Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[gladahmae]

glad is seems that everyone made it through with no major damages! We had a LOT of wind overnight, but it appears that all of the coops and tractors made it through. It's started snowing now, but we aren't expecting any accumulation. No deer for us this weekend. We didn't even SEE a deer Sunday morning. I'm seriously considering trying for a doe with my crossbow since we have exactly zero shoot-able bucks (all spikes and 4s) behind our house, but several large does frequent the area we have our bow stand set up in.

getting excited about thanksgiving and brining a turkey......it's so much fun for me, it's a little ridiculous.

I did find a dead pullet when we got home from hunting. Must have happened sometime late saturday or early sunday since my mom (our house-sitter) didn't mention it when I talked to her. I couldn't find any external injuries, so i really have no idea what happened. of COURSE, it was one of my BLRW pullets, which I can't seem to keep alive between dogs, jumping in the waterers and drowning, and now whatever happened with this one.

 

[Amy PT]

Dear chicken gurus, I planned to worm our birds this weekend. I figured with the fading natural light, they're not laying right now anyhow. This weekend, they both started a full on hard molt. Will the double stress of worming meds and a molt be too much for them?
Also, I know nature knows better than I do, but a 1/2 naked hen in November seems like bad planning. They know how to keep themselves warm, right? Or, should I shut them in the warm coop until they feather out a bit?

 

[Wrightsx4]

Dear chicken gurus,  I planned to worm our birds this weekend.  I figured with the fading natural light, they're not laying right now anyhow.  This weekend, they both started a full on hard molt.  Will the double stress of worming meds and a molt be too much for them?

Also, I know nature knows better than I do, but a 1/2 naked hen in November seems like bad planning.  They know how to keep themselves warm, right?  Or, should I shut them in the warm coop until they feather out a bit?

I have the same questions and look forward to what others say. I have some very naked looking chickens and it's windy & cold - and they want to be outside in it. I've never wormed them before and thought I'd do it while they're not laying much - although my younger ones still are and since they're penned together I guess I won't be able to keep the eggs. Maybe boil, chop and feed them back to the hens to help grow some feathers?
No signs of worms but my older birds look thin and feel light compared to my pullets.

 

[1muttsfan]

As long as your coop is draft-free and they have access to food at all times, they will be fine.

 

[jlynnet]

Crazy wind here still! When I came home from work at midnight, I met the fire department on my road. They were clearing tree debris blocking the road. So far nothing fell on the coop. Most of the chickens are staying inside.
I've only given my chickens fresh pumpkin seeds and garlic for worm control. I'm just not a fan of chemicals. If I can avoid them I will.

 

[1muttsfan]

If you use a dewormer, do not feed the eggs back to your hens - this increased the withdrawal time, as you continue to give them small doses of the medication in the eggs.

 

[ladyrsanti]

Dear chicken gurus, I planned to worm our birds this weekend. I figured with the fading natural light, they're not laying right now anyhow. This weekend, they both started a full on hard molt. Will the double stress of worming meds and a molt be too much for them?
Also, I know nature knows better than I do, but a 1/2 naked hen in November seems like bad planning. They know how to keep themselves warm, right? Or, should I shut them in the warm coop until they feather out a bit?

I'm not a guru. Actually, I'm the antithesis of a guru but I will relate my experience. It's all I have. I dewormed my chickens, starting this last weekend (wazine). My barred rock, Lady Slipper took ill suddenly. She'd been molting and huddling to keep warm like the others but then I realized she really wasn't doing much else, ever. So I had gotten them a pumpkin one day and while the others were happily devouring it, she was sitting in the corner all hunched. I picked her up and put her in front of the pumpkin and she got excited but fell over. That wasn't good. She's my canary in the coal mine. Whenever the chickens are due for the deworming she's the one who lets me know. She's a bit more frail than the rest, always has been. I meant to do it a couple of weeks ago but it fell by the wayside. She's hanging in there, eating and all but still wobbly. I'm hoping she's okay. I'm just keeping up their food and water and treats the best I can.

 

[Trefoil]

MIChickens I hope you've gotten your electricity back. Hopefully nobody suffered major damage. The bad winds must have missed Millington, I don't seem to have much damage, although I just got the two huge dead ash trees cut down. As he was cutting the second one down, the tree guy told me they had a treatment for ash borer, it was too late for my trees but it made me sick to have to have them cut. Has anyone tried treating them? Does it work? It seems like the systemic insecticide would work if it was started before the ash borer got a head start.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Salt dug a hole

 

[gladahmae]

. I dewormed my chickens, starting this last weekend (wazine).

wazine only treats for one type of worm (round worms I think). if you suspect a heavy worm load, i've read multiple times in the health section to worm with wazine first, wait x number of weeks (I want to say 2, but not sure) and then worm with ivermectin/epirinex/valbazen to get the other types of worms.