Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Flock Master64]

That's cool, my sis might go to U of M, I live just outside of Lansig. Insulation would be nice, also a little tip for frostbite is to use vassaling on the infected area

 

[robyn8]

I went to MSU and live outside A2 so I'm kind of the opposite of your sister, lol. Thanks for the Vaseline tip!

 

[SunshineMary]

How many double yolks have you had?

Two. Is that odd?

Just wanted to say Hi! I'm outside of Ann Arbor in Dexter and have my first flock. They are about 12 weeks old now and I'm already fretting about winter, lol. We have 4 buff Orpington pullets, 1 BO cockerel and a silkie that's supposed to be a pullet. Do most of you not have your coops insulated? That's my current concern. I think ours is pretty draft free and well ventilated but this winter is supposed to be bad so I'm worried we might need insulation.

*waving* We're neighbors; hello from Chelsea!

Dexter mill has inexpensive bales of straw. We are thinking of stacking some around the sides of the coop for outside insulation. The inside of our coop is not insulated though.

 

[Flock Master64]

...

Two. Is that odd?
*waving* We're neighbors; hello from Chelsea!

Dexter mill has inexpensive bales of straw. We are thinking of stacking some around the sides of the coop for outside insulation. The inside of our group is not insulated though.[/quot


Did you get the double yolkers two days in a row or were they spread out?

 

[robyn8]

We're close to the Chelsea border actually! Is the Dexter Mill the cheapest place you tend to find supplies? I've been buying my feed there because their non GMO feed wasn't much more than the regular feed at TSC, but I'm always willing to try some place else for a better deal.

 

[SunshineMary]

We're close to the Chelsea border actually! Is the Dexter Mill the cheapest place you tend to find supplies? I've been buying my feed there because their non GMO feed wasn't much more than the regular feed at TSC, but I'm always willing to try some place else for a better deal.

I like Dexter Mill's feed too. We are feeding their custom mixed 16% feed. Because the texture is so fine, I usually ferment each day's portion in water for three days before feeding it. My chickens go absolutely crazy for fermented feed.

Straw bales are $5.99 at Dexter Mill. You can get them at Family Farm and Home in Chelsea for $4.99. But I usually go to Dexter Mill because I like their feed and because they are the only place I can find duck grower feed.

Things like feeders, waterers, and the electric fencing we put around the duck and goose yard were much cheaper at TSC, though.

 

[SunshineMary]

...

Did you get the double yolkers two days in a row or were they spread out?

Not sure. I don't gather the eggs because I leave for work in the morning while it's still dark out. My husband gets home from work around dawn, so he either gathers the eggs then or the kids do it when they get home from school, so I'm never sure which ones are gathered which day.

 

[Flock Master64]

I've gotten a few double yolkers before, nothing is wrong with your hens, that just happens sometimes it's pretty cool when it does

 

[aart]

Quote: Double yolkers from new layers are not unusual, hormones are on hyperdrive, you'll get more of them from the high production breeds like sexlinks and leghorns.
Takes up to a month or so for thing to smooth out.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi Robyn, welcome to BYC and the Michigan thread

My coop is insulated, as much for summer heat as for winter. I do think it delays eggs from freezing a little. If your coop is properly ventilated it will not likely raise the temp inside, though. If you can keep your water outside the coop that will reduce moisture, a big contributor to frostbite. Those breeds are all pretty cold-hardy and should not have problems with your area's winter temps.

When pullets first start laying it takes a little time in some for the egg-laying process to catch on. Most pullets revert to single yolk eggs pretty quickly.