Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Stacykins]

Someone I know here in the UP had nearly their entire flock slaughtered by what is likely a dog as they free ranged. The kill pattern is that classic play with the squeaky flappy thing until it is dead, then catch the next one. None of the birds were eaten. One duck survied, but is injured. The vet even agrees from the spacing of the teeth marks on the surviving bird that a dog is the culprit. I hope she can catch the dog, if it comes back for more 'fun', then send the owner the bill for getting all those hens to point of lay. They were pets as well as egg layers.

 

[birds4kids]

I spent a few years outside Lake Linden and even up there with all that snow there were a fair number of feral dogs.

 

[wannahomestead]

My chickens will be 18 weeks on Monday. I'm going to get their nest boxes opened up this weekend and do a little bit of modification to them (they lack a piece of wood in the front to keep the nest in and the bedding out.)

Should I spring for the dummy eggs at TSC/FFH to encourage laying in the nest? I feel like they are kind of a 1 time use thing.

 

[iamfivewire]

you could put some golf balls in the nest instead of buying the fake eggs

 

[RaZ]

My chickens will be 18 weeks on Monday. I'm going to get their nest boxes opened up this weekend and do a little bit of modification to them (they lack a piece of wood in the front to keep the nest in and the bedding out.)

Should I spring for the dummy eggs at TSC/FFH to encourage laying in the nest? I feel like they are kind of a 1 time use thing.

I second the golf ball method. It worked for me.

And remember that chickens don't look at the calendar; they may take longer to get to POL (point of lay). The 20 weeks to POL is more of a rule-of-thumb. A good indicator is when they start to squat. Let us know when you get your first egg. There is something special about that first egg.

 

[aart]

I used golf balls and a couple fake eggs(on sale)....
.......they are still in the nests, I move them around sometimes just to see what will happen.

 

[iamfivewire]

we have some of the fake eggs - other than for layer training , we put them for our broodies to see how serious they will be + if we are not wanting to hatch real eggs

 

[uchytil]

golf balls work - chickens have no clue

 

[uchytil]

As you all know I have the rabbits for sale, forgot to add I also have a Goat Buckling for sale. If not for breeding, or eating, he would make a good companion animal for you horse people, or whatever...PM or call 231-828-5609

 

[1muttsfan]

I have some wooden eggs picked up at a yard sale,leave on in the boxes all the time. But I would use a golf ball if I did not have them.

Heard my first crow out of the little cockerels oh oh!