Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[wannahomestead]

OhGawd....chicks are bad enough after 4 weeks, I can't imagine duckstink!

lol.... there's 6 chicks in here w/ me too that are about the same age .

It's baaaaaaaaaaad.

 

[Leilaht]

My ~2wo chicks had their first day outside today too...so nice to finally have the weather break warm again. Had to carry them all out, then having to catch 16 chicks to put hem back inside was not so nice tho...shm. Today I just open the pop door if they make it out, fine... .....hopefully they learn the ramp fast so I can start integrating them with the main flock after getting chick wire in the main run next week.

After four years of spring chicks I'm getting pretty good at catching peepers when they go out to play.

 

[aart]

This is my third year and I'm not much better at it...lol.....I've got some mobility issues tho.

I'm seriously thinking of getting a net....tried a larger aquarium net attached to a pole,
but still too small to work well without injuring them.

Raising them outside in coop instead of a brooder in the house reduces the amount of times I handle them,
which I think makes them more afraid of me....about the only downside to getting them out of the house.

 

[Leilaht]

This is my third year and I'm not much better at it...lol.....I've got some mobility issues tho.

I'm seriously thinking of getting a net....tried a larger aquarium net attached to a pole,
but still too small to work well without injuring them.

Raising them outside in coop instead of a brooder in the house reduces the amount of times I handle them, 
which I think makes them more afraid of me....about the only downside to getting them out of the house.

Try a butterfly net or a chicken catcher. It's a stick with a blunt hook on the end to hook a leg

 

[aart]

Quote: Oh Geez!!!! <smackshead> I have a butterfly net, hanging right in the coop shed!! haha!
Never even thought of it, probably the perfect size...thank you!

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi Prairiefairy, welcome to BYC and the Michigan thread

One advantage to bantam roosters is that their crow is much less obnoxious.

 

[Candy442]

lol.... there's 6 chicks in here w/ me too that are about the same age .

It's baaaaaaaaaaad.

SO GLAD we just bought duck eggs to hatch in early May...I have a nice trough in the bolebarn with a raised heater for them. SO GLAD for these stink warnings

 

[Candy442]

Hi - I am over in southwest MI - and I have my first "my flock from chicks" this year. Previously we had hand-me down hens from the SO's daughters that were mean. My first two years with chickens left something to be desired.

But - since I have been able to start my own group from babies - I am addicted. The new coop should be finished tomorrow so hopefully we will fetch it Sat or Sunday so I can get started painting it.

The babies are in two Brooders in the garage. I went a little overboard at 24 thinking I would have more loss than I have had but we have 2 acres so it's not like I lack a place to put them all.

And since we do have mink, weasels, possums, coons, Hawks and feral cats who have raided the coops up and down our street over the past couple of years - I would be surprised if I didn't have some get snatched yet.

I thought ya'll would get one laugh - I got 6 bantams half on a whim because how cute are they?! But the TSC person didn't know the kind or the gender so I accepted it was a crap shoot. After endless checking on the net it appears I have 4 BB OEGB Roos.

Seriously. Unless one of my two straight run Australorps turns into a Roo - I will not have one single big Roo but only 4 itty bitty baby Roo's who I have to assume will not be - er - "up to the task" of a full size Australorp hen - or any of my other hens.

Rolls eyes. If anyone is near Mendon and has a juvenile full sized Roo they don't need, I might take him.

WELCOME

Are you looking for a nice flock protector young boy or one that is same breed as your full sized girls? We have a variety of small young boys hatched on Saturday before Easter. Not sure how old your babies are, but we breed Chantecler, Iowa Blues, and have some Bielefelder/Legbar mixed boys who will be very gentle guys.

 

[uchytil]

omg my ducklings are STINKING up my office. They're moving on a month old now I think, so it's time to start thinking about relocating them outdoors. They'll be getting their first outside experience tomorrow, and I plan to keep them out during the days this weekend since it is suppose to be nice. that will hopefully cut down on the duck fart smell in the house :-x

They'll love being outside and if you let them free-range they'll learn to find all kinds of good things to eat. At that age though I'd probably want to supervise their wandering. Still, they learn fast but unlike chooks they have to be herded back to their pens/house at night. My ducks will go from free-ranging to their pen at dark but not into their house. That's an every night chore with a flashlight for us but it keeps them safe.

 

[Leilaht]

Hi Prairiefairy, welcome to BYC and the Michigan thread

One advantage to bantam roosters is that their crow is much less obnoxious.

My golden seabright bantam rooster was a lot louder than the full size ones. Make your ears ring if you were standing next to him. I would still rather hear a rooster than a dog barking non stop