Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[1876 Farm]

I figured since you all ate up Anellias photo I'd share a short video I took of her Monday morning. She's such a card with her expressions.

Sorry it's sideways, I still don't know how to operate my phone right to take videos. Hope you enjoy.

Your GD is adorable!

Happy Friday everyone! Love the chick pictures everyone. My eggs go into lock down on Tuesday.. can't wait!

I'll be with some of you... planting trees this weekend.

Have a good weekend!!

 

[cuties]

Those who are looking for silkies and bantams, syd could spare a couple.
White silkies
Modern gam bantem, birchen and pied.
You can pm for details. I will be heading to madn tomorrow.
Feel free to pm for details. Busy at work, and will get back to you as soon as possible

 

[unkadan]

Picked up 5 Wheaton Ameraucana tonight.... They are 1.3 weeks old. I wonder if the lighter winged chicks are hens and the darker winged chicks roos

I raise Wheaton/BlWheaton you could be right on the darker wing feathers, some suggest that the females will start tail development first. I just wait until the back feathers come in (around 4 weeks) the males will have dark feathers on the back for sure.
I have 12 chicks in the brooder now, with another set of eggs in the hatcher and one more in the sportsman. These are small batches I am working with 3 hens this year (I held back the 2 pullets) and one pretty nice cockerel. He will go in single mating with the best hen soon, this year I am working on increasing size and hopefully removing the black in the hackles.
Ameraucanas will test your patience but are great for our weather and are fun birds IMO. My stock came from Wayne Meredith 3 years ago, last year my plan was upset when a fox got that original cockerel, I only had one small batch for hatching.

good luck and enjoy!

 

[1876 Farm]

I raise Wheaton/BlWheaton you could be right on the darker wing feathers, some suggest that the females will start tail development first. I just wait until the back feathers come in (around 4 weeks) the males will have dark feathers on the back for sure.
I have 12 chicks in the brooder now, with another set of eggs in the hatcher and one more in the sportsman. These are small batches I am working with 3 hens this year (I held back the 2 pullets) and one pretty nice cockerel. He will go in single mating with the best hen soon, this year I am working on increasing size and hopefully removing the black in the hackles.
Ameraucanas will test your patience but are great for our weather and are fun birds IMO. My stock came from Wayne Meredith 3 years ago, last year my plan was upset when a fox got that original cockerel, I only had one small batch for hatching.

good luck and enjoy!

Nice to see another Wheaton Ameraucana person here! These chicks parents came from Wayne Meredith last year... until 2 days ago I hadn't even heard of him. He lives about 8 minutes from me and is walking distance from my DD French Horn teacher. Small world!!

Now I just need to learn everything I can so I can tell what is good in looks, size, etc.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Woolychicks

Hello all,
I'm a brand new member of the site, and brand new to raising backyard chickens. I've just bought a pre-fab coop, and am building an extended coop and run for the hens I will be getting this summer/fall. I am wondering where around Madison I can go to get good stock Buff Orpington hen chicks this spring, or hens this fall. Also, If there are any tips that spring to mind (I've read all the forums on that subject, but there's always more, right?)
Any suggestions? Thanks!

Woolychicks - I am in the same situation as you. The only place I can think of is Abendroth but I am not sure of the "Quality" http://abendrothshatchery.com/egg.html. I am looking for bantams so I will either be going there to pick up a few (I am in Columbus) or I will be going to the Watertown Tractor Supply Company and hope they have a better selection of batams.

Does anyone have pictures of their hens from either TSC or Abendroth?

If you are looking for good quality stock, TSC is not the place. They order from the "big box" hatcheries that are most concerned with the almighty dollar. IMHO. I have zero experience with Abendroths so I can't help you there, but I am sure someone on here will know something about them.

Wooly, I am not sure what sort of tips you are looking for? Anything in particular?

