Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[slc]

Its so cold here on the Michigan border that there is glitter falling from thin air. -13 with no windchill. The moisture in the air is freezing without a cloud in sight. Brutal but beautiful.

 

[Hurley]

Welp, sent off my chick order for this spring. Since I can only find 2 sources for Iowa Blues and 1 is Ideal, I'm ordering from Sand Hill Preservation and since it's snail mail only with them, figured I'd ship the order off while I am thinking about it.

The order is to start my flock of Iowa Blues and to purchase a variety pack of animals I like for my layer pen (with the others going into the soup pot pen).

So, in the incubator currently (hope I get something to hatch, but we'll see...first timer for chick eggs, though I'm a master snake egg hatcher

):

9 - Marans, Blue Cuckoo
2 - Marans, Black Copper
5 - Silkies, White
12 - Ameraucanas, Black/Blue/Splash
8 - Cochins, Silkied, Black and Barred


Ordered chicks for spring:

3 - White La Fleche
3 - Black La Fleche
2 - Sicilian Buttercup
3 - Silver Spitzhauben
2 - Columbian Wyandotte
2 - Silver Penciled Wyandotte
2 - Silver Laced Wyandotte
10 - Iowa Blues


The chickens are doing pretty well out in their snug insulated little coop. They even came out today to snack on some seed, bananas, apple, and bits of hot dog and didn't seem traumatized by the snow too badly.

Updated pic of the incubator with the Cochins added (came a little later than the rest). Will probably pick up another hovabator for hatching so I don't mess them up, assuming they candle as developing.

 

[Terri O]

Just got in from "the great water adventure." Ya never know what will happen with that hose. Today it looks like the rubber one will have to be replaced soon...at least the last 10' of it! There is a nasty kink that just doesnt want to go away and it is starting to rip through to the core. Sure hope I can get another...otherwise it is piece them together AGAIN! Oh wait...probably they will have seeds and hoses back in stock by New Year's so I will be in luck...they should be bringing the swimming suits out about then too.

My JRT is laying here on the couch (in the coffee shoppe) next to me and is shivering to beat the band! Poor dog...NOT! They were very bad yesterday and got to fighting and I had blood all over my floor...along with 4 piles of sh*&! And that was just after I had them outside for half an hour!
Mr Buffo the hangin' Roo is still hanging out in my kitchen...he looks a bit better today. I hate to make any decision when he is still alert and eating and drinking well...call me a softy!
WIChCh--I would just go with the types that catch your fancy! I enjoy my mutts most of all...get a few breeds and let them raise their babies and see what you get! Today I was admiring a little hen with a topknot. She is lack and white with the partridge pattern and feathered legs too. No idea what she is but that is the "beauty" of my flock; to me at least.
Glad to see you back BBCB--you were typing the same time I was! I love your statement about "running out of the coop like they're late for work." Cracked me up! If your coop is well ventilated and dry you really dont need supplemental heat except for the waterer. And you dont need to spend $$ on that either...check out this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=107951 This is what I use with my 7 gal waterer and it works very well with a 60W bulb in it. I use a porcelain socket inside instead of what he shows though. I am terrified of fire too!
Well--I better get back to work...finishing insulating the windows in the back room today and rearranging too...and DD wants me to come to Zumba class tonight! Terri O

 

[cedar post]

Hey Hurley, The wyandottes your ordering are they Large Fowl? Great to see someone ordering Iowa Blues prety rare stuff there. Tried to get a tree today the cut your own place we normally go to was closed but enjoyed the ride. Hafta go back on Fri. Mike

 

[Dandelion Acres]

Tis time for some Roo's to meet their maker and if they thought it was cold outside, it's even colder where they are headed. I let them go too long and they absolutely destroyed our Frizzle hen. I knew I should have done it sooner. Have a great night all!

 

[Hurley]

Wooo! Just saw the rooster breeding my blue Ameraucana, so here's to hoping for some blue eggs starting to be laid in my little hen house!

Right now the only roosters I have are Blue Cuckoo Marans, so that would make for some interesting Olive Egger hatchlings down the road, may have to keep a few just to have a few green eggs in the basket!

 

[Dandelion Acres]

The deed is done....LOL. Now time to start getting my orders ready for spring and get them sent off, dang, will I ever catch up???? Have a great night all, and as always snuggle in tight and Stay Warm!!!!

 

[bigzio]

Evening All...good to hear from you BBCB. Life is definitely a mission at best!
The local breeder I deal with has Delawares, as most of you know. he will maybe have iowa Blues this spring too.
Jim is having trouble with the clutch on his oliver, my ford is still dead....Ahhhh to be young again and have young equipment that is dependable.
I'm gonna splitt some of the pile tomorrow.
Yep DA, it's hard but part of the whole process....the survivors will be glad you saved them too!
Alot has to enter into this flock raising process. the mental part is also a huge part of the whole scheme. Taking action will mature not only your feelings, but also keep the piece within the flock that has to spend all their time together. Hope i made sense...good luck!
~ bigzio

 

[Hurley]

Very cool, let me know if he does have some Iowa Blues this spring. I've only found 2 sources for them and am not interested in ordering from Ideal, so really 1 source. Would like to diversify the group as much as possible, though that's asking a lot of a breed that is nearly extinct I guess.

Stay warm everyone ~ 7 degrees here and dropping fast.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Evening everyone, getting cold again outside-just came in from taking the dogs outside for last potty.... of course our nuty Irish Setter doesn't want to go out and get her feet cold so she is a challenge

.

Collected 10 eggs out of possible 12- 2 decided not to lay today but on a good note all 4 of the Partridge Bantam Cochins actually laid!

Have 13 of these egg in the incuabtor for New Years Day hatch-

hoping that we will get a couple good eggs from the group that hatch.

BBCB- are the girls you got from us laying yet or don't you use any lights on them?

Stay warm!