Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[swampducks]

Heh, heh, heh. Never happen, nope, not here, not with this crowd to discourage you. nope, nope nope

I never realized all the different facets of raising chickens and I'm kinda intrigued by it, I hope I don't get hooked too much and end up with "too many chickens"

 

[greenmimama]

Did you order some already? What kinds??

I may have over bought.

But I got a bunch of Golden Buffs: Our Golden Buffs are hatching better than expected, so we're selling them at a huge discount. This breed, also known as Red Stars, Golden Comets, Golden Sex Links, Red Sex Links and Isa Browns, is best known for being an incredibly prolific layer of large, brown eggs.

Then I got a rainbow pullets assortment, which is the hatcheries choice of: Chicks will range from our heavy brown egg layers, white egg layers, tinted egg layers, rare and fancy breeds, or any combination of female chicks that we offer. We will make every effort to include as many different breeds as possible, but guarantee a minimum of 5.

So I will have at least 5 diff. varieties, I didn't realize before ordering the Golden Buffs that I already had 2 of them, but they come highly rated, by both online reviews and friends, so no biggie
I am really hoping to get a good variety, and I also hope they tell me what they gave me

I am pretty excited, next week will be filled with chicks.

As far as bedding or flooring for chicks, can I use the same pine shavings?

 

[1muttsfan]

And how many, exactly, are too many chickens?

 

[RaZ]

And how many, exactly, are too many chickens?

One.

Because like potato chips, you can't have just one.

 

[chicken grandma]

As far as bedding or flooring for chicks, can I use the same pine shavings?

Yes you can! Don't use cedar shavings with them as the oils in cedar can be toxic but pine is fine.....
You'll need a heat lamp that is specifically for animals. You can get one at the pet store or feed store but don't use a hardware store light that is not for animals because it may have a teflon shatterproof coating and teflon when heated gives off a gas that can cause birds lungs to hemmorage.

I like to use a reptile light because they make it so that it is not bright at all, just warm. Then put a thermometer in your brooder box and make sure it reads 95 degrees under the light and make sure that the chicks can move away from the light if they get too hot. If you have 24 chicks coming then you need a big brooder box. Do you have other pets like cats and dogs? Then it must also be secure.

I don't know your circumstance or your coop but can anyone figure what size coop you need for 26 chickens?
Maybe you would be better off just to have 12 assorted chickens plus your two Isa's?

 

[RaZ]

According to Murray McMurray Hatchery blog,
Heavy breeds need 4 square feet per bird,
Light breeds 3 sq. ft.,
Bantams 2 sq. ft.

Based on letting them out to forage every day.
(yeah, I googled that)

 

[greenmimama]

Yes you can! Don't use cedar shavings with them as the oils in cedar can be toxic but pine is fine.....
You'll need a heat lamp that is specifically for animals. You can get one at the pet store or feed store but don't use a hardware store light that is not for animals because it may have a teflon shatterproof coating and teflon when heated gives off a gas that can cause birds lungs to hemmorage.

I like to use a reptile light because they make it so that it is not bright at all, just warm. Then put a thermometer in your brooder box and make sure it reads 95 degrees under the light and make sure that the chicks can move away from the light if they get too hot. If you have 24 chicks coming then you need a big brooder box. Do you have other pets like cats and dogs? Then it must also be secure.

I don't know your circumstance or your coop but can anyone figure what size coop you need for 26 chickens?
Maybe you would be better off just to have 12 assorted chickens plus your two Isa's?

Uhm, don't hate me, remember I said I may have gotten too many. I have 50 coming. *hiding under a chair* but I don't plan to keep them all, I have some emails out to some people hoping they want to take some. I am pretty sure I can sell some to recoup my cost to some friends.
we have a "coop" shed that is being turned into a coop, right now it is 14x14 and it could be enlarged a few feet. We have other places we could put the chicks though. there is also a run, hard to say the size of it, because it is an L shape, but it is at least 2 8x10 ft rectangles put together, does that makes sense?
And after all that I realzed I don't have a couple that I wanted, I might just have to get them in the spring once I have some chicken raising time under my belt.

 

[kimmie6067]

Well I think my blue orpington has a broken leg, she holds it out to the side or has it under her. Its swellen at the knee or whatever it is and warm, what can I do for her?

Kimmie

 

[greenmimama]

According to Murray McMurray Hatchery blog,
Heavy breeds need 4 square feet per bird,
Light breeds 3 sq. ft.,
Bantams 2 sq. ft.

Based on letting them out to forage every day.
(yeah, I googled that)

Well with that math, I can have 49 chickens, which sounds crazy, I already talked to my cousin and they are interested in some, I am thinking at first we will keep 30ish

 

[chicken grandma]

Well with that math, I can have 49 chickens, which sounds crazy, I already talked to my cousin and they are interested in some, I am thinking at first we will keep 30ish

You can always call the hatchery and adjust your order also!

One other person on here had about 25 chickens for their first effort and I think they thought it was too many for their first flock. Since we are going into Winter you will have to buy a lot of feed and your chicks won't lay til Spring so it is a lot of money going out this Winter.

If you start smaller and get more chicks in the Spring then your flock can forage for food and eat grass and bugs all Summer and your feed costs will be a lot less. Just some thoughts and I am sure others will give you more ideas about how they started out!

p.s. make sure your whole set up is raccoon and mink/weasel proof too!