Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[uchytil]

People who guarantee sex of chicks should be accountable. Unfortunately some of them are not responsible. I got burned that way with my first chick purchase. At least five of twelve hens crowed and did other rooster things. I was so gullible, I even returned the roos, believing they would be replaced with hens of a similar age and breed. As I said ......... s l o w.

Bob, my biggest concern was that the seller told me that if any bird turned out to be a roo he'd exchange it for one comparable. I asked this right out of the gate since it's an established hatchery. Had it of been TSC or FFH I would never expect an exchange, lol! Anyway, I call them and am told I'd have to wait till the spring hatch and get a chick in exchange. So I raised a chicken dinner for one chick? That was not the original deal...I said I'd take any 4 month old hen they had - nope sorry. What? No problem, I probably forgot to read the fine print, ha ha.

Since the last post the roo is re-homed with my friend's daughter's flock.

 

[preciouskitty]

Happy New Year, everyone.

Last year's Chickenstock was my first. I had never met anyone from this thread prior to going. But I am glad I did go. Lady, sure hope you do come (& anyone else contemplating not attending).

This is the only forum I have ever joined or posted on...I don't do FB, Twitter, yada, yada....just BYC.

My Spazzie (my avatar) is just not right. I have had her in the house 12/30. She wouldn't come of the roost, eat or drink. Had the runs; she seems to be eating & drinking better today...don't see any mites, worms etc. no signs of a cold. Don't want to put her back out quite yet with the subzero temps forecast...she's my baby

 

[chickflick]

You giving her some vitimins?? I really hate when chickens get sick. So many possiblilites and not an idea what to do! Good Luck with her.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Thanks to those who complimented Polish, 1,2, 3 and Raven.

If you look closely at Polish 2's beak. You can see its overgrown . She is the nicest one which was good.

So I trimmed her beak back, I didn't hurt her thankfully, she can eat now. Her crop was empty before I trimmed her beak, I will check her crop later and see if its full at all.

 

[RaZ]

Ya know John, I found myself wondering mor than a few times what happened to some of the people you mentioned plus some others. Why do we come and go? Could be an interesting sociological study, right RaZ? What do they call those charts with the arrows to and from contacts?

I don't know much about sociology. I had one semester and made the professor cry when during a discussion I said "An armed society is a polite society".

I'm not talking about a missed post here and there. Of course that happens. I only brought this up because of several people feeling this way. I am not the only one! Just wanted you all to be aware of WHY the folks are leaving. I know there are several reasons why people leave, but this is one that we can make a change! With a little consideration, we can again become a fun place to socialize. Share the ups and downs of chickens keeping and of our lives. I have pulled back, but not left. Is there hope??
Lady, I usually walk around at Chickenstock trying to talk to everyone. Please join me/us at the lunch table. I don't want you to feel left out. I know it's hard when you are not outgoing and feel like a stranger. But, with a little effort, you'll have lots of friends to sit and talk with. Please come!

This thread can be a bit difficult or even intimidating for some people to just jump into the discussion. Especially if that person is a bit on the shy side.
I sincerely hope that nobody ever feels like this is some kind of exclusive group. Heck we had people from PA, Ohio and even Canada at CS last year. Good golly, there were even Yoopers there.

Maybe the humour element is a factor...
This is a social thread so it rambles all over the place. But I do know that most questions are honestly answered to the best of the responding party's ability when it comes to a serious inquiry about the health and welfare of our chickens and other animals. As a community, I think we do a pretty good job of that with a balance of seriousness and fun. And the occasional poking of fun at each other. We have shown time and again that we are here for each other and it is sad that people leave, for whatever reason they have.

 

[preciouskitty]

You giving her some vitimins??   I really hate when chickens get sick.  So many possiblilites and not an idea what to do!   Good Luck with her.

Yep, got the electrolyte & vitamins in her water, which she was drinking lots of earlier today, along with eating. Now she's just all curled up in a corner sleeping. Also had to give her little rump a good cleaning this morn...

My first time dealing with any "sickness"....yep, it stinks...

 

[chickflick]

Will the chicken stock be somewhere north this year.. or is it always in lansing..

I'm pretty sure folks "up north" had their own Chicenstock last year. You need to plan one to have up there. Start now so you can get a good place to have it. I'll be going Monday to reserve the park

 

[Amerauchick17]

I had to trim my 2 Blue Ameraucana bantams' beaks too. When I got them thier beaks and nails were way long... luckily they were really tame so it wasn't much fuss. They really were surprisingly tame considering they had been raised in grow out pens and hadn't been handled at all until I got them. One of them died for seemingly no reason. I quarantined the survivor for 4 weeks and she lived in my house during that time. Sweet bird, loved to be held. Anyways, I have since rehomed her to a nice lady who had been looking for a blue ameraucana bantam for her small flock.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

@1muttsfan Thank you!

@preciouskitty sympathies. I too am dealing with dramas here, but here it is both of my Runner Drakes' feet. (Both runners, both feet) They were both perfectly fine prior to snow. Now they've both got bumbles like you just cannot believe. Dotted the spots with iodine yesterday, as the iodine literally froze on the dipstick dealie. I just don't know what else to do right now. This cold is miserable and its a-gonna get worse.

 

[1muttsfan]

Good golly, there were even Yoopers there.

Seeing as how we are really Canadians, eh?