Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[HollyDuckFarmer]

There is discussion on the Chickenstock thread about cancelling the event because of the fear of the bird flu.  I like for you all to tell us your thoughts on the matter.   

I don't think canceling is the worst idea ever. Meaning, people who want to get together certainly can. I would stay far away from any flock other than my own, no offense people, but ... Ain't nobody got time for AI. Minimize any and all risks/ potential exposures.

 

[BigHope888]

Quote:

Here's a picture of what FFH sold me

Got my ladies in the Coop today now that we're done painting it. They're ****** at me I think but they'll hopefully get over it .

I figured I would leave them in there the next few days before opening them back up. One because it's suppose to be a little chilly, two so they can get used to being in there and start to recognize it as home, instead of the garage.

We're at 12 weeks today I think for the first set, and 10 weeks for the easter eggers.

Sorry I didn't get back at you sooner, Wanna. Yes, that's what i used too. The employee who sold it to me sounded pretty confident that was the stuff, and my coop walls are white and limey. I swear every time I don't get to this website for a couple days someone's commenting at me. Well, I hope your flock isn't still mad at you and that they enjoy their mite-free fhome.

...Sadly, the main culprit, Curley, was killed by a hawk yesterday afternoon...

I am still very upset..even though I know this is always a risk when free ranging. ...

Sorry for your loss, Precious. We had our first hawk scare on Mothers' Day. Chickens looked up, so we looked up to see one circling. Gaah.

Hey everybody--

I just stumbled onto the Michigan thread. It's great to see others griping about the weather right now. My family is brand new to chickens, and we are loving it so far

. If you want, you can check out our flock in my signature line.

Anyway, greetings from the Gun Lake area! I have much reading to do to get caught up in this thread.

Hello from Metro Detroit! This is my first year with a flock as well and we're loving it!

Someone else asked, and I didn't catch an answer-I have heard that chickens will eat fleas/ticks, right? Mine are discovering that ants are the tasty little tic-tacs of their chicken world. (I sit there like a silly person and cheer them on: "Good chicken, who's the big hunter?")

So we went to Eastern Market and got this year's annuals and herbs. It's a flat of verbena, a couple of geraniums, and I could not resist the mini petunias beckoning to me from the grocery store. Herbs in a galvanized tub from TSC are dill, oregano, rosemary, and lots of basil. I know that the chickens will peck at the plants a little. Boyfriend will chase them out, but i'll let them sample the new plants and then they'll move along. Anyhoo, with chickens in mind, we got topsoil with no fertilizer added. Is there a good way to fertilize a garden with something that the chickens won't eat/won't harm the girls when they poke around?

 

[aart]

Good Morning all.

The ladies seem to be more comfortable in the coop. I went out to feed/water them this morning and they appeared more relaxed, so that's a good thing. The coop was noticeably warmer than the outside, so that's good too. I need to fill some cracks and gaps before winter comes, but already I'm pleased with how it is doing. They knocked down the barricade I had for the nest boxes and pooped all over (I think they were roosting on the collapsed barricade) so I need to get that cleaned up and put in a more resilient barricade.

I've been calling FFH every day looking for ducklings. I have an early day at work so I'm hoping if they get some in today, they'll have some left when I get out. I doubt the Mrs will be pleased about me bringing home ducklings, but whateva, I do what I want .

Hope everyone has a nice day.

Unless they will cause a very strong draft on the roost area leave them be, the more ventilation the better even in winter.

Welllllll... You might be wise to wait until your housing is 100% before you bring home ducks. Just sayin. From what I understand, there are many occasions where ducks + chickens just do not do well together. And ducks really seem to live a different (=wet) lifestyle then chickens. Consider adopting, I bet most every duck owner her could tell you a story about one great drake that they had that they had to have processed bcz they couldn't find a home for it. (On a side note, you want to avoid drakes around a flock of hens bcz the male duck's "equipment" is very different from chickens; Male ducks have been known to breed chickens to death).

Ditto Dat^^^

 

[wannahomestead]

Welllllll... You might be wise to wait until your housing is 100% before you bring home ducks. Just sayin. From what I understand, there are many occasions where ducks + chickens just do not do well together. And ducks really seem to live a different (=wet) lifestyle then chickens. Consider adopting, I bet most every duck owner her could tell you a story about one great drake that they had that they had to have processed bcz they couldn't find a home for it. (On a side note, you want to avoid drakes around a flock of hens bcz the male duck's "equipment" is very different from chickens; Male ducks have been known to breed chickens to death).

Thx for the info. I was planning to house the ducks and chickens separate due to their different lifestyles. When I was first considering ducks a few months back I did a lot of research and found that you can keep them together, but it doesn't always work out so well. I figured it's not worth the hassle at that point and to let them be apart.

@aart as far as the gaps/cracks go, it's mainly the doors on the back side of the coop. This side faces the direction the wind normally comes from, and the gaps in teh doors are large enough to let a wind whip through there. I plan to just put a little wood along those gaps to keep the wind out. The coop itself has a pretty decent ridge vent, and I'm planning to build new windows that actually open for more ventilation.

 

[suliah]

Thx for the info. I was planning to house the ducks and chickens separate due to their different lifestyles. When I was first considering ducks a few months back I did a lot of research and found that you can keep them together, but it doesn't always work out so well. I figured it's not worth the hassle at that point and to let them be apart.

