Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Hillbilly Hen]

Hey all. I've got a year old German NH roo and hen pair that I need to rehome. I'd like to get something for them to help offset the feed I given them since they were chicks. The hen has went broody and the roo is very protective of her. They are heritage birds that I got from Laura (Hillbilly Hen) and I really hate to see the hen go but I want to keep them together. The roo was in with other RIR hens but I decide to segregate the NH's. The are super pretty birds. PM me if you want them.

These were my favorite breed too.

Well it's absolutely pouring here today. And someone's dogs got into our chick coop this morning AND into one if my meat coops. I'm down 8 layer chicks and 15 meat birds. I'm really really irritated. Someone's lab and German shepherd were literally inside the chicks coop. They jumped the fence of the layer pen and then dig under the apron into my "secure" chick coop. Thank goodness the layer coop door wasn't open yet or I'm sure they'd all be gone too. Dh chased them off. He knows now that next time he needs to catch them so that we can get costs from the owners and they can pay to retrieve their unrestrained unleashed dogs. Called and left a message with animal control. I'm going to shuffle everyone around once the rain stops and lock them in. After the hawk attack and now this I almost don't want to even let them out if I'm not there to supervise.

So sorry.

 

[gaitngirl]

Glad- get a solar fence charger. I use one for my horse and mule. The dogs (3) ran right into it while they were chasing each other one day. I've never heard a dog scream like that! They stay well away from that area now.
You can get a decent solar charger online or at most feed stores for under $100. It will probably be enough to run to each coop (depending on how far apart they are. You may have to bury a bit of line but that's no big job, usually.
Sorry to hear this happened!

 

[1muttsfan]

Glad, so sorry to hear about your losses. Stray dogs are the worst as they kill only for fun, and if there are more than one they egg each other on.

For large predators such as dogs, using cattle, horse or hog panels attached tightly to the outside of sturdy posts and then covered by chicken wire and/or hardware cloth (at least at the bottom) will keep them out. Some hoop houses made of cattle or hog panels are also very sturdy. If you use chain link, it still needs to be covered with HC or chicken wire, and attached to sturdy posts. A fence at least 6' tall will keep out dogs, 4' or even 5' is not enough. Hot wires are very effective deterrents, and a small fencer is not expensive to run. They work by constantly switching on and off, so the actual electricity used is less than you would think, and they are also safe to use.

My pens are hardware cloth for the bottom 2-3", chicken wire up to 6", all attached to cedar posts set 3' into the ground. They have 8-10" buried hardware cloth stapled to slab cedar underground, the soil is heavy hard clay packed full of sharp jagged rocks and very hard to dig into - it took me DAYS with a pickaxe to dig that trench - or I would have made it at least a foot deep. The tops are covered over with heavy-duty poultry netting, but you could also use fencing. I am pretty sure the only predator that could get in now would be a bear, and I never leave food outside to attract them. My only predator looses have come as result of user error - coop door left open overnight

 

[kimmie6067]

Well I haven't been around for over a week here to many posts to catch up with so to all the new ones hi, to the ones that lost any chickens or other animals I am so sorry.

I had my first loses the other day a chicken and a duck both young the chicken must have been left out at night I don't do a head count and the duck I think a racoon must have climbed over my dog kennel grabbed it and climbed back over made me so mad.

Kimmie

 

[Lisa and girls]

Well I haven't been around for over a week here to many posts to catch up with so to all the new ones hi, to the ones that lost any chickens or other animals I am so sorry.

I had my first loses the other day a chicken and a duck both young the chicken must have been left out at night I don't do a head count and the duck I think a racoon must have climbed over my dog kennel grabbed it and climbed back over made me so mad.

Kimmie

 

[mylobell]

Sarah, I think you coop remodeling is something to "Crow" about!

Glad
I am sorry about your lost.

In May, I lost my drake peking duck to something that carried him across the yard a hundred feet to leave a small pile of feathers. It was the healthy duck and not the crippled Pekin hen, so I don't think it was four legged type. I believe it was a two legged human. I later found the cut trachea with straight cuts not jagged like an animal would have done. I put my hen duck back in with the other ducks and chickens. If that two legged type comes around anymore, he or she will wish they are a quacking duck, as I do know how to shoot. My chicken area has welded wire two foot area outside of the pen and two foot inside the pen. Earlier this year I pickup a fence charger which I got off craigslist from a woman, who purchased it to keep her dog out of her flower beds.

