Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Steam Powered Chicken]

Hi All!

An update on this whole first time chicken-momming thing. XD
I think I'm in love. I mean I was nesting before I got them, but since they've been here it's ridiculous. I find myself several times a day just hanging out by their brooder watching, talking, and laughing at their antics. They're three weeks old now, and I hope they keep letting me do a weekly photoshoot. (My DH thinks I'm crazy, but they grow so fast, and I'll only have this first flock once!) I hope Spring gets its act together soon for all of our sakes, I'm still shaking my fist at this mornings snow.

 

[bigzio]

Another nice sunny day here today! The Roo's have been sounding off all day today non-stop. I love the sound of that for sure.
Just renewed my livestock premises registration today.... good to go for another 3 years now.
For those not in the know, here is a link.
Premises.datcp.wi.gov.

You will need to type the link....it is mandatory in Wi and no big deal....not fee related.

bigz

 

[Hurley]

View attachment 1695920

New in box, just what the seller promised. All for a little more than half of what the mini is priced for new.

The air outside today smells like Spring..... temps in the 50’s promised for the middle of next week. I hope that is the case.

This is a lovely little incubator and brooder combo. Most reliable things I've ever had. I picked up a mini and a maxi for the kids at the elementary school to hatch in class and the chicks love the brooders.

Here are the first/second grade's St. Patty's Chicks:

Exchequer Leghorns

Iowa Blues:

SBELs (CCL x White Leghorns):

Nothing like a good spring thaw. This was my driveway / road this week...

To the front...

To the left...

To the right...

Yeah, that's my mailbox and waves from the car. LOL

It's gone down now, but we had ducks swimming for a while.

 

[bigzio]

Nice pics and thanks for sharing. Must be nice to see the lawn. We still have 2 feet of snow here that has to melt. Sure hope some of the frost gives way to some soaking in here....runoff can be extreme here with the hills.

bigz

 

[babylady4]

My youngest DD came for a visit this weekend; so nice to see her! We visited the Shedd Aquarium today, something that has been on my bucket list for a while..... and of course we had some Chicago style hot dogs for lunch.

We no longer have snow, only in the shadows. Looking like the weather is improving!

 

[Loveak9]

Gosh guys look at the next little stretch of days they are going to be spring weather! Might we really be in spring season, when spring officially starts.

I am so excited to get out clean the yard, start the garden & go hike/camp/fish. I can wait to let the ladies free range a bit. Down fall to spring, the cooper hawk family is back and they nest a few houses down. It's a catch 22, I love birds of prey; they are just amazing animals...... but I dont wanna loose a chicken. It's great watching them rsise there young and watching how the crows & Jays send out alarms when the hawks are hunting.

Well I hope everyone enjoys this next stretch of beautiful days!

 

[bigzio]

Yep, we really have problems with the cooper hawks here too. Last year one killed my huge show bird quality light Brahma. They are small hawks, bur very deadly and brazen as can be.

Nice slow melt going on, just what we need.

bigz

 

[RaisinPaw]

Hi, I'm new to WI! We just moved here over the summer and bought a house in Eagle. I've had chickens before (only for about a year or so) but I haven't gotten started here yet. We need to get a coop built (or bought, if we can snag a deal on craigslist) first. I'm trying to convince my husband to do a hoop coop, because they look relatively quick, easy, and inexpensive. And, quite frankly, I fear if he goes ahead and does some fancy shed style coop like he thinks he wants to it'll be years before he gets around to finishing and I want chickens nooow!! He's never built anything super elaborate before either.

Anyway, wonder if anyone has a hoop coop and how they work in the winter? Most the ones I see look pretty "airy" like they wouldn't offer a ton of protection from the elements. We have a lot of space and plan to put up some fencing around their area so they will have lots of space in the daytime so the coop would be just for night time/shelter not where they would be spending most their time. And I'd definitely want to do the corrugated roof style not just a tarp, haha. Does anyone have a hoop coop that provides adequate winter protection? Would love to see pics!

 

[wyoDreamer]

I thought about a hoop coop for about a minute, then realized that there was no way I would trust it for the winter. Not with our snow load and wind storms. We are zoned 4b or 3 where I live up here near Green Bay.
Hopefully someone has a hoop coop and can give you some good advice.

 

[RaisinPaw]

I thought about a hoop coop for about a minute, then realized that there was no way I would trust it for the winter. Not with our snow load and wind storms. We are zoned 4b or 3 where I live up here near Green Bay.
Hopefully someone has a hoop coop and can give you some good advice.

is the concern not being able to keep warm enough, or snow damage? i would definitely *not* do a tarp roof, I'd go with something like this or similar https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...t-roofing-sheets-green-pack-of-5?cm_vc=-10005 which i'd think could hold up to some snow?