If you are interested in info on raising chicks, this is a decent link:
http://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-care/chapter-4-caring-for-baby-chicks.aspx

http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/raising-chicks.aspx#axzz2zv2Qmq9I

And here are a couple links for newbies:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/home...-for-chickens-chickens-101.aspx#axzz2zv2Qmq9I

http://www.motherearthnews.com/home.../get-started-with-chickens.aspx#axzz2zv2Qmq9I

 

[wildsam]

Finally the rain stopped and the sun is really trying hard to peak out between more rain clouds!

Had to take my one Rouen drake inside. He has been mostly unresponsive for the past couple of days, standing in the rain looking like a drowned dog, not preening, not quacking, just standing in the corner of their area giving up. Best would be a Rouen girl, but almost anything would be oki with him, as he is very gentle and sensitive.

I was holding him for almost 3 hours in my arms, wrapped in a towel to dry off and he was barely breathing in the beginning. Just clamped onto my shirt under my hair with his beak. No struggling, no quaking, no nothing. I was so afraid I'm gonna loose him!

Now he's in a big cage in the bathroom under a heat lamp, he is holding himself up again now, quaked a bit and started preening! Just want some company for my poor one year old Tony! Somewhere here in the Northwest (Barron would be great, Jim!) would be great.

Gotta separate him out now but was wondering if anyone has maybe a female duck to spare?!

Gonna go back taking care of the racing ducklings now. Lol. SO actually got me another Pekin duckling this week as I was so tempted to get one this weekend when we went shopping at L&M. And more ducklings and pheasants to hatch soon. Joy!

 

[jvls1942]

somebody with a Hova GQF factory preset incubator..

How do you move the 1 to 8 toggle switches ?

do they move hard ?

what do you use for a tool ?

I will be waiting for a reply ..

thank you.......

.......jiminwisc......

 

[Amyb874]

Good news!!! My dad was at an senior resource event today and ran into the Treasurer of Zion Council and he asked about my ordinance proposal and what was happening with it and that it seems to not be progressing. She said the man you want to talk with is over there. So my dad went over to this guy, mentioned me, the guy was VERY familiar with who I was and mentioned that the council had already agreed and approved the ordinance, but that it would take a little while to get it all on paper. SO, although it isn't official, my proposal for ordinance change to allow chickens & bees has passed!!!!!!!!

Congrats on that!!! I don't live in Belleville, but have heard a few complain that the town doesn't allow. I don't think anyone has pushed for it at all though.

 

[Amyb874]

Hi all! my new roo "Mister" is settling right in with the girls and getting bold enough to start acting like a roo should!

a few of my hens have bare backs/spots on the wing base from the old roosters mounting simultaneously (both ended up dinner) and I'm wondering if I need to/can do anything to help the feathers grow back quicker. I do have them on Feather Fixer. Should I get an 'apron' for the one with the most bare back? How often do I need to take it off? suggestions helpful! Thanks!

Congrats of the hatches, Welcome to the newbies! This is a great group and a wealth of knowledge!

Jim, we've planted our share of trees here. 9500 eight years ago and 5000 two years ago that didn't survive the drought which we had to REDO last year! Have fun!

~thankful the rain has stopped and the sun is out!

 

[Kelsykin]

Apparently I am insane. Simply, because instead of going to the store and paying 5 dollars for a tiny jar of the only mass produced mayonnaise that does not contain soybean in any way, shape or form, I spent an hour looking at recipes to make my own with the items I have on hand. I wanted to make some macaroni salad this weekend and we are out of mayo. So I decided to see how hard it is to make on my own. Might take me a half an hour to make the same amount I as the store bought safe for me to eat mayo. Anybody know why the brother who went to culinary school is not allowed to cook or food shop? My husband does not want to be a widower anytime soon. lol

We did manage to get a few of the rabbit cages moved and set up today. Tomorrow we shall be moving the nasty rabbit who shall be dinner to an outside cage. He is really a nasty dirty rabbit. Once we are done half the garage will be for the rabbits and the other half shall be storage for non rabbit things. We also have to clean the chicken area out. Then I have to clean out the junk from around the garage. We need to mark out the duck pen expansion. We will also have to figure out how we plan to set up the duck and turkey houses in the expanded yard / pen.