Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Totalcolour]

Quote: Well, we have had lots of different breeds and the only feisty roo we had was an OEG Bantam, and even then, he only attacked my legs when I wore "DENIM"!

I think the reason they all have been good, is that they have a huge pasture, and I leave them alone. When they see me in the pasture, they all know I come with treats. So they all come round, and most will accept food from my hand. The current roo is a HUGE J.G. and is the gentlest I've had so far. I don't make them my friends, but I don't mess with them either.

The breeds we've had:
Buff Ops,
BLRW
Ameraucana
Marans
Jersey Giant
OEG Bantams - he was feisty but not really mean (Except to the Orp Roo)
Dark Cornish X (he was really nice, especially to his ladies)
Barnevelder
Dorking

 

[fuzzybutt love]

I am trying to decide whether to candle tonight (6th day) or wait it out until tje 10th day. Research suggests later is better for the fetuses, there is so much riding on this it is killing me. I need to know if any of hers is going to develop! I am not the only one affected though. Her bestie has been severely off her feed- today i finally got a day off work and i spent about an hour coaxing her to fill her crop.

Still hanging about the job. I am sure i got it but official word won't be until mon-tues. Gaaaa!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Also i am on the fence about sharing product ideas. Realistically i don't have the know-how yet to patent, nor the ability to mass produce. I DO have very firm ideas of products i want for my new coop, i know others would want them too. I don't want to be cut out if my ideas went big though!!!

 

[JackieandChicks]

For fun...what a difference a month makes....








My little Welsummer roo is right in front to the left next to the Buff Orphington

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Basic bator setup. Pint jars at each corner keep the temp steady and are ready to drip water in later on... cut off egg cartons hold eggs so i can tape shut to also steady temp and humidity. Egg cartons help humidity too. The tape roll becomes a handy tool for egg "turning". Calibrated thermostat on each carton, folded up towel on lower side keeps temp steady so it isn't colder on bottom. Towel happened after that dip i had! Working like a charm. I don't twiddle with the dial after the pre egg warm-up. I use the towel and the plugs, and start at 98 since as they grow they will make heat. It has got to 101 too, so keeping it a degree warmer is a buffer for unexpected heat surges.

This is the same setup i used for my last emergency hatch and God willing it will go as well.

 

[JackieandChicks]

Basic bator setup. Pint jars at each corner keep the temp steady and are ready to drip water in later on... cut off egg cartons hold eggs so i can tape shut to also steady temp and humidity. Egg cartons help humidity too. The tape roll becomes a handy tool for egg "turning". Calibrated thermostat on each carton, folded up towel on lower side keeps temp steady so it isn't colder on bottom. Towel happened after that dip i had! Working like a charm. I don't twiddle with the dial after the pre egg warm-up. I use the towel and the plugs, and start at 98 since as they grow they will make heat. It has got to 101 too, so keeping it a degree warmer is a buffer for unexpected heat surges.

This is the same setup i used for my last emergency hatch and God willing it will go as well.

 

[BattleFires]

I have a non-poultry question.
My husband and I recently acquired a llama and an alpaca. We are using the existing fencing from when we had horses and it's a mix of 2x4s on posts and square stock fencing. Today we discovered the alpaca can walk under some of the boards. Does anybody else have alpacas and what do you use for fencing? Can we just lower some of the 2x4s?

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi TC nice to see you drop in

I never mail blood samples, UPS only and only mon-tues-or wednesday to avoids weekends in transit.

 

[zndzant]

@snowflakenot being able to see the coop is my only reservation about my dad's choice of location. There's a big pine tree in the way.

but considering there's still a foot of snow in the yard out there,we don't have to decide right away. That's why we're doing so much planning up front,before we even bring any chicks home.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I have no scientific info to back this up, but my personal feeling is that any trees near a pen, particularly an open pen, is a predator attraction. I simply have noticed that my current open roofed pen, with no trees nor scale-able buildings nearby, has not had any predator activity from above; Unlike some others I know how do have trees around. (Specifically raccoons). Just something to think on.