Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Fun Chicken]

Keep him/her warm and either add sugar ( for energy and to help getting her to eat) or apple cider vinegar ( to acidify her digestive and discourage cocci) to its water.2 tsp / quart of water.  If you have the medication, treat her for cocci. For me it works better to give them a chick for company. A non aggressive one.  Good luck,

I HATE WINTER

Thanks for your post, last night she looked really bad, she would not get up on her own, and would hardly even get her head up. I started giving her just water, and she drank quite a bit. Then I added electrolytes to it and just held her for quite a while, while she slept. I put her in a box with a towel, the water and some food, During the night I woke up and went to check on her, and she drank some more. She had gone poop a couple of times, but it was white and runny. I had read on somebody's post before to give them some youghurt mixed with their food, so I tried that and she ate a little bit of it, although I don't think she liked it. By this morning, she was a little more perked up, and tonight she has been eating a little bit here, a little bit there. She even tried to fly the coop!!! I think, she was dehydrated, and even starved because I can feel her breast bone sticking way out. She always let the others eat first, but I wonder if it wasn't stress related? We just moved them to their coop, but since it wasn't completely finished, we first moved them to the outter part of the coop, and then to the coop. Also, I've had several health issues and hadn't been in to see much of them, and of all my girls, she is the one most attached to me. In any case, I'm not putting her back until she is in perfect health, and I'm also going to keep an eye on the others to make sure. Do you think I should still give her the vinegar? Thanks.

 

[bigmrg74]

Guess the ground has gotten cold enough now that the snow is starting to stick around here. Kinda got that powdered sugar look outside.

Up north its a different story, news just said that up around Kalkaska they got about 10 inches up there. The family cabin is up around there and Dad is up there hunting. called him earlier to see if I could get any news from up there from them, but I guess he hasn't drove out to anywhere with cell service to check his messages.

 

[Trefoil]

Thanks for your post, last night she looked really bad, she would not get up on her own, and would hardly even get her head up. I started giving her just water, and she drank quite a bit. Then I added electrolytes to it and just held her for quite a while, while she slept. I put her in a box with a towel, the water and some food, During the night I woke up and went to check on her, and she drank some more. She had gone poop a couple of times, but it was white and runny. I had read on somebody's post before to give them some youghurt mixed with their food, so I tried that and she ate a little bit of it, although I don't think she liked it. By this morning, she was a little more perked up, and tonight she has been eating a little bit here, a little bit there. She even tried to fly the coop!!! I think, she was dehydrated, and even starved because I can feel her breast bone sticking way out. She always let the others eat first, but I wonder if it wasn't stress related? We just moved them to their coop, but since it wasn't completely finished, we first moved them to the outter part of the coop, and then to the coop. Also, I've had several health issues and hadn't been in to see much of them, and of all my girls, she is the one most attached to me. In any case, I'm not putting her back until she is in perfect health, and I'm also going to keep an eye on the others to make sure. Do you think I should still give her the vinegar? Thanks.

I would for a few days, until she's eating well and her poop looks normal. But don't if you are medicating her.

 

[zndzant]

My cheeps survived their first ccold day and night. They spent the day out yesterday (left coop door open) and they only went in to lay eggs. The west wind was brutal and I was too lazy to put up the plastic in good weather.(what fun would that be anyway?) Tried to get them to go in several times but they stayed out scratching about in the leaves, feathers blowing in the wind. Was a little worried about the overnight but when I went out this morning there was only a little bit of ice crystals around the water circle. When i lifted it up to put outside under the coop for the day it filled up right away with liquid water that melted all the ice crystals. So I think it's safe to say my coop did its job. And the cheeps were antsy to get outside.

So I think I can relax a little bit about the cold. But I am considering putting cardboard over the rafters to direct any draft from the eave on the north side (which is also the roost side) venting during colder windy weather than we had yesterday. Oh, and put up the plastic on the west end and north corner. In the cold, of course.

 

[Fun Chicken]

I would for a few days, until she's eating well and her poop looks normal.  But don't if you are medicating her.

Ok. Thanks.

 

[bigmrg74]

Its Clucking cold outside today!!!

Pop door is open but nobody has been really interested in going outside today.



Belle says its not that bad.


Come on out and play chickies!!

Maybe if we got them some mealworms.

 

[yochickiemomma]

Guess the ground has gotten cold enough now that the snow is starting to stick around here.  Kinda got that powdered sugar look outside.  

Up north its a different story, news just said that up around Kalkaska they got about 10 inches up there.  The family cabin is up around there and Dad is up there hunting.  called him earlier to see if I could get any news from up there from them, but I guess he hasn't drove out to anywhere with cell service to check his messages.  

Im near Kalkaska and we got about 4-5" but they got 10"+ in some areas.
I guess i'm not the only procrastinator. I was outside friday night with a head light strapped to my head and a stick light putting plastic and sheet metal on my run well after dark. my chickens are spoiled rotten they are afraid of the scary white stuff lol.

 

[yochickiemomma]

Big what kind of dog is Belle? she's pretty.

 

[yochickiemomma]

I almost forgot to share the egg-citing news. one of my bantams started laying. I found two itybitty eggs under the pop door ramp. sneaky little girl made a nest of leaves and pine shavings.

 

[zndzant]

Has anyone built a "storm window" of sorts to attach to your run wall to block the wind? Thinking of going to Home Depot and getting some 1x3 material and plexiglass. Sandwiching together to make a single piece, and then attaching the whole frame to the run wall. I could store it against the wall in the barn during the summer and not have to worry about plastic every winter. Its just a thought.