Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[DutchClutch]

Where about in the state are you located, if you don't mind me asking, and what breeds are you interested in? There may be someone on here close to you that could help you out with chicks or eggs, or at least might be able to point you in the right direction. Sorry if I asked you this before but with all the newbies pouring in all at once, I can't keep you all straight.      

I am near the Wausau area. We would like to start out with some Orpingtons, the kids would like to show them in the fair. Possibly some Delaware, too. I wouldn't mind traveling a few hours to pick them up to avoid sending the chicks by mail. Hoping to find birds that are being bred to standard and not just "mass-produced" for profit regardless of trait. The idea of the Blue, Black and Splash Orpingtons would be fun.

 

[jvls1942]

good morning, looks like I signed off too soon last night,,

I think there is a lot of halabaloo with shipping eggs from country to country,,

there has to be someone with ducks near you..

Frenchy, be wary of the incubation and hatching thread on byc.. there is so much conflicting misinformation that it will do nothing but confuse you,,

start with a plan. then stick to it,, don't keep second guessing and changing just because you have read this or that somewhere.. keep track of what you did, how your hatch came out, adjust if you need to and start again with your new plan,,

the plugs are more for humidity control .. leave them out during incubation, put them/it in at lockdown to raise the humidity,, your incubators are not so air tight that the chicks will suffocate or not dry off..

sometimes I think the hatching instructions that come with the incubators are written by someone who never hatched a batch.. technical writers ..

CC, Dutch is from Wausau, just a few miles from me,,
here is where I would say, "sad when the mind goes" but I won't ..because I am turning over a new leaf and not teasing any more..

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

 

[Huntress78]

There are so many opinions! Deep litter, shavings, pellets, straw, sand....

Everyone's set up is different so you have to use what works for you. If you're new to this it may take a year or two for you to try different things and get to know your coop...how it reacts to the weather and how much ventilation you'll need at different times of the year. What works in a wood coop may not work in a metal one. What works in the coop may not be a good option in the run/pen.

Make a list with pros/cons and start with the one you think will best work for YOU. This is my list...

Deep litter: This needs to be done right or ammonia can build up and cause respiratory problems in your birds. I think it's best done in a large coop with a dirt floor but by adding the wood chips Jim has proved it works on concrete as well.
Straw: Fine for a small coop but it mats down and can be difficult to remove from a large one. I use it in the runs in winter. Throw some out after a snowfall and clean it out in spring with a pitchfork.
Hay: Mats down the same as straw. Is more absorbent I think but be careful to use only alfalfa hay. I have had hens eat grass hay and get impacted crops.
Pellets: Never tried them. I feed All-Flock pellets and have always been afraid the birds would eat the bedding pellets.
Sand: Easy to screen the solid waste out but you might get ammonia build up from urates if not well vented. Sand is so heavy I don't think I'd want to shovel in/out of the coop.
Wood shavings. Absorbent, light weight and easy to shovel. Doesn't mat down but does break down and get dusty. I use this in both the coops and pens.
Leaves: Use them a lot in the fall for the coops and pens. They need to be dry for use in the coop or can mold.

I don't know if anyone mentioned this already but I use them and love it....poop boards. Mine are covered in PDZ and I screen it out with a cat litter scoop every day or two. This way at least half of the droppings are being removed daily and the shavings on the floor stay cleaner longer.

Good luck with your birds!

 

[cuties]

Jim, you will become so boring

Dutch, Delisha has some beautiful English Orpington. She shows and cares greatly about the quality of her birds. If I were you I would pm her. She attends the bash each year. I however do not know if she plans to this year. Perhaps you could attend. If not, maybe Jim could help you with a chicken train from the bash?

 

[wyoDreamer]

I have decided to wait on getting chicks until the beginning of May. We have to go to a wedding down in Missouri at the end of April, and since it is family, all my family will be there also so no-one to come check on animals for us. It just seems like it would be easier to wait until we get back to get chicks. That gives me time to finish the coop and get the brooder set up out there also. I think I will have DH buy me one of those Brinsea Ecoglow chick brooders for our anniversary which is at that time also. It seems like that would be easier than using a heat lamp out in the barn - and all the worry about burning down the building.

 

[DutchClutch]

What is the bash date, would love to go!

