Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[myfarm4579]

Brrrrr. Got down to-18 during the night here. Good news is its a balmy 5above now

 

[shrparatch]

Love first eggs.

To avoid split hatches you can hold eggs at room temp for as long as 10 days, and often longer, without affecting fertility. Then put all the eggs in at the same time. Makes hatching time much easier, and eliminates opening the incubator repeatedly during lockdown, the final crucial 3 days of incubation.

A second incubator is a good idea, both as an emergency backup, and to use as a Hatcher if you are doing split hatches.

What do you mean by split hatches? I am new to raising chickens, just recieved our first delivery of 5 Hew Hampshire Red Pullets and am considering getting some more already. I am just wondering if it is ok to integrate chicks of varying ages into the same brooder. Any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[uchytil]

I haven't been able to put an add up on CL for 2 days. After getting everything typed out I go to submit and the screen blinks out and the whole add is lost grr....

I've had pretty good luck with it. Can you try and set up a new account? I usually run 3-4 adds in two different locations with no problem. I know they remove pet (dog) adds because of their "puppy mill" belief. In the Farm section we have every critter you can shake a stick at so that's not a problem. I've had good luck finding some cool stuff too. My biggest complaint is when kids pester you for more pictures, less money, and then no more them, lol! Since it's a free service I guess I'll take the good with the bad...

Try a new account if you can.

 

[uchytil]

Craigslist keeps ghosting my ads recently. I don't post on craigslist very often. Perhaps once every few months, and I never spam, repost, do anything that is not allowed. Basically, it tells me the ad is published, but it will never show up on the actual list of ads in a category.

I tried posting a turkey ad a few days ago. I just tried reposting it. I doubt it will work, but it is worth a shot. I give it time for the ad to show up, since it takes time for craigslist to update ads. But never showing up is ridiculous.

I just posted and meant it for you too. Maybe set up a new account and try that.

 

[uchytil]

Well while Silly is out in fruit, nuts, and flakes land enjoying the scenic drive (LOL), we are getting more snow. New England is getting hammered again. I leave next Wednesday to Boston for my Dad's heart surgery. Come on warm weather!

 

[shrparatch]

Post office called me this morning. Heres my newest boy all they way from SC.
Meet Santa whiskers.

What kind of chicken is that, I have never seen one quite like it before!

 

[taprock]

While cold is relative, it is not the kind of relative I like to have lately.  This weekend is Pond Hockey in St. Ignace, wow 200 teams out on the open bay for 3 days in the single digits plus wind chill.  Hope they dress warm!  My Frost-Free Hydrant has frozen up again despite a heat tape  .  Heading home with a blow dryer and some bubble wrap to try to fix that.

Ours already did once this year and we also have heat tape. Dh stacked tires around it plugged in an electric heater put it inside the tires and covered it with a scrap of drywall and old blankets. It took a day. Now the tires are filled with sawdust and I have a hose scrap attached so all water spillage is outside the tires. Last year we made it all winter and then it froze the first day above freezing. It been hard to keep the snow where we want it this year with all the wind.

 

[shrparatch]

Hi, anybody else here keep salamanders?

I don't actually "keep" them but have found a bunch near a bush that we were cleaning out around last fall. I think there is a nest of them down there somewhere. When we were digging 3-4 came running out, caught one. It was blue. Pretty cool.

 

[shrparatch]

First time getting chicks from there, so we'll find out. The EE were not labeled as such, thats just what I'm calling them.

Lost one chick already... my two year old managed to sneak away to laundry room, found him sitting inside the brooder, he squished one.

Oh so sorry.

 

[Stacykins]

What do you mean by split hatches? I am new to raising chickens, just recieved our first delivery of 5 Hew Hampshire Red Pullets and am considering getting some more already. I am just wondering if it is ok to integrate chicks of varying ages into the same brooder. Any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

Eggs that are due at different dates in the same incubator are split hatches. It takes some careful incubator management to maintain humidity and ensure all eggs developing do well.

I just posted and meant it for you too. Maybe set up a new account and try that.

I will try. Unfortunately, they eventually ask for a phone number on CL to verify the account, and mine hasn't changed for a long time (and I don't intend to change it, I like it!). I still don't have a UP number, but one from Pinckney, MI when I lived there, hah!

What kind of chicken is that, I have never seen one quite like it before!

That is a chicken of the Silky breed. And a darn nice one, too!