Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[snowflake]

Congrats on the chicks from John, what colors did you get?

 

[tori8780]

What kind of chicks?

http://fowlstuff.com/FFAQ.html They are from his Ameraucana and Chantecler chicks, though they are the "rejects." Basically he explained to me that they are not show quality birds but are fine as backyard layers. The Ameraucanas lay blue eggs and I think Chantecler lay brown.

 

[tori8780]

Congrats on the chicks from John, what colors did you get?

It is a giant mix of large fowl and bantams. I know there are a few lavenders in there but not sure on the rest. I pick them up Saturday and I will ask him what each chick is

 

[BattleFires]

I am picking up 22 chicks from John Blehm on Saturday!

I'm gonna have a few extras so if anyone in the GR area would like a few (unsexed) chicks just let me know!

Last year we brooded in our basement but this year I wanted to try it in our garage since I've read a few people saying they've done it successfully even in this cold weather. Well, we set up the brooder last night and put the light in and it's only 47 degrees in there this morning. So I guess that means we'll have to bring it into the basement for a while. Ugh, did not want chickens in the basement again.

I've had my brooder in the unheated barn for two years now and haven't had a problem keeping my babies warm. I just add more bulbs or cut down their available space to keep in the heat. I also keep it covered with multiple blankets.

 

[RaZ]

Leghorns and rir are dominant breeds and will possibly pick on your gentler breeds you listed. Cochins are sweet and adorable but constantly broody and will set more than lay! Same for orpies. My orpington went broody before a year old and was still being a broody mom when her "babies" wrre 6 months old! (So no eggs from her) lol

I haven't had an Orpington go broody on me yet. They are great birds for small flock keepers. Good egg production, hearty and friendly. They are the golden retrievers of chickens.

Not sure how to keep water from freezing without adding heaters or electricity to the coop somehow. Fish tank and pond heaters are pretty standard use for this application, yes?

Buy 2 or more waterers and rotate a fresh one with one that freezes. I change mine out every morning and late afternoon in the winter even if they weren't frozen. If you live where it is extremely cold you may have to change them 3 or 4 times a day. At least you will be checking on your flock while you are changing the water.

 

[JackieandChicks]

http://fowlstuff.com/FFAQ.html They are from his Ameraucana and Chantecler chicks, though they are the "rejects." Basically he explained to me that they are not show quality birds but are fine as backyard layers. The Ameraucanas lay blue eggs and I think Chantecler lay brown.

Sent you a message - I am looking for a lavender Ameraucana roo, so would take two lavender chicks if available. Thanks!

 

[tori8780]

I've had my brooder in the unheated barn for two years now and haven't had a problem keeping my babies warm. I just add more bulbs or cut down their available space to keep in the heat. I also keep it covered with multiple blankets.

Thanks! I will throw a blanket on it tonight and see if it helps. Its 2ftx4ft, so its pretty large, but we needed it big cause we're getting 8 ducks and 2 geese next month too. Maybe we'll just have to get a second heat lamp as well. I'm gonna pick up a 250 watt tonight, cause I'm pretty certain ours is 125.

 

[jimmywalt]

Not sure how to keep water from freezing without adding heaters or electricity to the coop somehow. Fish tank and pond heaters are pretty standard use for this application, yes?

Check out the link in my signature about how to make a 5 gallon HEATED bucket waterer for only $20 bucks.
5 gallon waterer (heated for winter too): http://goo.gl/j50hYW

I have a 100' extension cord running from the power supply on our deck to my coop. It has worked great all winter. You can see a picture of my coop/run in my avatar picture.

You can see the electrical hook-up at the top of this picture. I have a lot going on (automatic coop door, web cam, water heater & bubbler)


Another picture. Electical is running up the WHITE pic pipe on the right side to the ceiling.


Heater and bubbler in bucket


Aquarium heater from Walmart for $14.97. The bubbler was from Harbor Freight for $5


See electrical coming up the white pvc pipe and the outlet hooked to the ceiling rafter.


Pic during coop construction. White pvc along left front of coop.


End stayed under coop in bucket all summer until I hooked up the 100' extension cord. Then put both in watertight bucket again. And is plugged in GFI outlet at house.

 

[1muttsfan]

Farmerboy, that is soooo too bad! Hope you can figure out what went wrong. Maybe one of the controls got tweaked in the off season.

The temperature of the room the brooder is irrelevant, the only important temperature is at the level of the chicks in the brooder. My brooders are out in a 35 degree garage. Use caution in covering a brooder with anything flammable, and leave it open over the lamp. Bulbs should be those intended for animal use, as regular bulbs can have a Teflon coating which is toxic to birds.

 

[tori8780]

Farmerboy, that is soooo too bad! Hope you can figure out what went wrong. Maybe one of the controls got tweaked in the off season.

The temperature of the room the brooder is irrelevant, the only important temperature is at the level of the chicks in the brooder. My brooders are out in a 35 degree garage. Use caution in covering a brooder with anything flammable, and leave it open over the lamp. Bulbs should be those intended for animal use, as regular bulbs can have a Teflon coating which is toxic to birds.

I think I just need a higher wattage bulb. The temp in the brooder this morning under the bulb was only 48 degrees, so much too cold for baby chicks