown), and a double-dose (Blonde) - a double Blue dilution lightens the overall color to more silver - it doesn't make the blue stand out any more or anything like that. If you breed two "true" Buffs together, you're only going to get about 50% Buff offspring colored like the parents with one Blue dilution, 25% Blondes with a double dose, and 25% Browns with no Blue at all.

You might have two mixes - but that one has really good Buff coloring! I've been trying to find Buff Call ducks, and that's just the color I want them to be - I'm jealous!

 

[kristip]

Buck creek...I would love to see some pics of your coops. Is there a benefit to the floor or is dirt just fine...

Sarah... would love to show my dh your coop... I think it is wonderful and we are south of madison and there often...

anyone else have any pics of coops they care to show me? I am dying to get started on this now... of course after my 4 year old twins birthday party next weekend... have to get therough that first!

 

[Dr HaHa]

Good Cool Morning Everyone! Too bad it's not going to stay that way. Bigz I really appreciate your offer on the Buckeyes but was just thinking yesterday that I'd like to continue with the slw's. With all their good traits of being broody and good layers. That tom soup sounds great! Went out to put them to bed last night and the slw's are still refusing to use the roost since I moved it. Might close off the communal box to force them back on. Was going to set them on it and tried to grab Buster and he bit me hard, he didn't like being disturbed on the nest. Might be from the attack of just being defensive. kristip I have a concrete floor in my coop and think that is the way to go but it would be very expensive so I think I would go with dirt if I built another coop. But would have to bury a barrier for digging varmints. Have 3 swing up windows on the south side and the doors are big enough to get a wheelbarrow thru for clean outs. I added a run on the south side. I partitoned off the inside for a small area for feed and straw that later became an appartment for chicks and is now back to storage and will become an appartment again for P and Btwo when I take them out of the brooder box. Have some styrofoam sheets that are going in the ceiling before winter. Would like to insulate the whole thing but then it would have to have sheeting to keep the chickens away from it. I use the deep littler method and a heat lamp when it gets really cold. And a heated waterer that I made. The whole set up works great with the exception one thing. It's not big enough!

I'll get some pics for ya today. Heading out to pick cuc's for the bait shop lady and carrots for the BFF then over to his house to swap for banana peppers and maters. We're both sitting here laughing at Buster crowing. His voice has gotten a lot better!

 

[WiscoChiko]

Hey kristip, Here's a link to the coop I'm building I am new as well an am putting in a floor mostly for insulation! I will put down lanoliam sp* on the floor perches ect. once done and I am thinking once done with mine and it will be spectacular I will be able to build spec. coops for around 500$ I used treated wood and will shingle it as well, it is 4x8 and 2 (4 each) side boxes with hinged tops to collect eggs, windows, closable vents, chicken and people door!!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=391883 and looking for breed info so fellow wisconsinites check it out and give me some input Please. I am wondering where I will get my hens? I see Ideal and mypetchicken both only sell chicks? I can't have roosters! Thanks, Mitch
P.s. I should have updated pics of my progress tonight!

 

[Raiquee]

Annarie) So, If I am understanding you correctly, they aren't "crosses" per say because of the blue in them. They are more crosses ( well the male) because of his patterning? So, my hen could be a true buff, and true buffs could have varying in color of blue due to them being "unstable". I think? lol. Genetics always fascinated me, but I'm framilar with reptile genetics, which has a lot of co-dom and recessive and thats it going on! It will be intresting to see what their babies look like...although we were just going to collect the eggs...maybe I will have to make an exception...

Well, the duck pen goes up today! Excitied. I can get these big (and smelly!) ducks outta my house! I took the baby out last night and he cried and cried and cried

I felt terrible. The drake seems good with him, I wonder if hes past that "annoying duckling stage", seeing as the scovie is half the size of the female! I will take pictures when it's done and the blue fawns are outside!! I want them to go in the duck igloos, as I think it's going to be funny! (When we had geckos, they all had their own mini gecko igloo and I'd love it when they'd lay it in with their butts hanging out!!)

DrH) Lookit those cute fuzzies! Look at those chickens saying "who are you?!"

Kristi) It may not help you but I am doing floorless on my duck pen. I couldn't imagine having a wood plank down, the wet part of their poop is going to soak into that and its going to get soft after years and...blech if you ask me!! But thats just me. I'm a neat freak. I would go dirt, and then you can rake it out! I also think awhile ago you asked what to do with tomatoes? If you look in the recipe section on here, a member made sun-dried tomatoes and packed them in oil! I think a great way to help perserve them!