Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Folly's place]

Welcome to the new folks! Today we cleaned out the coop and run, dusted everything, and rebedded with shavings. A miserable job, well done. Just a little brag; it was high on the list for spring. Chicks coming from MurrayMcMurry next week, can't wait! I should have a few extra BLRW's for Chickenstock, at least. The goats are cute, but not here... Mary

 

[Opa]

Sure was a beautiful day and I did manage to get some of the lawn thatching done. I still haven't regained my stamina after my bout with the MRSA infection. It also seems to have lowered my resistance as well, so now I'm having a cold hold on longer than one ever has before.

I know that it was time to put Daisy down and I am glad that I did it myself so that she went as quickly as possible. Still I find myself looking for her. Tonight when I finished supper I have left a few bites of venison roast on my plate and started to place it on the floor before I realized what I was doing.

The large fowl have been performing well of late and I am getting 14 to 19 eggs each day. Eggs sales however have be abysmal. The state opened a new freeway ramp and the traffic going by my house has dropped by at least 80%. So as a result not as many potential customer pass by to see my sign.

Thought I'd post this picture of a rather large, but not uncommon, egg. The smaller egg according to my egg scale is an extra large so I don't know what would be the proper term for the big egg. I have an egg scale and many of the eggs go beyond jumbo to bottom out the scale, but the large egg is beyond description.

 

[jlynnet]

Opa, I sure do hope you get your strength back! You need to enjoy the beautiful weather as much as possible. You will forever miss your beloved dog.
I sell my eggs mainly from word of mouth. Try get the word out. If you have a farmers market, maybe you could sell them there. City folk love paying top dollar for fresh eggs!

 

[lbrykowski2011]

Don't they grow so fast? Their so adorable

 

[lbrykowski2011]

What a nice day it was yesterday. Got the straw all raked out of the chicken and duck pens, it's gonna take 4ever to dry out to burn.

I did not realize how much they had kicked out of their coop. All the plastic is down from the runs and the coop also. Bowls, toys and roosts all washed with soap and vinegar and DH built me a lil hen house for when our 6 newbies when they go out in 2 wks. I will divide the run in 2, then the new girls can still socialize with the older ones for about 8 wks, then I can use it for when I need 1 separated for any reason or for new chicks next spring.

 

[aart]

You know that old saying...."A little knowledge is a dangerous thing"?.... well, I've been trawling through this site for weeks now getting info and I truly never realized how many afflictions/diseases/parasites a chicken could get!!...eww!, its kind of making me wonder if I should get chickens after all

Realize too that forums are where people come for when they have trouble and are looking for help....so there are more sad stories than happy ones.

 

[Candy442]

I have to say the same thing.
My hens are healthy and happy.
They are pest free naturally and have no illness.
As an added bonus, they have improved my life style as well.

I thought you had canaries and parakeets?

 

[mindylee]

You know that old saying...."A little knowledge is a dangerous thing"?.... well, I've been trawling through this site for weeks now getting info and I truly never realized how many afflictions/diseases/parasites a chicken could get!!...eww!, its kind of making me wonder if I should get chickens after all

When it comes to chicken owning... its like owning a dog! Ya got to get the right breed that fits you, ur personality, and your needs/likes. Best thing about experimenting is that if ya try 1 breed and decide ya want to change, their super easy to find homes and start fresh. For a couple yrs, I dabbled in a few breeds and mixed flocks. I liked them but I knew after awhile I wanted something different. Now I have the breed I love and im hooked! I wouldn't trade they birds for the world and just adore them. I actually enjoy seeing them everyday instead of looking at them as a chore. If I have a bad day, I go see them and take bread and after sittin with them I totally forget how bad a day I had. My hubby thinks im nutz and sometimes has to chase me from the coop as I loose track of time.

Theirs ups and downs to owning chickens but once ya fig out the balance, its easy as pie!

I can tell ya I only wanted a doz or less birds at one time... and I did with them other breeds. With the breed I have now (cochin bantams) I have over 60+ with 3 doz eggs for hatchin comin this week and ya know, its just as easy to take care of them as it was just a doz of chickens!

I say try it! Ya just never know unless ya try!

 

[Stacykins]

This photo just cracked me up for some reason. Goats in a car.

Yea, they only live two miles away and the horse trailer is iced into the ground! So car it is! Poo pellets are easily swept out, and the owners had the goaties walk around until they piddled, then they got loaded up!

 

[SillyChicken]

http://annarbor.craigslist.org/grd/4396686642.html (Brooder boxes add)