I have two brooder's sitting on eggs. I checked the nest of one on Saturday to find she has been sitting on two dozen eggs. I knew the other 2 Welsumer hens hadn't stopped laying as I kept hearing the "I layed an egg" clacking daily. But I think my cockie Rooster hasn't been doing his job. LOL. Yes he continues to try and attack me, but I carry a five gallon pail into the pen just in case he tries to get me. I thought after I let him battle the pail a few times, he seem to back down. Now, he waits until I'm out of the pen to challenge me, crowing and running at the fencing.

I must return to enclosing the area under the decking and repair a hole in the wooden fencing, that the rain chased me inside. I'll have time to cut out a new pair of shorts to wear. I see everyone is having an interesting week to being with on Monday! Only six more days to go until the sun shines again. It sure puts a damper on outside activities.

 

[mylobell]

Sarah, I think you coop remodeling is something to "Crow" about!

Glad
I am sorry about your lost.

In May, I lost my drake peking duck to something that carried him across the yard a hundred feet to leave a small pile of feathers. It was the healthy duck and not the crippled Pekin hen, so I don't think it was four legged type. I believe it was a two legged human. I later found the cut trachea with straight cuts not jagged like an animal would have done. I put my hen duck back in with the other ducks and chickens. If that two legged type comes around anymore, he or she will wish they are a quacking duck, as I do know how to shoot. My chicken area has welded wire two foot area outside of the pen and two foot inside the pen. Earlier this year I pickup a fence charger which I got off craigslist from a woman, who purchased it to keep her dog out of her flower beds.

I have two brooder's sitting on eggs. I checked the nest of one on Saturday to find she has been sitting on two dozen eggs. I knew the other 2 Welsumer hens hadn't stopped laying as I kept hearing the "I layed an egg" clacking daily. But I think my cockie Rooster hasn't been doing his job. LOL. Yes he continues to try and attack me, but I carry a five gallon pail into the pen just in case he tries to get me. I thought after I let him battle the pail a few times, he seem to back down. Now, he waits until I'm out of the pen to challenge me, crowing and running at the fencing.

I must return to enclosing the area under the decking and repair a hole in the wooden fencing, that the rain chased me inside. I'll have time to cut out a new pair of shorts to wear. I see everyone is having an interesting week to being with on Monday! Only six more days to go until the sun shines again. It sure puts a damper on outside activities.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Condolences & Congrats around. Sad sad story about the Pekin.

PKitty-- yes I would cut Q short. My KC duck was behaving as you described. When I finally got to checking her out, she was a hot mess under her wing... All because of a bully drake. And it was not over-mating. Simple aggression. Needless to say he is gone! I'd definitely separate your Rooster.

 

[preciouskitty]

Quote:
Good morning, all... That storm was unreal yesterday. AND, unfortunately, I was just west of Brighton on the freeway heading home from airport, when it hit. Traffic on I-96 literally went from 80mph to 25mph in seconds...just a tad scary.. AND, when I got home, no internet..not sure what is going on..SO, had to wait to get to work this morning to get back online! ---- SO sorry to all that have had losses recently..:-( ---- AND, thanks to everyone for the advice on what to do for Spaz and what to do WITH Bigboy (freezer camp becoming a BIG possibility). Spaz was a bit better yesterday, came out of coop on her own, did see her eating & drinking water. Would occasionally see her in coop alone, then back out. She is still not back to herself. She is letting me hold her so I was able to check her out & clean her "fuzzy butt"..didn't seem pasty, but due to stress I think her poop is a little watery & was stuck in some of the feathers. I am a little worried today as I don't let them free-range while noone is at home. So all of them are stuck in the coop & attached pen...best I can do at the moment.. ---- Nova, I do think I can make something like you posted..but, I wouldn't be able to leave anyone in it unless one of us is at home..to worried about predators... Ah, chicken life... ---- (sorry about the ONE paragraph..once again running into problem where spaces, smileys, etc not working..ARGH)

 

[taprock]

Yesterday every bunch of birds were stubborn brats. No one wanted to cooperate in any way and chores were difficult. DH said it was because it rained all day and they have forgotten what it is like.
My cousin who lives in Alaska has a little girl about 6. She has decided she wants chickens but the grizzlies eat them so they can't. I sent my son out to do a video and take pictures for her. We are also sending her a stuffed chicken. So I have a few new pictures.

A meat roo, A Malay hen and a modern Game girl.


The not so annoying Sebright boy and girls who need a home



Olivia


Perry - A silkie x polish



My Bantam cochin flock where they like to hang out. There are six, Two do not yet have names but Arthur, Olivia, Skippyjon, George. These are the ones who go to the library.