Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[uchytil]

Pretty birds, and I love that frog. He seems to like you or the camera.

Does anyone on here use electric fencing to protect their chickens? I am thinking of running an electric line across the top of my fence to make sure raccoons can't climb over. I just have the bird netting over the top right now, and they could easily rip through that. I just have no idea where to get the fencing supplies, what I need, and how to position the line so I raccoon can't shimmy over or under. Anyone?

I think it would be more cost effective to enclose a run with fence and make sure the coop is secure at night. Coons mostly work at night unless they are sick. I've only had daytime coons invade my blueberries. They are very good at finding a way around any gap. I've never had a loss and I feel it's due to the birds being closed up at night in a coop with concrete flooring.

 

[ladyrsanti]

Hi Ladyrsanti! I think they're lovely

Thought I'd share with you a few pics of their possible brother and sister!
Here's Sylvester:

And his girls:


I know the second girl is not a wheaten, her egg was marked as a golden cuckoo...but I seriously have no idea what she really is - sport I guess. I'm also just glad for the dark eggs!

Awesome, our roos could almost be twins, if that were possible. Strange though how the girls all look so different.

Pretty birds, and I love that frog. He seems to like you or the camera.

Does anyone on here use electric fencing to protect their chickens? I am thinking of running an electric line across the top of my fence to make sure raccoons can't climb over. I just have the bird netting over the top right now, and they could easily rip through that. I just have no idea where to get the fencing supplies, what I need, and how to position the line so I raccoon can't shimmy over or under. Anyone?

I've been considering electric fence too, for the new coop but have so many questions/concerns about it that I'm still, pardon the pun, on the fence about it. I'm more concerned about daytime predators and was thinking about the 4' electric poultry fencing for that. My chickens would be safe inside the locked coop at night. I'm just trying to put a barrier between them and stray dogs, coyotes, fox and who knows what else during the day. I haven't actually had any fatalities from predators yet but I've seen enough of them to know it's just a matter of time. But he has a point, that sturdy non-electric fencing should be enough for daytime predators.

As for suppliers, I get the Nasco and Farm Tek catalogs in the mail that have a lot of fencing options. They're expensive though; that's another reason why I haven't committed.

 

[lauranickerson]

I would like to join this thread! I'm from Northern Michigan (Lower Peninsula) and just getting back into the chicken and duck thing.

 

[ladyrsanti]

Welcome lauranickerson! There's nothing like local advice and comradery.

We found this egg yesterday. No idea who did it, but spray booth obviously closed early that day.

 

[Opa]

Consider yourself joined. And Welcome. Lots of nice folks on this thread but there is always room for one more.

 

[Maah]

Ducks have an oil gland at the base of their tail. Preening applies oil to the feathers so they will not absorb water. Their dense oily feathers trap air which aids in their ability to float. While I'm not sure how long it takes for them to adequately preen I can't imagine it would take more than a day or two.

Thank you.

They sure are making a mess of their pool. Their first bath was nearly instant mud making. We've needed to change the water a couple of times already & it hasn't even been 24 hours yet. I'm fine with that & like seeing them enjoy their new temporary area so well. We received an egg from one of them this morning. My son went out to change the water again & found it laying by the pool.

 

[Maah]

I would like to join this thread! I'm from Northern Michigan (Lower Peninsula) and just getting back into the chicken and duck thing.

Welcome!!

Also welcome to the other new members.

 

[preciouskitty]

I would like to join this thread! I'm from Northern Michigan (Lower Peninsula) and just getting back into the chicken and duck thing.

WELCOME!!

 

[Amastacia]

I would like to join this thread! I'm from Northern Michigan (Lower Peninsula) and just getting back into the chicken and duck thing.

Welcome

Welcome lauranickerson! There's nothing like local advice and comradery.

We found this egg yesterday. No idea who did it, but spray booth obviously closed early that day.

i get eggs like that every few days. no idea why/how, but they taste the same

Thank you.

They sure are making a mess of their pool. Their first bath was nearly instant mud making. We've needed to change the water a couple of times already & it hasn't even been 24 hours yet. I'm fine with that & like seeing them enjoy their new temporary area so well. We received an egg from one of them this morning. My son went out to change the water again & found it laying by the pool.

glad to hear they are adjusting well and enjoying their new home.

 

[uchytil]

Here's the link to the CS13 pix: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uchytil59/

My crummy wireless is sooo slow that it's allowing my laptop to doublepost. Sorry.