Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Maah]

I took a lot of pictures of farm animals yesterday. I mostly wanted to give some updates on the chickens we got from Chickenstock... but got a big ole spider in the meaties pen and the goats decided they wanted to be in on the fun too. LOL. So I have some farm pics, but BYC isn't letting me upload them!

I'll try again later. There are lots of pictures though. Is that going to be ok, or would you prefer me to limit it a bit? Maybe y'all can help me figure out if the Polish is a pullet or cockerel. I really don't know... never had a polish before so I'm not familiar with how it would look at this age (approx 10-12 weeks, more? Can't remember.). It looks super cool though. Maybe I'll try uploading some through my phone...

 

[uchytil]

I took a lot of pictures of farm animals yesterday. I mostly wanted to give some updates on the chickens we got from Chickenstock... but got a big ole spider in the meaties pen and the goats decided they wanted to be in on the fun too. LOL. So I have some farm pics, but BYC isn't letting me upload them!

I'll try again later. There are lots of pictures though. Is that going to be ok, or would you prefer me to limit it a bit? Maybe y'all can help me figure out if the Polish is a pullet or cockerel. I really don't know... never had a polish before so I'm not familiar with how it would look at this age (approx 10-12 weeks, more? Can't remember.). It looks super cool though. Maybe I'll try uploading some through my phone...

I want to see the goats and their surroundings!

 

[ericaruth19]

Our birds are 4 and half weeks and my girls are thinking of joining 4-H. Do you think this is a good idea with birds from my pet chicken and not a breader? And with such young birds?

 

[Stacykins]

Our birds are 4 and half weeks and my girls are thinking of joining 4-H. Do you think this is a good idea with birds from my pet chicken and not a breader? And with such young birds?

If your girls want to join 4H, then I'd definitely recommend it! Most of the fairs have passed however, where poultry get the most 'action'. But there is no harm in joining up now!

A lot of kids do do shows and stuff with hatchery birds. Actually, most of them do. It takes more resources to get birds from breeders, sometimes an incubator if they only sell hatching eggs, or the birds are costlier.

But if you've bought any birds from a hatchery (not a breeder) that are called Americanas, Ameraucanas, or Araucanas, then what you really got was a mutt variety of bird called an Easter Egger. No hatchery sells Ameraucanas and Araucanas, actual breeds, but they often call their EEs by the names of those breeds. So when kids (who think they have the actual breed) enter the birds in fairs and shows, they are severely disappointed when the judge tells them otherwise. Hatcheries don't call them EEs (for the most part) because they get better sales mislabeling them.

Young birds mature. If your girls were to show them next year with 4H, they'd be mature hens rather than pullets. There are classes for both.

 

[ericaruth19]

Thank you so much! Yes the goal is for next summer fair. We are debating between barred plymouth rock, white Cochin or partridge plymouth rock.

 

[Maah]

I want to see the goats and their surroundings!

Well, it's a no go on the farm animal pics until BYC can fix their tech issues. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/918082/picture-upload-error-message-problems At least I know it's not just me.

Our neighbors camper was flipped upright today. That was pretty cool to watch. I got some pics of that too... & a short video, but don't feel like loading the video to you tube in order to load it here. A picture I can do... um, eventually.

 

[snowflake]

Our birds are 4 and half weeks and my girls are thinking of joining 4-H. Do you think this is a good idea with birds from my pet chicken and not a breader? And with such young birds?

I don't show but I would think you have to start some where, and the first yr is a good practice year, So you can understand what to do and get some good pointers from others. the following yr you could get some better breeder stock from some one at CS

Silly, adorable puppy!

Maah, scarey! I hate storms.

The fair has been going well. My son's pig received third in it's class for carcass. His turkeys were Grand champion. First the judge starts off saying always enter a same sex pair, which we didn't. He said they fill out the same for uniformity. Then he looks all the birds over and comes back and says they are an exception and gave them first. They were also the only pair that was free range which I was told we shouldn't do either. Tonight is the auction and hopefully it will go well. This is the first year with poultry as a market livestock animal. My son's Cochin also ended up with a reserve grand and so did my pair of Welsummers. I just wish it was a bit warmer. Yesterday didn't make it to 70 degrees.

congrats on the success good job!!!

I thought that this was a dating site. I typed in hatch.com and ended up here. I was just looking for a nice chick to meet my eggspectations.

 

[snowflake]

Has any one found Mareks vaccine for under $50? I can find it for $17 &15 for cooler &$22 for shipping. Too much for 5-10 chicks. hatched by a hen, some times only 1or2 chicks. Until I can find it cheaper, I can't sell or give any chicks away as I have had Mareks on the property and will not take a chance.

 

[snowflake]

I don't remember who I got the water cups from at CS but I love them, I think I like them more then the nipples. so do the chickens

 

[uchytil]

Maah, it looks like the photo upload is working now. Let's see those goats and such.