Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[whitster290]

Hi michigan thread,
I live in Westland, mi. We are starting a new flock in our subdivision backyard. My chicks are about 3 weeks old right now. I've called the city and they said I have to have written permission from the three adjoining neighbors to keep my birds. Has anyone had experiences in Westland with this? Thanks!

 

[JackieandChicks]

Today I stopped along side a high ditch bank where asparagus grows in abundance. Since it is along a public highway there are others who know of this spot as well. Sometimes I will get enough spears for a meal and other times I will find that someone else has beaten me to them. The fact that someone else got them doesn't bother me in the least, but what does upset me is that they don't know what they are doing.

Asparagus should be snapped off as close to the ground as possible. This will induce the plant to send up new spears. My competitor cuts them several inches from the ground resulting in the shortened spear continuing to grow and no triggering new shoots. When I find them cut I break those severed spears off at ground level and the plant crown produces new spears. Sadly, may times I return to find that once again they have been cut. I've contempated leaving a sign explaining fow to do it right.

Thanks for this info...I am harvesting from my garden and am making sure I cut down to the ground. This is the second year of 2 year crowns (now 3 year)

 

[The Dixie Chick]

So, what do I do about the situation of clipping nails and beaks. Any ideas? Please help!

Jeym

 

[The Dixie Chick]

Hi michigan thread,
I live in Westland, mi. We are starting a new flock in our subdivision backyard. My chicks are about 3 weeks old right now. I've called the city and they said I have to have written permission from the three adjoining neighbors to keep my birds. Has anyone had experiences in Westland with this? Thanks!

Welcome! I can't say I've had experiences in Westland, but sort of around there. Our backyard is tiny!!

Here are some updated pictures of our "chicken-faces"

Jeym

 

[gladahmae]

I've had birds for 2 years and never needed to do it? I've read you can clip nails just like you do with dog/cat nails and that a dremmel tool works well for beaks.

 

[aart]

So, what do I do about the situation of clipping nails and beaks. Any ideas? Please help!

Jeym

There was an article on the headline banner a couple days ago that was pretty good, but it was somehow truncated when it got to beak trimming....the part about toenails was good with a video.

Cut the dogs nails today, cornstarch is good to have on hand, haven't clipped any chicken nails yet, but have a few that could probably use it.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

So, what do I do about the situation of clipping nails and beaks. Any ideas? Please help!

Jeym

Jeym, how old are they? Beak growing twisted? Mine are cooped most of the winter so i had to trim nails. They had gotten too long and one had broken and bled, so i fixed them up. Beaks only need done on strictly indoor birds though usually; they normally wear down with dirt scratching. Young birds won't need it at all unless beaks are awry which is a faulty breeding and can't be fixed. You trim those just so they can still eat and to minimise the twisting of the jaw bone.

I use curved sharp rose pruners or better is the nail trimmers for dog's nails you stick the nail into the hole;
Beaks are easy since you look for the clearish part of the beak by the point. It will be easy to see if you are under a sharp light and you have tame birds. Even good birds are spooked by shiny things by their faces though!!! Sit the bird on a towel in your lap with her facing right on your right knee if you are right handed. Gently push her bsck down so she is laying down, wrap the towel over so her eyes are covered up but her beak is poking out. It is best if your hair is up and can't fall in your eyes! The top beak part is the usual culprit. The bottom beak part should fit into the top and get worn down naturally, a little clearish part is good and much like a short fingernail to protect the beak nerve. The top beak part may start to curve too much past the bottom, again usually on strictly indoor birds. Google overgrown beaks fof pic reference. If you are sure than you simply snip off the offending bit,leaving the protective bit. I usually pinch gently on the sides of the beak and push it apart a little. You only need to get it a little in the trimmer hole- you need to eyeball how much clearish part needs cut BEFORE the actual cut as they often flinch and it needs be done with speed! No time to look while actually doing. Watch that she isn't sticking her tongue out or you will cut it! If you take your time and allow for many practice flinches from her she should settle down. Each time will be easier! Keeping the eyes covered is really the key. When you finally get the beak in there where you were aiming pinch quick and make happy spothing talk sinch it might be startling for her.
Toe nails- re wrap her, this time with one foot out. Eyes need not be covered. Hold wings firmly to the body under your left arm on your lap. Use your left hand to pull her foot away from her body and try to get the toe being done straight. Easiest if you hold her hand since she can't curl it into a ball, just hold with one toe sticking out. Look for the clearish part- usually just past where it curves under. Trim this off and leave a little to protect the sensitive vein. Keep repeating this to finish the foot, adjust towel and move to the next foot. She might be ticklish so a firm grip on those feet will help you both.

