Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Amy PT]

Ugh. I just noticed today that our hens have been sneaking their way through a hole between their side and where we have our 12 week olds, and eating the medicated chick starter. I have no idea how long this has been going on. Should we toss all of the eggs we have?

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Hey Hillbilly Hen, just noticed you live by my mama up there.

Where? If you are ever out this way stop in and say Hi.

 

[tntchix]

Where? If you are ever out this way stop in and say Hi.

They are right in town by St. Barts, ued to be on the high banks yrs ago. I sure will!

 

[SpidersHuman]

I had my 3 week old ducklings in the yard playing and one consumed one of these before I could stop him. Should I be concerned? Are they poisonus to ducks?

 

[jlynnet]

Ugh.  I just noticed today that our hens have been sneaking their way through a hole between their side and where we have our 12 week olds, and eating the medicated chick starter.  I have no idea how long this has been going on.  Should we toss all of the eggs we have?

There's no medication in the feed, so the eggs are fine.

 

[breezyschicks]

DH got a lil more than he bargained for tonight when I asked him to spend some quality time with me....and my girls such a trooper!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Awww! That is so neat!
My birds don't trust my guy enough to jump on him. :/ probably a good thing; he don't really enjoy them much. Tolerates..

 

[Amy PT]

There's no medication in the feed, so the eggs are fine.

There's no medication in medicated feed?

 

[1muttsfan]

Yep, last time I had a list with me it disappeared in the paper goods section, couldn't remember what else was on it after paper towels.

"Medicated" means a niacin inhibitor, the eggs may have lower than normal niacin levels, which probably would only be important if you were going to hatch them.

 

[XxPandaxX]

Are you using a still air or circulated (fan) incubator?  That's a BIG range, either way.  I believe that some recommend a slightly higher temp (100-101) for still air, but don't hold me to that.    Definitely calibrate!  My genesis ran perfectly off the factory thermometer last year, and was 3 degrees off (low) this year.  I calibrated a cheapie aquarium thermometer and checked the temp  against that and haven't had any incubator issues since.

I'm doing a forced air because I heard they have better hatch rates. I calibrated the Meijer one and it was ridiculous. Put it in water and an ice mixture that had sat for 3 minutes and it went to something like 39, then it went up to 42 while still in the ice water LOL. Seems like all is fine now, a couple short temp spikes but not over any long periods of time, just minutes because I've got my eyes glued to the incubator. Disadvantages of poorly made home incubators LOL.