Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[eatwhatyougrow]

We are starting the adventure of a lifetime.

Last Wednesday we received 5 New Hamp reds from Family Farm and Home in Chelsea. A week down and the girls are happy and talkative. They sure don't like being separated. There already seems to be a drama queen in the flock. Every time you pick up one of here sisters she starts peeping like mad.

Looking forward to amazing eggs and a bug free yard in the summer.

how cool i remember the first time we brought home our 45 chicks...the kids wanted to be out there holding them all the time! they still like to hold the chicks when they hatch...and one of them will even go out and help me feed them, he says they are cute

 

[iamfivewire]

Congrats jimmysanborn, & welcome to BYC

 

[Maah]

LOL, I'm glad you *did* go - I was *almost* considering going to check out the Wellies. Thanks for the offer of using your trough - I have a really large Rubbermaid tub for now - I think I want something I can actually connect wire too versus just laying something over it. These cats are really tenacious, I'm sure they would find a way to get into the top if it was not attached - they have already tried pushing in the base of the bathroom door in to get to the chicks. Crazy cats.

I use a large rubbermaid tub too but one with locking handles and I had hubby change the lid to fit our needs. He cut out the center, & then secured chicken wire in it with heavy duty zip ties. Then we taped along the underside with duct tape so there were no sharp wire ends sticking out. It works really well & keeps the kitties out (though they still like to watch the cat TV often). The cats can't knock the lid off, since it's "locked" on. I've caught a cat laying right on top of the chicken wire before with no problems... "I'm just watching, mom". LOL

We used to use a different brooder, but one time I was in a pinch and needed a 2nd brooder & wanted something easy... came up with this and now it's our first choice when we haul out the "chick stuff". We've used this brooder box for a couple of seasons now. It's still strong & secure, and very easy to clean & sterilize.

We love the clear (ish) bin too... it lets us see the chickies.

Though when the chicks get bigger, they outgrow the bin and get moved to a 4'x4'x4' box locked in the front room. Thankfully they've never needed to be out there long before they move out to the grow out pen. This winter though... ugh, it's probably going to be July before all this white stuff melts & we can ship them out. LOL

 

[SillyChicken]

OK, I'm lost (it's ok). Registered with whom? A cross goat like my Shirley Sweet (rescue - tog/Nigerian) can't be registered with ADGA to my understanding. Her offspring could have scrapie tags if I sell them. They would be non-registered cross whatever goats with ear tags.

I'll PM you

 

[Brennigan]

We are starting the adventure of a lifetime.

Last Wednesday we received 5 New Hamp reds from Family Farm and Home in Chelsea. A week down and the girls are happy and talkative. They sure don't like being separated. There already seems to be a drama queen in the flock. Every time you pick up one of here sisters she starts peeping like mad.

Looking forward to amazing eggs and a bug free yard in the summer.

Congrats & welcome! : )

My husband and I are raising 4 sweet babies this Spring for the first time too! Every day is an adventure!

 

[Brennigan]

45, @eatwhatyougrow ?! for your first time?!

the four I have (that I got two at a time) already have me sleep-deprived and super hover-mother for this first week!

 

[Amy PT]

We are starting the adventure of a lifetime.

Last Wednesday we received 5 New Hamp reds from Family Farm and Home in Chelsea. A week down and the girls are happy and talkative. They sure don't like being separated. There already seems to be a drama queen in the flock. Every time you pick up one of here sisters she starts peeping like mad.

Looking forward to amazing eggs and a bug free yard in the summer.

YAY! They are cuties.

 

[eatwhatyougrow]

45, @eatwhatyougrow ?! for your first time?!

the four I have (that I got two at a time) already have me sleep-deprived and super hover-mother for this first week!

yeah lets just say the chicken math got me before i ever even got going...I had been planning for a year and already had an idea what I wanted and I planned on doing some breeding so wanted a good group to begin with, you know have to calculate for those that don't make it, and those that don't make the cut for breeding, I figure with the 45 I started with, 15 ended up being roos and lost a couple along the way.but that was a few years back..i have about 75-80 right now...and 8 ducks, if i had more land i would have a real operation going, maybe this year...

 

[snowflake]

welcome to the newbies,

don't forget to check out Chicken Stock great picnec in June in Lansing

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

@Scifisarah
How was Lansing?

Everybody else:
Just wanted to poll y'all. Who sells at Farmer's Markets?