Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[kimmie6067]

I saw a lot of raptors today surveying my yard while the birds where out ranging, one flock had to have had 12 or so birds in it. Not sure what they were but they were almost as big as a turkey vulture. I also saw a few of those soaring around with the hawks/eagles or whatever they were.
Must be the peak migration time of year for the thumb of Michigan, there have been quite a few in the sky the last 2 weeks.
I don't let the birds out of their pens unless I am around to kind of keep an eye on them.
Already lost a duck to a suspected hawk/eagle a few weeks ago

Darn wildlife, I live in the woods so far no predators. I have seen foxes in the past but I have this crazy cattle dog maybe thats whats keeping the wildlife at bay.

Kimmie

 

[snowflake]

ok, I know its a crappy photo... but wanted to share the egg I got from Glambika in trade for some of my turkey eggs. I'll try to get a better pict later!

What talent she has!!!!those are beautiful!!!

Haven't read to catch up but...

I wish I had the video camera out today. My son was zipping by on the 4 wheeler and I see he has Buzz the showgirl roo in the crook of his arm. The wind had all of Buzz's crest feathers blown back and he looked to be enjoying himself, not scared at all.

I made my son put him down but it was adorable. My son says " But mom Buzz loves to go fast". Kids!

Whatever the sheep's got, Sandy wants.

what a lovely pair..they are so pretty

I am going to put some hostas, tiger-like-lilies, and irises in the run to get big and beautiful for next year... Will any of these be an issue? Will the chickens eat all my flowers?

They will eat your hostas like a salad bar.... they love the bugs that seem to come around and the leaves. you can use fever few, (small daisy like flower) I don't think they have bothered my iris, they don't bother the tiger or day lilies once they get to a decent size, they do love to dig and scratch around them and will send the roots flying if they aren't lg enough, you may need to protect them till they get a good start. I usually put a small ring of fencing around till established. I also had luck with Anise Hysop (in the mint family). I have some September flowers( small wild daisy) in my run the hens love to hide from the rooster in there

Darn wildlife, I live in the woods so far no predators. I have seen foxes in the past but I have this crazy cattle dog maybe thats whats keeping the wildlife at bay.

Kimmie

when I had dogs I had no trouble with coons. or hawks

sorry I can't help with your son's problem, if it isn't parasite or cocci, or Mareks it could be something environmental. perhaps something is poisoning them?? maybe a plant or seed, there are some very poisonous plants....don't know if a chicken would eat them

 

[1muttsfan]

I had a fox take one of my chickens right behind the house by the coop 2 weeks ago 5 minutes after I went in the house with the dog. They know all about us and our patterns, way better than we know theirs, and will sneak in as soon as they see a chance.

 

[RonEstrada]

Good morning. My newbie question yoday is: should I wait until spring to get my chicks? I won't have the coop finished until December at best. I'm in Oxford in north Oakland County.

 

[gladahmae]

Well so much for being a little worried about the hawk that circled over the field for 4 hours yesterday.

This morning my husky killed one of the chickens. One of 2 things happened, although in both scenarios the dog went over the backyard fence: the chicken got out of the run (4ft fence, no 'lid', so definately possible) and he caught it, OR he climbed (yes, he climbs, he's not a jumper) into the run, caught the chicken, climbed back out and took it into the field to munch on.

I put the dogs out to pee as usual, and when I was getting ready to go make sure the pop door opened I saw the dog running back and forth in FRONT of the run. So he was out at that point. I called him and of course he ran in the opposite direction, went out into the field and layed down and started chewing on something. So I went out and did a chicken count and was 1 barred rock short. Had oldest DS wach the baby so he wouldn't fall off the bed and went out and caught the dog. Once I got up to him he was immediately belly-up, tail between his legs, etc.

*sigh*

DH wants to be done with this dog. He's got seperation issues, has to be kenneled OUTSIDE whenever we go anywhere, even if it's just for a few minutes so it's been a rocky year and a half since we adopted him. 2x before this DH has wanted to re-surrender him, but I've talked him out of it. Had the chicken that got killed this morning been DS's favorite, I'd have no shot at talking him into keeping the dog (who I like, even though he's a PITB).

