Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

Electric wire around and heavy-duty poultry netting over the run would not be overly expensive, and would keep your birds in and most predators out.

Free ranging birds are simply too attractive to not get noticed sooner or later by predators. Remember that if they do not hunt and kill, they do not eat - it is perfectly natural for them to look for easy game. It is not personal or malicious on their part, just a matter of survival. And no matter how many you kill, there will always be more, so killing whatever happens by your house is not an efficient means of protecting your birds. Some folks figure they will loose some birds and can tolerate that in exchange for letting their birds roam at large, and that is fine too.

 

[gladahmae]

We will be making some adjustments, i'm just not thrilled with how much work is going to have to happen to do that. I'm tempted to shuffle up all of my flocks and get all of my grow out chicks into the most secure run since none of the full-size birds have been taken yet (the one missing broody was more of a bantam size). When we built our first coop we did the hw cloth apron, chainlink over the whole thing including the roof, etc. The other option is to re-tarp the currently un-used meat bird tractor and put down some fence around the perimeter as an anti-dig barrier.

One of my roosters is turning into a jerk this month. He hasn't attacked yet, but he has started charging me every time i go outside. His dad is the one that took a chunk out of my hand last year, so he's probably going to get butchered when everyone else does in a couple of weeks.

 

[wingless]

Hey everyone! Sitting here with RaZ reading all the messages. RaZ is looking great, and is busy expending all his humor here on unsuspecting staff!

 

[gladahmae]

BAH HUMBUG! Just saw that another one of the leghorns has her side ripped up a bit. Went out to catch 2 isa browns someone is buying and one's neck is all ripped up on the back (looks to be at least a day if not 2 or 3 old). I have blue kote. That and triple antibiotic is usually all i do for stuff like this. blue kote first? Then ointment (no "caine" in what we buy)? The isa chick is in isolation in the basement. Going to grab the leghorn tonight and probably put her in there too. Also missing an EE cockerel (no loss there). I guess I'm going to have to go dig through the scrap pile and see what all i have for fencing.

 

[1muttsfan]

Sorry Glad.

Raz don't get after the nurses too much they might slip you a mickey in your IV!!

 

[vintagegem]

Have decided to get out of chicken keeping for a while, so I'm selling my 7 laying hens, they are free ranging most of the day so I'd like them to go to a setup that still allows for that. 6 of them are a year old and the 7th is 2 years old (her name is Fancy) I have 2 reds (ISA?) 3 Pencilled Rock and 2 Olive eggers.

If interested, please pm me, I'm located between Reese and Bay City, thanks

 

[audy5000g]

Anyone know where I can get some eggs or chicks? I'm willing to meet most cities.

Looking for show quality bantams...

Blue whyndotts
Black Rosecombs
Barred and silver laced Cochins
Silver or fawn Duckwing old English
Golden or silver Seabrights

 

[audy5000g]

Any poultry shows coming up in MI?

 

[wannahomestead]

I did what I think is my final candling tonight. Looks like all 10 eggs are still viable. I lost 2 to damage, have 6 of my easter eggs left, and 4 of my "brown" eggs. These are australop/RIR (brown) and easter eggers mixed w/ a RIR roo. I really hope these hatch, I want to see the coloring on these guys/gals really bad!


Woefully behind on the garden, but almost done. I planted Kale, Swiss Chard, a BUNCH of tomatoes, sweet banana pepper, rd bell pepper, mild jalapeno. I still have squash plants to get in, spinach plants, and another cantaloupe. I'm actually running out of space, so I need to get creative tomorrow!

 

[chickflick]

Glad you are doing so good, RaZ!! Keep it up and hope you are up and around soon. But, take it easy!

Heading out today to go camping for a few days. Taking the grandkids to Yogi Bear in Barton Lake, IN. Great water park for them.