Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[wannahomestead]

Quote:
That's exactly my issue and concern about frostbite, I worry that it reflects poorly on me as a chicken keeper. This is my first winter with chucks and ducks so I'm still learning.

 

[Folly's place]

That's why I don't use the heated dog bowl for winter water, and why I'm a fan of cocks with small wattles and not single combs. Mary

 

[Opa]

As long as you are doing the best you can, you should never beat yourself up when things go awry with your birds. I got my first birds about 65 years ago and I still occasionally lose birds. Do the best you can and don't get discouraged.

 

[mindylee]

I breed cochin bantams here in Lapeer Michigan.
Currently no chicks but always have hatching eggs available.
I raise millie/calicos, chocolates, and this spring attempting lavender/self blue and porcelain.
Have over dozen bloodlines
Both smooth and frizzled

 

[RaZ]

Any time the tips of a birds comb and or wattles turn black it indicates that those areas have been frostbitten. High humidity in the coop is usually the reason for comb and wattles being frost bitten. If you are using a pan wide enough that the birds wattles can become wet when drinking, that can also be the culprit. This is one reason that the metal watering cans sitting on a heater are the best choice for winter watering of birds. Its design is such that rarely do the wattles touch water as the bird drinks.

Frost bitten wattles and combs are so prevalent in Michigan that rather than calling it frostbite, which makes you feel that you haven't taken proper care of your birds, I've decided to call it "winter dubbing".

The humidity has been quite high this winter. I have a hygrometer in the coop and it has been reading over 50% for days. Current ambient humidity is 74% with an air temp of 33'. Conditions are near perfect for "winter dubbing". I'm thinking a de-humidifier in the coop might be a good idea.

Speaking of frostbite, this is the first winter in over 3 years that my fingers feel normal.

 

[wannahomestead]

Those of you who do meat birds, when do you normally get them? We're looking to do meat birds for the first time this year and I was thinking I would want to get them in late mid/late March?

 

[Folly's place]

Cornishx birds will mostly be in the freezer at eight weeks of age, so it's a very short term project. I like to order chicks no earlier than mid-April if the are shipped, and the meat chicks would be done by mid-June. I do prefer the 'Freedom Ranger' chicks from that hatchery in Penn, and they take ten to twelve weeks. The Cornishx chicks don't handle summer heat, so June to late August isn't such a good time for them. Mary

 

[wannahomestead]

Cornishx birds will mostly be in the freezer at eight weeks of age, so it's a very short term project. I like to order chicks no earlier than mid-April if the are shipped, and the meat chicks would be done by mid-June. I do prefer the 'Freedom Ranger' chicks from that hatchery in Penn, and they take ten to twelve weeks. The Cornishx chicks don't handle summer heat, so June to late August isn't such a good time for them. Mary

Thx a bunch Mary. We were thinking of doing the Cornish X for our first run. I was considering earlier in the season (spring) because I've read they don't do heat very well. Would you still hold off until April for Cornish X?

Thx!

 

[bigmrg74]

Cornishx birds will mostly be in the freezer at eight weeks of age, so it's a very short term project. I like to order chicks no earlier than mid-April if the are shipped, and the meat chicks would be done by mid-June. I do prefer the 'Freedom Ranger' chicks from that hatchery in Penn, and they take ten to twelve weeks. The Cornishx chicks don't handle summer heat, so June to late August isn't such a good time for them. Mary

I've been kicking around the idea of doing meat birds this year as well. kinda considering the freedom rangers for that. Just not sure I would want to do 25 of them all at once.

 

[wannahomestead]

I've been kicking around the idea of doing meat birds this year as well. kinda considering the freedom rangers for that. Just not sure I would want to do 25 of them all at once.

We're considering 50 Cornish, but that would be split between 3 or 4 people