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  1. Darguth

    Yolk color change, why?

    Hello everyone! My wife was just lamenting this morning that the beautiful orange yolks that our chickens provided when they first started laying have begun to fade to a more yellowish hue. They are young hens hatched this spring, so they are only about 6 months old right now. For the first...
  2. Darguth

    Moving to the coop

    Yes they are fully feathered.
  3. Darguth

    Moving to the coop

    Well, at the very least they'd have the nesting boxes with shavings in them if they wanted to get away from the colder main area of the coop. Those are pretty well sheltered and about 18"x18" or so in size, so they could huddle together for warmth since they are still only young pullets and...
  4. Darguth

    Moving to the coop

    So my girls are now 6.5 weeks old and they are getting very restless in their brooder which they are outgrowing. I'm anxious to get them into their coop, but I'm not sure if it's warm enough for them. I live in mid-Michigan and nighttime temps are still falling into the high 30's for the next...
  5. Darguth

    Protecting flock from a pool?

    It's above-ground. I'm thinking I would keep a full winter cover on it when not in use (which won't be frequent). Would that be sufficient to keep a chicken out? I just don't know if they'd try to get up there and peck their way through.
  6. Darguth

    Protecting flock from a pool?

    Hi everyone, We're starting our first flock this year. I've just completed (or nearly completed, just final touches and a paint job left) our chicken tractor for them. The ultimate plan is to create 8 paddocks that we will alternate and rotate between garden and pasture, but that's a ways...
  7. Darguth

    Jumpy Chicks

    While your advice is appreciated, your tone is not. I'm new and trying to learn. I had no idea this was a particular issue and sadly don't really have the time to remedy it for this initial flock, though it's something I'll consider in the future. However, a bit of friendly advice is that if...
  8. Darguth

    Jumpy Chicks

    Quote: Definitely not looking for them to be cuddly pets, just want to keep them content and make my life a bit easier when it comes time to handle them in the future :)
  9. Darguth

    Jumpy Chicks

    Are there any kind of treats I can give them this early that would help them "love" me? Or can they not handle anything much more than their tiny pellets? I was thinking maybe small lettuce pieces or sliced grapes?
  10. Darguth

    Jumpy Chicks

    My chicks are just now 4 days old (this is our first time with chickens). I've noticed over just the last day that the chicks seem much more easily startled than they did the first few days. Whenever we enter the room or peer over the brooder box to watch them they will jump and/or scatter...
  11. Darguth

    When to get chicks? (Michigan)

    On top of it all, we also have 8 fruit trees ordered that will need to be put in the ground. And a 1/8th acre garden to start. It's going to be a very busy spring indeed.
  12. Darguth

    When to get chicks? (Michigan)

    Just as an update, our 12 baby chicks arrived on Tuesday. They're setup in a large plastic tub that's being used as their brooder in an unused bedroom so far and seem perfectly content. I'm thinking I'll likely have to separate them into a 2nd tub after maybe the 3rd or 4th week as they get...
  13. Darguth

    Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

    Thanks :) If there are any breeders in Michigan that you know of, please let me know. I'd much rather work with local breeders or hobby farmers than with the big operations, if I can help it.
  14. Darguth

    Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

    Hi everyone! So the Missus and I are ready to make the plunge this year, so we're looking to get our first chicks. Can anyone recommend a hatchery, breeder, or any other resource to get a small starter flock in Michigan? We're hoping for 3-4 Barred Rocks and 3-4 Rhode Island Reds for a first...
  15. Darguth

    When to get chicks? (Michigan)

    We have a 2-car attached garage with power, but it is unheated. We have 3 small outbuildings, a small shed and two chicken coops (not mobile) from a prior owner. The old coops are in relatively poor repair though and I wouldn't use them for chicks. Also, the shed is full of...well...stuff...
  16. Darguth

    When to get chicks? (Michigan)

    Hi everyone! I'm new, so if this is the wrong forum, please bear with me :) Anyway, my wife and I just bought our first home. It's located on just under 4 acres of (mostly) cleared land. Our plan is to turn it into a proper homestead and--unsurprisingly--chickens are one of the first...
  17. Darguth

    Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

    Hi everyone! I'm new and looking for some help. My partner and I are considering buying our first house, and we want to buy a property where we can raise some livestock. Namely a dairy goat or two, chickens, and maybe some honey bees. With the 2014 changes to Michigan's Right to Farm Act...
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