If at any point you are unsure of a cut STOP! Keep looking and handling her until you are sure of what you see. It hurts and they can bleed profusely if you are overzealous. In the event you really can't see where the overgrown part stops try to have someone who has done it before show you how to do it and what to look for. Bird pet shops sometimes trim their bird's nails and though they are much tinier you will see. ( i was shown parakeets as i used to keep those by a friendly store owner) If you are on a computer my signature link "fuzzy's notes" should have a link with illustrations, not sure which section though!

 

[Amy PT]

Welcome! I can't say I've had experiences in Westland, but sort of around there. Our backyard is tiny!!



Here are some updated pictures of our "chicken-faces"

Jeym

Our EE Mabel looks just like your bird on the right!

 

[The Dixie Chick]

Jeym, how old are they? Beak growing twisted? Mine are cooped most of the winter so i had to trim nails. They had gotten too long and one had broken and bled, so i fixed them up. Beaks only need done on strictly indoor birds though usually; they normally wear down with dirt scratching. Young birds won't need it at all unless beaks are awry which is a faulty breeding and can't be fixed. You trim those just so they can still eat and to minimise the twisting of the jaw bone.

I use curved sharp rose pruners or better is the nail trimmers for dog's nails you stick the nail into the hole;
Beaks are easy since you look for the clearish part of the beak by the point. It will be easy to see if you are under a sharp light and you have tame birds. Even good birds are spooked by shiny things by their faces though!!! Sit the bird on a towel in your lap with her facing right on your right knee if you are right handed. Gently push her bsck down so she is laying down, wrap the towel over so her eyes are covered up but her beak is poking out. It is best if your hair is up and can't fall in your eyes! The top beak part is the usual culprit. The bottom beak part should fit into the top and get worn down naturally, a little clearish part is good and much like a short fingernail to protect the beak nerve. The top beak part may start to curve too much past the bottom, again usually on strictly indoor birds. Google overgrown beaks fof pic reference. If you are sure than you simply snip off the offending bit,leaving the protective bit. I usually pinch gently on the sides of the beak and push it apart a little. You only need to get it a little in the trimmer hole- you need to eyeball how much clearish part needs cut BEFORE the actual cut as they often flinch and it needs be done with speed! No time to look while actually doing. Watch that she isn't sticking her tongue out or you will cut it! If you take your time and allow for many practice flinches from her she should settle down. Each time will be easier! Keeping the eyes covered is really the key. When you finally get the beak in there where you were aiming pinch quick and make happy spothing talk sinch it might be startling for her.
Toe nails- re wrap her, this time with one foot out. Eyes need not be covered. Hold wings firmly to the body under your left arm on your lap. Use your left hand to pull her foot away from her body and try to get the toe being done straight. Easiest if you hold her hand since she can't curl it into a ball, just hold with one toe sticking out. Look for the clearish part- usually just past where it curves under. Trim this off and leave a little to protect the sensitive vein. Keep repeating this to finish the foot, adjust towel and move to the next foot. She might be ticklish so a firm grip on those feet will help you both.

If at any point you are unsure of a cut STOP! Keep looking and handling her until you are sure of what you see. It hurts and they can bleed profusely if you are overzealous. In the event you really can't see where the overgrown part stops try to have someone who has done it before show you how to do it and what to look for. Bird pet shops sometimes trim their bird's nails and though they are much tinier you will see. ( i was shown parakeets as i used to keep those by a friendly store owner) If you are on a computer my signature link "fuzzy's notes" should have a link with illustrations, not sure which section though!

Thank you so much!!! I was just sort of worried.

Our EE Mabel looks just like your bird on the right!

Cool! Ours is named Oatmeal Rasin Cookie, but she's usually just called Oatmeal or Cookie.

 

[DucksnDaffodils]

Hello everyone,

I wasn't sure where to post this, so if there is another place that would be good, just let me know.

Kind of long story, but without the details, I have a friend who was at someonelses farm and the lady there has a chocolate bantam hen (not sure of the breed, just told it looked almost partridge colored, but more deep chocolate) who has a sight problem. The hen is super friendly and healthy, she just can't see really well and therefore can't be in with the ladies flock (she has mostly standard chickens which are too big for the little girl to be able push her way in with when she can't see). They don't think she is completely blind, because she can find food, and hop on to short roosts.

Anyway, I promised my friend that I would ask and see if there was anyone that would be willing to take in a sweet special needs hen. Anyone interested?