Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

You might want to confine your birds completely for a few weeks, closing the top half of a door will not keep a hawk out, and it will be back looking for another meal until it realizes the free chicken dinners are no longer being offered. Raz had a hawk one time that entered his garage through the pop door and helped himself.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Is there anyone in MI with miget turkeys?

Thanks.

 

[RaZ]

True story. My local Cooper's hawk entered through the pop door at ground level. Helped himself to the young chicks in the coop. Then he was either too full or too sated to find his way back out the way he came in. When I went to the garage later, he was sitting on the window sill. I had to open the big door so he could get out. He has rarely come back since.

I kind of miss seeing him.

 

[Folly's place]

Yesterday I rearranged the flock into sections; the bantams in the annex, and the standards in the main coop. Nobody was happy! Today I let the big birds out and kept the bantams in, and those birds are very annoyed with me. It's been a week since the hawk took out the second bantam, so here's hoping it's moved on. We'll see. I now have two people interested in some birds, and have to decide who's leaving for other homes. Still too many bantams, though. Mary

 

[aart]

Took down the partition wall between 5 younger pullets and the flock today...was quite the rodeo, was surprised at some of the combatants.
One of my favorite and really quite docile middle of the pack girls went right at it, ended up with some blood on her beak and a severe limp(**** I hope that clears up).
No other serious injuries that I can see, will be interesting to see what happens at roost time and the again in the morning and ensuing days.

Interesting pic of a bearded girl and good sized wattles too......didn't think those usually manifested together.
Mix of Welsummer cock over an olive laying amberlink/EE mix...so a Heinz 57 of genetics behind her.
I have 5 from this cross, 2 have the beard wattle combo, all have huge combs and all lay Wellie colored eggs.

 

[OldMissionChick]

Yesterday I rearranged the flock into sections;  the bantams in the annex, and the standards in the main coop.  Nobody was happy!  Today I let the big birds out and kept the bantams in, and those birds are very annoyed with me.  It's been a week since the hawk took out the second bantam, so here's hoping it's moved on.  We'll see.  I now have two people interested in some birds, and have to decide who's leaving for other homes.  Still too many bantams, though.  Mary

Where are you located? We are thinking about adding a couple Banties to our already mixed flock.

 

[snowflake]

I'm really hoping that the hen he took out was the one that was laying the really little eggs I've been getting. And I think I am going to turn that door to the coop into a Dutch door so that I can keep the top closed to let the flock come and go from the coop while offering more safety from hawks. That and there's an old two part dog coop here that I'm thinking I'm going to set the two half's up inside the mobile pen to that they would have other places to take cover.

sorry about your hen,,extra hiding places help but I agree with Mary, keep them locked up for a while.

I'm trying not to freak out about my tomatoes. The Romas are JUST turning red. And it's rained soooooo much. And it was 47 this morning when i took kids up to the bus. I probably have 2+ bushels of chemical free GREEN Romas sitting there. Last year they never turned red. Help? Anyone knowledgeable about this?

Kids and I picked a laundry basket full of everything that was at least orange tonight, and DH wants to process them this weekend (I have pneumonia so that might not happen without a lot of work on his part). But I don't blame him because fruit flies are already a problem.

my mother made green tomato mince meat.
I had a friend that would wrap them all single layer in news paper. and store them in a cool place. they should ripen in time.

Nice job on the boat Opa, I like the top!!

 

[SillyChicken]

http://thehomesteadsurvival.com/diy-cinder-block-heater-to-keep-the-chickens-water-from-freezing/

This could be a good idea, if not for a water heater, it could just help provide some heat. Some one sent this to me on face book... but it actually came from someone on BYC.

 

[OldMissionChick]

http://thehomesteadsurvival.com/diy-cinder-block-heater-to-keep-the-chickens-water-from-freezing/

This could be a good idea, if not for a water heater, it could just help provide some heat.   Some one sent this to me on face book... but it actually came from someone on BYC.

I love homestead survival! We are going to try it for their waterer. Was also thinking about maybe getting a underwater fish tank heater.

 

[MsChickenMomma]

Hello everyone,

Quick question. Would anyone be interested in a Kentucky Speck bantam rooster? He's a little over 4 months old, and he's an absolute sweetheart. He currently lives in my house (was intended to be a buddy for my former rehab hen), and he loves attention and will fall asleep on my lap all the time. The only problem, which is sadly getting to the point where I can no longer keep him, is that he crows almost continuously. It seems to be more behavioral than anything. But I think he is just bored. Living in the house doesn't seem to be cutting it for him.

He's free. All I ask is that he goes to a good home where he will be safe from predators and will be well taken care of.

He's a Kentucky Speck so he is a quite rare breed. I wish I had a KS hen to give away with him so that people would be more interested, but sadly I do not.

I love this little guy to bits and I would love nothing more than to keep him, but living in the city with a rooster this loud, even in the house, just isn't a good idea. I'm at risk of losing all of my other girls because of his noise. If I keep him busy he's quiet, so I'm about 90% sure he is just bored and that's why he crows as much as he does.

If you or anyone you know would like to have him, let me know! I live on the West side of MI, so anyone close by there would be great, unless you are willing to drive a little ways longer to come get him.

Thanks everyone.