So my question is, does anyone have any inexpensive ways to modify/repair/fix what we've got going on right now? Being that the dog is a 'climber' and not a jumper, I'm wondering about running a strand of hot wire around the top of the run and possibly the fenced [dog] yard. But I don't know how much that would cost. If it's over $100, there's no way DH will be OK with that. We've already spent, literally, hundreds of dollars trying to find ways to contain this dog. DH is certain that the dog will just continue to kill the birds, and wants me to choose one or the other. My pointing out that the only reason our (his) lab hasn't killed a bird yet is because he won't jump over the fence in the backyard didn't make a difference.

I can take pics of our set-up if that would help. I just need some suggestions quickly.


ETA: ALL the feathers I found were OUTSIDE the run. All of them. And I couldn't see where it looked like he'd chased the birds around INSIDE the run, so

 

[RaZ]

What do you feed your chickens? I understand that part of the size is due to the breed, but the rest must be dependent of the feed. Can you show me a feed tag, and also share what extras you supply your birds (treats, greens, etc.)

Cuz really, THAT"S ENORMOUS!!!!!

Good morning. My newbie question yoday is: should I wait until spring to get my chicks? I won't have the coop finished until December at best. I'm in Oxford in north Oakland County.

More details please.
Are your getting winter tolerant breeds?
Where will you keep them for now?
Will your coop be draft-free yet still have good ventilation?

I think it might be more difficult to start now but many people here have done it with success.

 

[chicken grandma]

Good morning. My newbie question yoday is: should I wait until spring to get my chicks? I won't have the coop finished until December at best. I'm in Oxford in north Oakland County.

Ron, I would encourage you to get chicks in the Spring. That way you will be able to raise them outside with lots of sun and fresh grass and bugs. Chicks hatched in the Spring usually develop into larger birds than Fall chicks. You won't have to buy as much feed as they will eat a lot from outside, which is cheaper and healthier. Also, you won't have to worry so much about whether the temperature is too cold for young birds. All in all, it will be cheaper and easier for you to start in Spring and your birds will be healthier also.

I would put your energy into your coop and make a great big run for them too where they will be protected from predators (dogs on the ground and hawks from above).
I have seen a lot of people get chickens before they have a coop finished or run set up. Much nicer for the chickens if their home is ready for them.

 

[1muttsfan]

Glad, huskies are natural predators of small animals and are pretty much always unreliable. However, are you sure that the dog killed the bird, and that he didn't just find it after?

I would say a 4 foot uncovered run is very insecure. A taller fence, at least netting over the top, and a hot wire to discourage predators would help.

 

[gladahmae]

Glad, huskies are natural predators of small animals and are pretty much always unreliable. However, are you sure that the dog killed the bird, and that he didn't just find it after?

I would say a 4 foot uncovered run is very insecure. A taller fence, at least netting over the top, and a hot wire to discourage predators would help.

I'm 99% sure he killed it It was about 10min after the door on the coop opened, and the bird was still warm and limp when I carried it out of the field (don't want to attract coyotes). And I know that they're pretty predatory. He's shown interest in them, but not obsessively in my opinion. We're planning on putting netting over the top, just hadn't gotten to that yet. The problem is that I don't really want to go and spend $150+ on everything I need for a hot wire. Maybe if I played up the coyote aspect of hot wire to DH.....

I am beyond frustrated about all of this.

 

[Juise]

Beautiful pictures.

I am going to put some hostas, tiger-like-lilies, and irises in the run to get big and beautiful for next year... Will any of these be an issue? Will the chickens eat all my flowers?

BFM - Mine decimate the hostas and lilies in the Spring when they emerge, but then, for the most part, leave them alone. I did have to move some of the smaller hostas because under the big hostas is one of their favourite places to hang out and they were getting uprooted. My chickens don't eat the daylily flowers. My kids do, but the chickens don't.