 

[Celtic Chick]

Excellent advice on the bedding, Huntress!

wyo, that is a really good idea to wait on the chicks if you are going to be out of town. Chicks can sometimes need a lot of attention. There is someone on here that has the Brin brooder & swears by it. Yeah, yeah, I can't remember who again, smart@$$es. I think maybe Delisha? Jim, you have (not a Brinsea) an overhead chick brooder heater or two. Granted they are older, but the same concept. Yours are larger though, I think? Anyway, if you are going to brood out in a barn wyo, I think May would be a perfect time. The weather is usually much nicer with less wild fluctuations (cold) so you won't (hopefully) worry as much if they are warm enough at night.

That's right. Dutch is the one from Wausau.

Guess I am finally going to know how Jim & Frenchie have to go through life.

Sorry. Unlike Jim, I am not ready to turn over a new leaf just yet.

Yes Dutch, delisha has some beautiful show quality BBS orps. I too recommend that you send her a PM. I think she said she wanted to make it to the bash this year, but even if she doesn't, I can get chicks from her and bring them up to the NW corner of Oconto Co. (Townsend) some weekend. Would that work for you?

Welcome to WI randerson! I sure would love to visit your beautiful country sometime. My family came from County Cork.

Jim, that is a good idea about having an incubating journal for each incubator. I'm trying real hard not to say it would come in handy for the old fogies so they don't forget what works best from year to year.

As long as you don't forget where you put the journal.

The bash is the weekend after Memorial Day.

 

[kristip]

Avocado...there is a small chance I may have a welsummer or two in a few weeks, but it would be straight run chicks. no guarantees with mine!

FT..let us know when you are in Madison for the horse show. I know Carol goes every year (WIchickchook) and there are a few of us near madison we could meet up for a bite potentially!
My life depends on if I have to run around with 2 8.5 year olds or not! Spring break this week. Kid sitter with them today and Dad is watching them for a few days and then we are doing a musical at the Fireside Theatre (Wiz of OZ) and going down to the UW on Friday to see about some science experiments and the Cow Barn with a group of kids and parents. Maybe fit the vets museum in too since ds is a huge history buff!

Then to get ready to host a dozen or so people on Sunday!

 

[FrenchToast]

Morning all !
ET (Eggtoast) went out early for a change and got two more duck eggs and another goose egg. This time the goose egg wasn't so cold. definitely laid this morning sometime. The two duck eggs are either from a Runner or Rouen with Rouen and Runner Drakes. But who knows who nailed who. The four ducks are in with the sebs and mixed pair of geese. So I know they will not be sterile duck eggs.
But who knows if will be purebred ??? LOL

Kris, I got my room for the 16th thru the 19th. Got $20 discount per night through the hospital since I have two appointments. Mamo on Friday and Dr appointment on Monday... Sneaky way to save on hotel hey !! Still gonna cost me $72 a night... with tax. I figured it's a mini vacation for me and my horses will appreciate anything new I might learn. Now just to find the money to pay for the room. Our truck needs wheel bearings. The antilock brakes kept engaging. Guy from CARQUEST said the Antilocks are sensing slipping from worn bearings. Soooo worse case scenario would be wheels will fall off. $150 per side.... plus labor !!!!

Agggrrrhhhh !

Never a dull moment !!

He CC I probably am the worst of the bunch as far as memory.... short term anyway. LOL Neighbor asked me to go to Bingo at the Casino last Friday. Ha ! I haven't played Bingo for 20 years and then only once. So I got as many cards as she did (which wasn't; many) lol Anyway I"ve always been good with remembering numbers (being an ex telephone operator) but as soon as she would call the next number and I was still searching for the last number I forgot the first number then the second. Then just lost both numbers in my head. So neighbor started dabbing on my cards. Finally when I was losing control again I just slid my card over to her !!! I got better toward the end but then another blank would set in !! Have to admit the long term memory was working overtime. Every time they would call B14 or ??? the song "Don't play B17" "It was our song "...... would race through my head !!! Not to mention "B I N G O..... B I N G O .... B I N G O and B I N G O was his name O " Played in my mind for a few days afterward ! GEEZ

Those songs left after I saw the Youtube video.....................Thanks CC !

Now I"ve got ideas for the donkeys !!!! Now to decide if ET or I will Sing..... LOL

That guy is addcting !!! Another hour watching his videos !!! LOL

This ones for you Jim

And for those that didn't see CC post from yesterday.... this the the video that started it all

 

[bigzio]

What the heck? After all these years I thought ET meant extra toast....I like OM better...LOL!

bigz