Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[cuties]

Hi parker, plenry of enablers here! Are you looking for chickies your kiddos can show in 4-h?
When we first got started last year, we made the mistake of going to one swap, getting excited and grabbing up everything we could find! Lol We love ours as pets and choose not to butcher. So now we are really filling things up with favorite breeds we have discovered, and learning to take the time to find some really good breeders!
I habe found personally that most breeds we have chosen are tamed when the kiddos handle them when they are young. We have fallen in love with large breeds in particular. Light brahma, orpington, and wyandottes have become our favorites! The bigger ones seem to naturally be more tame, and less of a hawk liking.

Good luck in your journey and feel free to ask tons of questions!

I found a hay guy in waupun asking $3.50 for small square bales. I think it is a good price, and he says we can buy from him all winter. It is grassy, and 2nd and 3rd cutting. Horse people, is this what we need? It is such an exciting feeling having this little guy! The kids argued this morning about who got to do chores! Lol I sure in a month they will be arguing about who has to do chores! I told them for sure Apple is a test run to see if they will actually take care of a big ones too lol!

 

[cuties]

[/IMG]


We are so in love lol
I have been looking into the mini's a little more on google. Some look like Apple, and some are much skinnier! Is he overweight, or in good health?

 

[cuties]

Oops! That wasn't the pic to show his weight lol

 

[momgille]

hello everyone, I am new to BYC and looking to start a small backyard coop. Any suggestions for birds that can handle the cold well and that are children friendly. Winter layers and large eggs are a plus also. Any suggestions or information about starting a coop would be appreciated as well. Thanks so much.

Well there is a free coop plan out there by Purina Mills and someone on BYC started a thread showing how to build it if you aren't a carpenter, but they never finished it up... Total cost with new materials would be about $600. You can check Craigslist seems people go in and out of the chicken business frequently. Lots of "out"buildings can be repurposed for coops also... There are people who will build beautiful coops that make me jealous and can cost several thousand dollars. That would depend also on what area of our state you live in. Things to remember when building a coop is access for cleaning and access to eggs, if you want electric and how you will handle water in the winter. Chickens like it dry and can endure our Wisconsin winter if they are free of drafts and still have good ventilation. As for breeds there are lots of good ones that produce lots of eggs even if they are Rhode Island Reds with frequent handling by children and given treat they all seem to become friendly. This is a good link and give lots of information http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html
Heritage breeds are good simply because they are long lived lines and are generally very adaptable for Wisconsin.
Good luck on your venture it is fun rewarding and sometime a little frustrating.

 

[momgille]

[/URL]


We are so in love lol
I have been looking into the mini's a little more on google. Some look like Apple, and some are much skinnier! Is he overweight, or in good health?

Jealous jealous... I saw on Craigslist someone who had fencing for mini horse http://madison.craigslist.org/grq/4089799378.html
Sure you are thrilled!

 

[bigzio]

Nice Afternoon To Everyone. Tough loss CC...sounds like a coon to me too! Happy belated Anniversary to you and Steve.

Congrats on the Anniversary TO...you guys made it this long because all you two do is hold hands and kiss. Must be nice!

Yep, that's the same cutter we used bl4. Sure beats cutting it by hand. Ours has a couple weeks to go yet. It will be pork steak and kraut on the menu.

Glad your lost one found home Cind!

Welcome to the new folks. Hope you have fun here!

The Buckeye pullets are starting to lay. They look like pheasant eggs LOL! One even went in the nestbox...that was nice of her.

Stay Safe...bigz

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

hello everyone, I am new to BYC and looking to start a small backyard coop. Any suggestions for birds that can handle the cold well and that are children friendly. Winter layers and large eggs are a plus also. Any suggestions or information about starting a coop would be appreciated as well. Thanks so much.

are you in town or country, I like poly-dome calf hutches for coops. You add a door, drill 2 small hole in the roof add 2 eye hooks to hang feed & water. they are movable to clean, once the snow hits it seals up the bottom. you add a fence instant coop (warm in the winter too) adding a light for egg laying or a heated waterer also easy. a large branch is good for a roost. Holds up to 6-8 chickens (large) I've had 15 plus bantams in one.

As for breeds, most have no problem with the weather, but try to avoid those with huge combs. avoid those breeds in the mediterranean class (leghorns, minorcas...) they tend to be flighty. for newcomers to chickens I recommend, Rocks, Orpingtons, Langshans, Wyandottes.....

 

[irishrovr]

Hi all--it seems every time I reply I am the only one here! WHat is going on with this group anyhow? I am wondering if I made a mistake in not picking the basil today...it is kinda chilly out there right now...maybe I should get the frost blankets out?

My friends' daughter (son's classmate) was killed yesterday in a head on collision with a dump truck. I am still in shock. There are no details but it happened at 8:30 in the morning.

I am continually amazed by the double names here on Cheeseheads. I met another Connie and another Amy and another Sandy yesterday. So weird!

The woman whose farm I am helping at has some of her very nice Chantecers for sale. Here are a few pics: Also, to the person looking for Ancona ducks, she has a trio that she can sell to you.









If anyone else is interested just let me know.

I need to head out and get the chores done (and cover the basil I guess) It is our 29th anniversary today--only the Lord knows how we made it this long!

Good night peeps! TerriO

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! So sad about your friend's daughter

 

[irishrovr]

It worked!! Happiest kids ever!


Happy anniversary terri!!!

SWEET!!! Congrats on the new addition to your family!

 

[parkerchick6]

hey thanks for the advice, do you think its too late to start a coop this year?