Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

I am getting chicks this next spring and building the coop over winter. and i will take your advice.

I might put in a word for breeder-hatched chicks as opposed to hatchery. You can get some really excellent birds, although the breed selection may be more limited.

This is a long shot but we have a potbelly pig who is looking for a home. He was a stray in battle Creek. The shelter was going to eunthize him. I call him Curtis. Curtis is a intact male and is all black. He is free to a good home. We are in Calhoun County

Best of luck finding him a home.

 

[SunshineMary]

...I'm FINALLY GETTING CHICKENS!!! Soooo any suggestions on chickens that would survive in southern Michigan?

Welcome!

Townline Hatchery in Zeeland has an online catalogue that gives information about the cold hardiness of various breeds of chickens.

We just got chicks this past April through our local feed store, Dexter Mill, which orders chicks from Townline. The chicks were all very healthy and have grown into nice-looking young ladies. Here are a few of them after I sneaked into the coop after dark to put them on their roosts:

Good luck with your coop building!

 

[chickflick]

there are very few but some times you can find avian vet. good luck a few years ago some one had a list . but they haven't been on for a while

The only chicken friendly vet I know is in Frankenmuth

 

[chickflick]

That's kinda what I was thinking. Picked up a bunch of that at TSC today, and then a few other things because its Dollar Days there and well, Stuff. Got that all set up in a gallon drinker in the coop there. That also might help keep the **** sparrows from dropping over dead in the coop as well. I put a curtain up over the pop door to keep them from going into the coop, but they're still getting in, but not having a lot of luck with getting out. if somebody doesn't let them out, they just tend to bounce around inside of the coop and either they're dehydrating out because I normally just use a nipple water in the coop, or they're panicking and are flying right into the hardwear cloth full on. Think I had 2 in there today dead and a few others still bouncing around.

If they're still getting in, then why not take the curtain down so they don't kill themselves in the coop?

 

[1muttsfan]

Another good breed reference is the Henderson chicken chart

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

 

[dyorto]

Does anyone have any easy ideas for providing more shade?

 

[aart]

Does anyone have any easy ideas for providing more shade?

I attached shade cloths to wire walls/roof of run.

 

[bigmrg74]

If they're still getting in, then why not take the curtain down so they don't kill themselves in the coop?

Figure sooner or later enough of them will get stuck and get out via me letting them out the human door that they'll just give it a pass the next time.

 

[bigmrg74]

Does anyone have any easy ideas for providing more shade?

Lately with my portable pen I have it around an old truck that doesn't run anymore. really need to get rid of it, but right now they love hanging out under it.

 

[Candy442]

Does anyone have any easy ideas for providing more shade?

we use tarps with zip ties both as wind/weather breaks and shade areas.