Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[iamfivewire]

dust bath time :

 

[ladyrsanti]

Are we talking 140 per animal or 140 total? I priced out spinning wheels today and holy expensive!!

Total. And actually, after thinkin' on it awhile, it was $120. They went through 30 bales exactly at $4/bale. So that's 10 bales each for the winter and probably would have been more but I had to be stingy with it as last year was a bad year and hay was not only at a premium but hard to get a hold of. This year, I already have a loft full, at least 40 bales. They'll eat good.

You could try, for starters, a drop spindle. They're cheap and can even be made by hand. They don't make a lot of yarn at once but it's a good place to start. Just think of the ancient cultures who only had drop spindles and wound up (pun intended) with entire garments from them. Perspective Once you get the hang of it, you'll be a pro at a spinning wheel. My wheel was found in my MIL's barn and was given to me but it's an antique and hard to use. I've been told the same, that when I buy a new one, it'll be a breeze after struggling with all the quirks of the old one. Some day, I'll spring for a new one.

 

[tsetse9]

tsetse... have you considered checking for worms also?

Well in my limited knowledge of looking up pictures online and checking their poop as I clean it up, I don't see signs of worms... a bit of red but from what I see online that's normal shedding of intestinal lining. Nothing that looks bloody. I treated the water this afternoon and this evening she seems back to her cranky bossy self. I haven't seen her poop tonight so I don't know if that is better or not. And I don't know if that corid can work that fast so maybe I am just an over reacting new mom. Geez I seriously feel like when I had my first child. Worrying about poops and lethargy and eating and sleeping...ugh what did I get myself into lol!

So last night I was skimming forums and came upon one that talked about marked and how awful it is and how it will basically ruin your chickening dreams forever and I about made myself sick with worry over these diseases. Fully expected to wake up to my Gertrude dead in the coop. Then she was fine this morn and I start reading up on lethargy and diarrhea and find the cocci info.... I just think I may be freaking out and over reacting. This is my over researching again. Is there any over researchers anonymous groups I can join...guess I'll have to Google it! I think if I had done as much reading on these diseases before I got chickens I would have chickened out!

 

[gaitngirl]

I think I'm in trouble - I just bought 2 used incubators

. I may be in need of a 12 step program . . .

 

[ladyrsanti]

Just lost my second hen, also a WHYandotte. Fox, again. They're getting into the pasture, using the corn field to hide and pounce (I think). There was a trail of feathers this time, leading into the field. Dunno what to do about it. Don't own a gun and don't have a way to keep fox out of the pasture. Not only that but they're coming closer to the barn and I worry that the run will also be compromised or at least tested. I'd rather not but oh well.

 

[iamfivewire]

so sorry Lady

 

[Trefoil]

Just lost my second hen, also a WHYandotte. Fox, again. They're getting into the pasture, using the corn field to hide and pounce (I think). There was a trail of feathers this time, leading into the field. Dunno what to do about it. Don't own a gun and don't have a way to keep fox out of the pasture. Not only that but they're coming closer to the barn and I worry that the run will also be compromised or at least tested. I'd rather not but oh well.

Run a couple of electric wires on the outside of your pasture. As far away from your pasture fence as is possible. Once they get a jolt they won't do it again. Don't mark where the fence is, it works even better when they can't figure out what got them. You can get a used fencer on ebay or shop around, the wire is inexpensive (I would use wire not tape), and the fiberglass posts are maybe $2@. If you get the fiberglass or plastic posts you won't need to buy insulators. You want a really good ground because that's what controls the amt of "shock" they get. I know its rotten of me to think so, but its really funny if you can post a critter camera and record them hitting the fence, they think God did it to them.
Of the 12 eggs I bought on ebay that were supposed to be 6 sultans and 6 assorted polish, they sent 3 sultan,5 french crevecoeurs, and 4 labeled wt crest that I assume are polish. Of the 12, 8 were nonstarters. They are due to hatch tomorrow and I have one lonely wt crest chick so far. Except for the sumatra eggs I tried last winter this is already the worst hatch I've had. And even worse, I filled my incubator with guinea eggs and so far all of them are growing. I won't know the hatch rate for another week on those. I have heard that hatcheries put a pinhole in the air sac end of the egg just before they are due to hatch. Has anyone tried this?

 

[NovaAman]

Well, you said the poo was watery, tsetse. You said she was lethargic. Sometimes, most times, you won't see worms. This is also a classic sign of parasites of either the external or internal, mostly internal with the watery poo. After all, the worms are getting the food, not the hen. It is also a sign that the hen may be off her food, drinking too much water because she is hot, though, I doubt that this time of year..How does her keel feel?

My other thought, maybe she was just having an off day, but I'd keep an eye on her for the next few days just to be sure. I doubt she needed treatment for cocci though.

Here is a link for a chicken poop chart. Graphic nasty poop pics. Yup. Just a perfect way to kill that desire for a evening snack. LOL
http://chat.allotment.org/index.php?topic=17568.0

 

[Totalcolour]

I've been thinking about sheep. Bluefaced Leister's specifically since their wool is pretty amazing to knit with. Can anyone share the approximate cost of feed costs for sheep? If it's a lot, I won't be able to convince DH, but I like the idea of having my own sheep to get fiber from.....

I don't know about sheep, but sister has cashmere goats . . .!

 

[Folly's place]

Insurance issues; Standard homeowners insurance DOES NOT cover barns or farm animals or horses, or liabilities related to them. Call your insurance agent or company, and find out about your policy before a problem occurs. I have horses and cattle, and have a farm policy rather than homeowners. A barn or coop is not a garage, and liability protaction is so important if someone is injured. Mary