Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[greenmimama]

Just something to think about, we have the chicks in our garage, a 3 stall and it stinks, like really stinks, I can't imagine them being in the house other than a visit.

I know lots of people brood them indoors, but maybe they don't have 40 like I do, LOL

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Don't forget about egg colors! Are these for your family, or are you selling also? There is a member on here named Illia who has a drool-worthy assortment of colors.........!
The heritage breeds are more likely to lay longer, especially if you get them from a breeder vs a hatchery. Production breeds and Hatchery birds are bred to lay as many as possible, as quick as possible, but that can cause issues like internal laying. Hens are born with a set amount of eggs they are able to lay, and the faster they put them out the quicker they are done, generally. A good breeder aims for overall better quality of bird.

 

[RaZ]

I have 3 ISA browns from spring. Although they lay every day, I'm not that enamoured with them. I'd say they are medium sized frames with a large frame attitude. They try to bully the other birds and especially pick on my bantam. They are not very friendly either.

I'll stick with my Buff Orpintons, BSL or australorp (if I had them).

Warning: My opinion and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Here's a thread with egg colors, if you haven't seen them already....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/549533/colored-eggs

There's a search on here for breeds somewhere for different qualities, but since the site updated i don't know how to work it! Perhaps someone else on here knows?

And that's not even touching the beautiful colors that chickens come in..........lol.

 

[snowflake]

Long rambling replies are welcome! The basement stays fairly warm and I can always open the furnace vents down there to make sure. My cats will be a challenge, but I'm sure with enough heavy objects and threats I can keep them at bay. Then I get to deal with my terrier in the yard. Thanks for the great advice!

check out all the breeds before you make up your mind, there are so many,,,,,4yrs ago I had no idea,,,, big ones little ones. red,black and blue every color under the rainbow.some lay big eggs some small eggs, also every color , dark chocolate brown, to almost pink, green blue, speckled, cream, white.... chickens with as many personalities as people. feathered feet, top nots and bald necks. chickens are amazing

 

[NovaAman]

You can fence off a part of the yard for the birds beyond what the run will be. Any and all vegation in the run will be annihilated with in days. SO, it won't be totally free range, but it will be a better foraging area than none at all. Terriers... Well terriers are terriers and if you train them that they are NONONO! Then you might be ok. Or build a dog run too. My cats don't bother with the chickens, not even the chicks. My chickens... well a few actually terrorize the cats. LOL, and that alone if funny to watch. My brooder babies were in a covered brooder, so the cats could not get it, but they sure loved to sit on the outside looking in, or on the top looking down. Kitty TV... Or window shopping. Maybe thinking, "So, this is what my kibble looks like before they cook it..."

ISA, RIR, Leggerns, NH... From hatcheries, from my understanding, and I can be wrong, someone will correct me, are bred with the intention of constant egg supply. They can be wonderful birds. I loved the little leggern I had till my dogs happened to her. The problem too with hatchery birds, is if you are going to use them with the intention of getting eggs everyday and through the winter with light supplementation, you will need to change out your birds every 18-24 months. Not necessarily change them out, but be ready to add new birds when the currents reach about 18 months. They can be worn out quickly if they don't get a break as nature intended, and just STOP all together, and you will be asking, "Why aren't my birds laying?" Thats ok, if you plan on stew potting them. I am hoping to get more than 2 years out of my birds. So, I only add minimal light in the winter.

Neighbors do hatchery birds. Normally leggerns and red varieties. This time around though,they also got orps and australorps, and a few GLW/SLW for added color. He says that so far most of them are laying, gets nearly 2 dozen eggs a day. His plan is always the same. He keeps the flock for about 18 months then starts to sell out the ones who are not laying daily. He also has 14 hours of light through the winter. He of course has to do this in order to meet his egg demand at work where he sells. I do not have to do this. I have 4 hens right now who are at that age. Two are molting, and even though they are, I still get an egg every couple of days from them. Light molt. I have 2 that are broody, and one of those broodies is molting. LOL. I have 12 hens that are actively laying. I don't always get 12 eggs. On occasion I will get 13. BUT, I only need the eggs to feed my family. I do sell them though if someone comes to the door.

I guess what I am saying is, if they are just going to be for your useage, how many eggs a week do you really need? Go with this need in mind, and you can then pick the types of chickens you really want. I have only six girls of my twelve that lay EVERY DAY now. Some will lay every other, or two days in a row and then skip a day. This meets our needs. We really only eat about 2 dozen a week. SO, I have breeds that I like, meet those requirements. Get a few that are serious layers, the afore mentioned, then get a few that lay 4-5 for variety. Want a colorful basket for the counter? Get some EE/Olive eggers. Darker eggs like chocolate colored shells, get Marans...

I have Faverolles and Faverolles crossed with NH, Light Brahma, Wyandotte and an I have no idea bird, who lay pretty darn good nearly every day. My cochin bantams and silkies when not broody lay every other or 4-5 depending on the bird. I have a LF cochin who lays everyday. My egg basket colors range widely. I have white, pink (or tinted), light tan, to medium speckled brown. I have one hen who lays every other day or so whose egg shell has a purplish sheen to it and one green egg layer.

 

[NovaAman]

Boy Ron, you sure picked a good day for asking a question. LOL.

 

[RonEstrada]

Oh yes, the buff orpington is another one I like. Especially because they're pretty, which will help to bring my wife around. I want lots of eggs (I eat over a dozen a week by myself), but also want a friendly breed. Here's another one: is there a good egg layer that won't roam too far if allowed to free range? Too many dogs around my 1.5 acre lot.

 

[1muttsfan]

I am beyond frustrated about all of this.

is there a good egg layer that won't roam too far if allowed to free range? Too many dogs around my 1.5 acre lot.

All chickens allowed to roam will roam freely without regard to the boundaries that we aknowledge. If you want to protect them from other dogs, you better have a really good fence. Chickens attract predators like a carcass attracts flies.

Chicks are VERY dusty, as said above. They make an annual mess in my garage where they are brooded, I can't imagine having them in the house for more than a few weeks.

 

[NovaAman]

Oh man, you need a fence then. A dog who roams will come in and darn near take out your whole flock and not to eat. Just a murder spree really.

You can get fencing, 4-5ft high in 50 and 100 feet rolls. Pound in stakes any where between $2-4 depending on what kind you get. You can get the round pound in ones for a buck, then wire the fence to them. This will atleast deter the free roaming dogs and provide more protection for the birds. Gate are simple to make with a few 2x4s and hinges. I fenced the dogs area using 150 feet of fence and stakes for about $200 bucks.