Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[delisha]

Cs, busy day yesterday.
The pens have an open bottom. I move them around every day. That way, they get fresh grass, and not enough time to dig big holes. I make sure they always have shade. We have tons of trees here. And if it rains, scott has plywood that we put over the top. And the corner box has no bottom or front. It is for shade/shelter. And I keep her food dish in there.
These pens are temporary. They are in better/off the ground cafes in the winter. I also move them into the barn when it is cold. I give my bunnies hutches.I will provide hutches in the winter. I will send a pic for you tomorrow. Some people dont like them. Say it gets too much moisture in there and causes pneumonia. I keep mine dry and fresh. Havent had isssues.
Ok! I think that is everything. But keep asking questions. I dont mind and I'm pretty sure cc has good advice to offer too!

Sorry about your kitty stacy. I know it is very hard :'(

Vicki, how are the shipped chicks doing? The one with the bad legs?

My shipped eggs are done hatching. all 6 hatched. So I have 6 D'uucles. The one with leg issues is not noticeable from the others. They are all outside.

Quote: I love her blue..that is perfect slate..what a pretty girl

A question for all you Wisconsin poultry folks please.

I am going to have to make some hard decisions soon on my remaining battery girls. My poor little Crockpot with leukosis will have to be mercifully culled before winter if her condition does not deem sooner. Mamma s waterbelly has actually gotten better but she never started to lay again. Another hard decision. The last one, Soup, when she did lay her eggs were literally filled with blood spots and large pigment and tissue sheds to the point of disgusting but now hasn't laid at all for more than a month.

Anyway, this is going to lead to some vacancies in my coop. I am considering filling these with BA's, but I don't want hatchery/production BA' s, instead I would like to get hold of some quality pullets. Anyone have a recommendation? Or possible other suggestion for my northern coop?

Thank you in advance for your help and or advice.

I have never owned BA's. They are close enough to Orpingtons that they should be a good choice for winters in WI. I really do not know anyone who has pure aussie birds. Most have hatchery and they are not the same. The only one I know about that does not have hatchery is in Bancroft WI.

http://ourflybabies-chickensforsale.com/

 

[vickiw]

vicki I would think you could scratch northern winters as a requirement, you have a heated coop, hot meals, a maid, a nurse, and cook on call 24/7.
Pick a breed you like the looks of, do the research then find a breeder
There should be some great BA's here in the state and in the U.P. one of the best breeders for many years lived 2 hrs north of us. I'm pretty sure some of his genetics are still around the area (he dispersed his flock a few years ago I am told)

IF you are looking for some young pullets now is the time to get communication going with breeders, most will have juvenile birds available this time of year. Most clubs have websites with breeders lists.

bbl

Thanks Dan. I really want chicks but they have to be girls. Hubby just doesn't want any roo' s (yet, hehehe) I was feeling a little sorry for my girls tho so after I washed the walls of the coop the other day day I put up some PlayGirl hen style pics of roosters on their walls. Honest. Hubby just rolled his eyes when he popped his head in and saw what I was doing
Speaking of warm meals, the girls are starting to chatter on the back steps for their supper and you know how chilly it is up here today so I better get busy and make their oatmeal!

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Dominique?

Same baby

 

[Bigfamily4me]

possible Dominique

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Hershey's kiss

 

[Bigfamily4me]

barred baby Lav Orp

 

[delisha]

CC..

You ever hatch a blue out of your Hershey eggs?

 

[delisha]

barred baby Lav Orp

Hershey eyes

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Chunky monkey Lav Orp

 

[delisha]

cute chicks Heather..