Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

Aart, I think for the best dark olive eggs you need to cross with a very dark egg layer, like Penedesencas or Marans. I kind of like the greenish olive eggs my crosses lay, but they are definitely not very olive.

 

[OldMissionChick]

Finally got all the trees cleared out for the coop, run & garden. And got the coop out of the barn to its more permanent place. 45 + trees down in 6 days and boy am I tired! Now if only the DNR will issue burn permits so I can get rid of all the stumps.

Has anyone been to the Northern Michigan Livestock Auction? I know they have auctions on Wednesday but never been.

 

[Monstro]

Is it common for molting right now? My older 4 haven't laid for about 2 weeks now. Some feathers on the ground not as many as i thought there'd be. They're right at the 1 year mark. Never really went thru a molt before just the loss of baby feathers. Started laying towards the end of winter. Also, they stopped laying about the same time we moved them to share a fence with the younger group, havent tried them all together yet.
Thanks

 

[snowflake]

Is it common for molting right now? My older 4 haven't laid for about 2 weeks now. Some feathers on the ground not as many as i thought there'd be. They're right at the 1 year mark. Never really went thru a molt before just the loss of baby feathers. Started laying towards the end of winter. Also, they stopped laying about the same time we moved them to share a fence with the younger group, havent tried them all together yet.
Thanks

I think they can molt when every they want. it seems we think there should be a proper time but then they disrupt our plan, could be they are not laying yet because of the move. also some have a lot of luck with feather fixer to speed up the molt

art. our friends have lost 6 or 7 out of 32, not to bad, haven't. talked to them for a bout a week so maybe no more, should be ready to butcher in about 6 weeks

cute ducks Raz, will be interesting to see how the hen does at mothering them when they decide to take a swim

 

[aart]

Aart, I think for the best dark olive eggs you need to cross with a very dark egg layer, like Penedesencas or Marans. I kind of like the greenish olive eggs my crosses lay, but they are definitely not very olive.

Well, Yeah...but I don't have those birds......only Welsummer cock and blue laying EE.

 

[gladahmae]

Unless you have really dark welsummer egg genes i don't think you're going to get a dark olive. my hatchery welsummers lay lighter than my amberlinks.....

 

[aart]

Unless you have really dark welsummer egg genes i don't think you're going to get a dark olive. my hatchery welsummers lay lighter than my amberlinks.....

Yep.....that's the problem.....wishes I could get some pure Am's and very dark laying Marans....but it's not in the cards as of now.
They're still pretty olivey, hard to get a good photo.

 

[chickflick]

I do have several hens going through a light molt. Mine seem to go broody and then go through a molt.

 

[1muttsfan]

I have been to the horse auction at the Gaylord site many times - first Saturday of the month except in July

 

[iamfivewire]

we have a Welsummer cockerel that we need to re-home . 3 month old