@aart as far as the gaps/cracks go, it's mainly the doors on the back side of the coop. This side faces the direction the wind normally comes from, and the gaps in teh doors are large enough to let a wind whip through there. I plan to just put a little wood along those gaps to keep the wind out. The coop itself has a pretty decent ridge vent, and I'm planning to build new windows that actually open for more ventilation.

I have ducks and chickens living together... 1 male and 1 female duck with 12 hens and 2 roos. They all live together in 1 coop and 1 run. The duck has decided she doesn't want to lay her eggs in the chickens' nesting box though, she makes a nest outside in the dirt and tries to hide her eggs.

I've never had a problem with them together. Nor has my drake ever tried to mate with my hens!

Just make sure that you have more than 1 duck.

 

[preciouskitty]

Thanks for the condolences.

This was only my second hawk attack in over two years of free ranging. The first one was kind of the pullet's fault as she had strayed away from the flock. This hawk is downright BRAZEN; the attach came VERY close to the house, next to my car, with the rooster nearby. THEN, yesterday I, obviously, didn't let the birds out after work. All of a sudden I heard the same crowing/honking etc that I had heard the day Curley was killed...and they all had scrambled from the run into the coop (run & coop are completely predator proof from anything except a bear!).

Went out on the side deck & darn if that hawk didn't fly at eye heighth to me about 15 feet away..right by the coop. I suspect s/he was trying to get at the birds thru the "open" part of the run (covered in hardware cloth). I deal with hawks around all the time (riding the thermals, just being hawks (redtails); Bigboy is good about warnings. But, I have never really seen anything quite like this behavior.

I am speculating that it is a momma/daddy hawk hunting for their young. HOwever, I really don't know too much about birds of prey (other than they are beautiful and DEADLY!). So, my question is...how long should I keep everyone on lockdown? THEY HATE IT! But, had I let them out yesterday I am quite positive I would have had another fatality.

I am fully aware that I take a risk any day that I let them free range; but they love it. Just curious if there is some "guideline" amount of time that may make the hawk get "bored"!

Thanks!

 

[nickdlny]

Quote:

Sorry I didn't get back at you sooner, Wanna.  Yes, that's what i used too.  The employee who sold it to me sounded pretty confident that was the stuff, and my coop walls are white and limey.  I swear every time I don't get to this website for a couple days someone's commenting at me.  Well, I hope your flock isn't still mad at you and that they enjoy their mite-free fhome. 

Sorry for your loss, Precious.  We had our first hawk scare on Mothers' Day.  Chickens looked up, so we looked up to see one circling.  Gaah.
Hello from Metro Detroit!  This is my first year with a flock as well and we're loving it!

Someone else asked, and I didn't catch an answer-I have heard that chickens will eat fleas/ticks, right?  Mine are discovering that ants are the tasty little tic-tacs of their chicken world.  (I sit there like a silly person and cheer them on:  "Good chicken, who's the big hunter?")

So we went to Eastern Market and got this year's annuals and herbs.  It's a flat of verbena, a couple of geraniums, and I could not resist the mini petunias beckoning to me from the grocery store.  Herbs in a galvanized tub from TSC are dill, oregano, rosemary, and lots of basil.  I know that the chickens will peck at the plants a little.  Boyfriend will chase them out, but i'll let them sample the new plants and then they'll move along.  Anyhoo, with chickens in mind, we got topsoil with no fertilizer added.  Is there a good way to fertilize a garden with something that the chickens won't eat/won't harm the girls when they poke around?

I have two suggestions here; the first is to use a lasagna garden method in the container and have the top layer be a couple inches of the topsoil you picked up. If you aren't familiar with the lasagna garden method, there is a book called "lasagna gardening"--but there is also plenty of info on the internet and probably even on this site.

My second suggestion is to save some of the chickens own poop and mix it about 1 part chicken poop to 4 parts chopped leaves and use it for a mulch. This will make your soil better accross time, but doesn't do a ton for you now. If you need something now, maybe just grab a bag of organic compost and a package of rock dust (azomite) to feed your plants this year. You can't use too much of either of those (you won't want to use too much rock dust because it isn't really cheap), and neither will hurt the chickens.

 

[RaZ]

I have updated the Sign up list for Chicken Stock.
Please double check to make sure that I have you included. With all that has been going on lately I might have missed someone.

Direct Link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...ng-the-michigan-chicken-stock-picnic-and-swap

 

[glambka]

With regards to Chickenstock....Ok, I understand no birds...but are eggs out as well? Or will eggs be allowed? I have several people bringing me eggs and need to make other arrangements if no eggs will be allowed. These eggs are not for breeding, BTW, I will be emptying them for artwork. So most are eating eggs, past prime eggs, or clears. None should be hatching eggs. Thanks...I will await a reply!

 

[1muttsfan]

In the spring and fall many raptors are migrating, so it is possible that the hawk is just passing through. However this is also nesting season, so you may have a nesting pair nearby.

I was totally thrilled one day to have a Bald Eagle fly at eye level right in front of my car when I was coming up the driveway. I was also REALLY glad that my birds were in a hawk-proof run.