Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[SillyChicken]

I think the rain has been patchy and heavy, some areas getting more than others. Plus the cooler temps seem to help keep the ground moist. We have had a few dry spells, but not like last year!

 

[ladyrsanti]

Quote:

That last all-day soaker missed you. We're only just south of you and we got rain and thunder all day. Yet, DH reported that up in Walker, nothing. It was training west to east along 96 that day. So... luck of the draw I guess.

 

[gladahmae]

IMO, if you get ANY shipped eggs to develop you're doing great. So yeah. People have unrealistic expectations some times.



We did lose one of the smaller chicks during the night. The other two seem to be holding steady....eating and drinking on their own while I was having to force-feed the other. Hopefully they perk up a bit more today.

 

[RaZ]

So a friend is trying to talk me into incubating some Salmon Faverolles eggs.

 

[1muttsfan]

I would recommend using caution in adding things to drinking water unless you also have plain water available. Electrolytes and other ingredients can change the taste of the water and some birds may not drink it well, causing decreased water consumption and increasing risk of dehydration in sick birds.

 

[Jake Levi]

A change of subject, for those of the Duck Fanciers persuasion I have a yearling pair of Australian Spotted Ducks that need a new home, they are well grown, and beautiful but I am not going to be breeding them so they are available. Free to a good home. They cost and I want them to go to a place where they have a future, they are quiet, dont call, just quietly murmur to one another.

I am about 2 hrs north of Saginaw, close to Harrisville on the sunrise side of Huron.

 

[tsetse9]

Ok, like I said yesterday, brand new at this. Now I've kinda decided to go the route of ordering pullets from a hatchery because I've heard that raising from chicks need tons of attention for about five weeks and no days where you are out of town or whatever and I don't think we are ever home for five weeks straight without having to go away a day or so. So I hear its no good buying off craigslist and there are limited hatcheries that sell started pullets. The ones I am looking at, McMurray and chicken scratch are about $80 shipping. So I am thinking of a couple options...
1. If somone else in greater grand rapids area would like to go in on an order with me and maybe split the shipping cost? Not sure how much each additional chick adds but im assuming it would be a better deal.
2. If someone else is ordering chicks soon and has room and ability to raise about 6 extra for me for the first month and i would pay them an agreed fee for taking care of them to that point.
Or if anyone else has any other suggestions, i am open to the wisdom of the group.

Stacy

(I have a habit of over researching things to the point where i freak myself out a bit with all the possibilities and things that could go wrong)

 

[ladyrsanti]

Ok, like I said yesterday, brand new at this. Now I've kinda decided to go the route of ordering pullets from a hatchery because I've heard that raising from chicks need tons of attention for about five weeks and no days where you are out of town or whatever and I don't think we are ever home for five weeks straight without having to go away a day or so. So I hear its no good buying off craigslist and there are limited hatcheries that sell started pullets. The ones I am looking at, McMurray and chicken scratch are about $80 shipping. So I am thinking of a couple options...
1. If somone else in greater grand rapids area would like to go in on an order with me and maybe split the shipping cost? Not sure how much each additional chick adds but im assuming it would be a better deal.
2. If someone else is ordering chicks soon and has room and ability to raise about 6 extra for me for the first month and i would pay them an agreed fee for taking care of them to that point.
Or if anyone else has any other suggestions, i am open to the wisdom of the group.

Stacy

(I have a habit of over researching things to the point where i freak myself out a bit with all the possibilities and things that could go wrong)

Aw, where were you a couple months ago when I was selling my extra pullets? I live in SE Kent Co. and was practically giving them away as fox bait (not intentionally of course). Oh well. They probably wouldn't have been what you were looking for anyway, barnyard mixes. I'll likely be hatching some more mixes this spring with my new rooster - trying for some olive eggers maybe. But right now I'm at capacity in the old coop and can't add any more.

The good news is that the new coop is still in the works. Not sure it will be ready by winter like I'd hoped but the foundation is almost ready to mortar. Heheh. Yeah, it's been REALLY slow-going.

 

[gladahmae]

Ok, like I said yesterday, brand new at this. Now I've kinda decided to go the route of ordering pullets from a hatchery because I've heard that raising from chicks need tons of attention for about five weeks and no days where you are out of town or whatever and I don't think we are ever home for five weeks straight without having to go away a day or so. So I hear its no good buying off craigslist and there are limited hatcheries that sell started pullets. The ones I am looking at, McMurray and chicken scratch are about $80 shipping. So I am thinking of a couple options...
1. If somone else in greater grand rapids area would like to go in on an order with me and maybe split the shipping cost? Not sure how much each additional chick adds but im assuming it would be a better deal.
2. If someone else is ordering chicks soon and has room and ability to raise about 6 extra for me for the first month and i would pay them an agreed fee for taking care of them to that point.
Or if anyone else has any other suggestions, i am open to the wisdom of the group.
Stacy

(I have a habit of over researching things to the point where i freak myself out a bit with all the possibilities and things that could go wrong)

I haven't had ANY problems buying off of CL. Just look things over, and if you're not comfortable with the general health and maintainance of things, walk away. It's that easy! If you're not opposed to driving a little way (I'm sure it would be cheaper than $80 shipping!) there is a guy in muskegeon that sells started chicks on CL. They *should* be old enough to not need a heat lamp and be used to being outdoors. I know several on here have bought chicks from him. Just a thought. Just run a search on CL for "pullets" and it should come up.

 

[tsetse9]

Good luck on that coop. I had someone come yesterday to look at converting our old shed to a coop. Waiting on his quote now. Hoping its in our price range.

We are looking at getting 2 Australorp, two easter eggers and one daughter really wants silkies but so far none of the places that sell and ship juvenile have those. So she is rethinking.