Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[tdhenson86]

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

I'm so sorry to hear about your losses! I've been there. It STINKS!!!

 

[tdhenson86]

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.

Beautiful birds! That Silkie Polish Cross is beautiful!

 

[RaZ]

This article was brought to my attention last evening by a friend who knows about my chickens. I thought it was interesting and worth sharing.

Interesting - Yes.
Worth sharing - Perhaps. There is a good bit of mis-information and some out-right wrongs. But it does highlight the ignorance of the opposing viewpoints. And we can cure ignorance with education. Hopefully.

I see the biggest boogie-man arguments as "chickens smell" and "chickens cause rats".

ETA: Current thread on BYC about this..
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/802179/nbc-news-article-backyard-chickens-dumped-at-shelters

 

[SillyChicken]

Thanks, Silly..Since it is only Spaz, will having that in the water hurt any of the others? Poor Spaz is just a bit traumatized at the moment (at least, I am 99% sure that is the case!); their food in the coop is perfectly dry; BUT, I am sure they have been eating PLENTY of wet stuff while out foraging in the yard over the past week while I have been home!!

No Actually ACV is good for all your birds. Helps change the pH in their systems and aids gut flora and I think parasites don't care for it.

 

[Ferrret]

I think the article could have been better if geared towards an educational point. If we taught more people to learn about an animal before deciding they want it as a pet, perhaps more 'exotic' pets wouldn't be dumped on shelters and roadsides.
Fad animals, which chickens have become, almost always end up in shelters or neglected by people who got too excited and didn't realize how much work it was. Chickens, exotic birds, reptiles, fish, even cats and dogs need care that not everyone is capable of giving. I like ferrets (hence the name) and while I would like to have a couple someday, I know that right now they are too much work for me. Cute as they may be, I'd rather give them a happy life later on down the road, rather than a crappy life now.

I know it would only take on part of the problem, but I think movies featuring 'pet' animals should have some kind of disclaimer at the beginning about keeping the animal as a pet. Pet store employees all seem to have stories of a film causing a rush in people buying pets because the kid liked the movie. Finding Nemo, Rio, Bolt, even Harry Potter spurred some wide eyed kids to chase after a new pet.
Kids and adults need to learn respect for animals and that they aren't just toys you can pick up one afternoon. Pets require care and can live a long time, if you and your child aren't up to it, buy them a stuffed animal instead.

 

[RaZ]

No Actually ACV is good for all your birds. Helps change the pH in their systems and aids gut flora and I think parasites don't care for it.

I'm not disagreeing with this but I can find no actual research other than anecdotal support. It certainly does no harm unless you add ACV to metal waterers. Then you get a chemical reaction or erosion of the metal.

Adding to anecdotal support of ACV, I've found that it helps keep algae slime from forming in the plastic waterers. On the other hand, so does washing and disinfecting them.

 

[RaZ]

I think the article could have been better if geared towards an educational point. If we taught more people to learn about an animal before deciding they want it as a pet, perhaps more 'exotic' pets wouldn't be dumped on shelters and roadsides.
Fad animals, which chickens have become, almost always end up in shelters or neglected by people who got too excited and didn't realize how much work it was.

Not just fad animals. My last dog is a rescue from a couple who only got the dog in order to be trendy. Same with my 1st Golden...woman thought it was cute, until it started to shed. I had that dog for 18 years.

 

[preciouskitty]

Quote:
Of course, being an engineer, you know I have been googling all over looking for actual research info in the last 30 mins or so!! I did find little, all positive (for birds, dogs, humans, etc.). BL: since it won't hurt, I am going to go ahead & try it! AND, if it helps with the slime, I am ALL for it..cuz I scrub/disinfect my plastic waterers (have no metal) EVERY day! Biggest thing right now is making sure Spaz is eating and drinking, she did yesterday..I won't get to "observe" her today til I get home ~15:30...

 

[gladahmae]

And we're up to 25 dead birds now. 17 (yes, 17!!!!!) dead meat chickens, all 8.5 weeks old. I think I'm going to go throw up now.

 

[tdhenson86]

Quote:
I use ACV anytime my birds start to look mopey, feather quality goes down, or they need a good pick-me-up. It is GREAT for them!