Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[BigHope888]

Thanks, 1muttsfan. (shudders, though.) My parents are in Sterling Heights. It's 10 minutes from here.

My lavender is just starting to bloom. My pic needs an update, it will probably be Henny Penny, my little beauty queen, in front of the lavender if I can get her to hold still. (Starts laughing at self, rolls onto floor-like i'll ever be able to get a chicken to pose for a picture!)

 

[snowflake]

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

I have updated the attendance list. If it is incomplete DO NOT get mad at me. The information is based on what people actually sent to me in a PM or stated on the page itself.

Thanks RaZ, we appreciate all the hard work,

Thanks 1Muttsfan for the info, was hoping it would not make it to Mi.

we have also had a few cases of dog flue in Mi. according to my vet.

See you all Sat. hope the weather cooperates at least there is a covered area.

 

[Folly's place]

Thanks, Raz, the list helps. I look forward to seeing you Saturday. Right now I'm busy treating for poultry mites (UGH!!) and will be cleaning out the coop tomorrow. Mary

 

[iamfivewire]

We had 2 EE chicks hatch the end of last week under one of our broodie hens - The 1st of 3 Iowa eggs is zipping under Broodie #2 . Broodie #3 had a hatch about 5 weeks ago, & wanting to be broodie again - i tell her we dont need any more chicks to hatch, but she's not listening . . . . .

 

[iamfivewire]

here's Chocolate + Vanilla :

 

[1muttsfan]

I hope your little duckies pull through. What's this about opening up the nest boxes? My girls have had nest boxes since I've put them in the "Big Girl" coop. Are we supposed to give them nest boxes or access to only when they're about to lay? I think our chickens are about the same age, btw. Mine are 16 weeks today. And yes they're looking more and more like "chickens." Miss Hazel and Henny Penny are red in the faces now, combs and wattles are getting bright and full. Their (last?) bag of chick feed is getting low, it's undecided if i'll have to get another bag of chick feed or if layer feed will be the next purchase. I've heard that you should wait till you see the first egg to switch to layer feed, that's my plan.

Sometimes young birds want to sleep in the nest boxes, and they make a mess there when they do. Blocking them off until they are used to roosting usually works well.

Mix your chick feed half and half with layer feed until you have used it up, your birds will be old enough for layer feed if it lasts you a few more weeks.

I was planning on Chickenstock this year, but had to drive to Lansing a week ago, and have to go to Jackson end of next week - too many weekends away and long trips down in a row. I hope you all have a great time, and I will especially miss all the great folks (and the delicious food).

 

[Opa]

Fifty years ago when I thought I was taller and bullet proof, I was at times impatient and quick to anger. Over the intervening years I have learned patience and that there is very little worth getting mad about. In fact my sons claim I have become downright mellow. That's not to say that I would allow anyone or anything to cause harm to me or mine.

Some times situations arise when action must be taken. Such of the case with our resident woodchucks. For years they have resided under a brush pile at the rear of my property and I have rather enjoyed watching when they would bring their young out to graze on the clover patch 100 yards from my house.

However, earlier this evening I happened to observe one going under my primary chicken coop. Investigation revealed not only the tunnel under the coop, but a second location where he has burrowed under the fence of a secondary run that currently does hold anything.

While the bucket traps for raccoons have remained baited and ready, they have stood idle for several weeks. Tonight the vigil to protect my birds has moved from predator protection to now include trapping for predator facilitators.

 

[bigmrg74]

Fifty years ago when I thought I was taller and bullet proof, I was at times impatient and quick to anger. Over the intervening years I have learned patience and that there is very little worth getting mad about. In fact my sons claim I have become downright mellow. That's not to say that I would allow anyone or anything to cause harm to me or mine.

Some times situations arise when action must be taken. Such of the case with our resident woodchucks. For years they have resided under a brush pile at the rear of my property and I have rather enjoyed watching when they would bring their young out to graze on the clover patch 100 yards from my house.

However, earlier this evening I happened to observe one going under my primary chicken coop. Investigation revealed not only the tunnel under the coop, but a second location where he has burrowed under the fence of a secondary run that currently does hold anything.

While the bucket traps for raccoons have remained baited and ready, they have stood idle for several weeks. Tonight the vigil to protect my birds has moved from predator protection to now include trapping for predator facilitators.

The only good Woodchuck is a Dead Woodchuck!!

Woodchucks have always been terminated with extreme prejudice around here. their burrow holes can easily have a horse step in one and break their leg.

 

[dportfamfarm]

Last night a coon got one of our 2 pekin ducks. We (hubby,and two boys aged 5 and 2 and myself) were taking a female pekin out to the coop and hubby says hes not liking what he sees.. Meaning our ducks were always together and he only seen one. And im not going into details, but we told the kids ducky muat od gotten out. Im very upset.. Needless to say the coop is fort knox now and the ducks get locked up at night.

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry! Mary