Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Adevary]

We free ranged our chickens when I was a kid. Our dog was always finding egg.

Yet another cold morning. We only got two eggs out of five hens yesterday. One of our hens holds off and then lays one the size of a duck egg, though. She did one Sunday, so probably tomorrow.

 

[SillyChicken]

Thanks

I did notice today that I have one that all of her toes have frostbite. If it were your bird, would you cull? This is one of the few younger ones I have left, not one of the 4-year-olds.
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Glad, the bird will be fine. Just watch for infection and if the wounds heals properly. You may need to snip a bone back so it can seal over (push the skin back, trim the bone, so it can grow over the trimmed bone). I know that sounds gross, but you don't want to leave something hanging out to cause problems. My old Uggo roo aptly named "Uggo" Lost all the toes on one foot and the whole foot on the other leg. He managed to hobble around for a couple years before he passed away (last year). I had a protective pad on the footless leg for a while as it healed.

Thanks Raz ..

 

[wcbpolish]

I did notice today that I have one that all of her toes have frostbite. If it were your bird, would you cull? This is one of the few younger ones I have left, not one of the 4-year-olds.
View attachment 1292062

I had a rooster lose all of his front toes on both feet this winter... not sure why (everyone else was fine). He was important for breeding this spring, but that is probably not happening. Might have to read up on AI. His toes have all fell off, and he is still getting around fine, eating, crowing, etc. Just not scratching and probably not going to be able to mount any hens.

I concur with other comments. Leave her alone. She'll probably be fine if she does not get infected.

 

[aart]

He was important for breeding this spring, but that is probably not happening.

Have you checked the yolks?
Where there's a will, theres a way!

 

[SillyChicken]

I had a rooster lose all of his front toes on both feet this winter... not sure why (everyone else was fine). He was important for breeding this spring, but that is probably not happening. Might have to read up on AI. His toes have all fell off, and he is still getting around fine, eating, crowing, etc. Just not scratching and probably not going to be able to mount any hens.

I concur with other comments. Leave her alone. She'll probably be fine if she does not get infected.

Mine managed to do the deed!

 

[gladahmae]

This whole brooder thing is basically amazing. I may never brood chicks in the house again. It was 24 outside this morning and those chicks were running around their coop like kindergarteners at lunch recess. There were even some droppings on top of it, so they are already flying up there too!

 

[Adevary]

There was a bald eagle at the John Ball Zoo that didn't have a wing. They thought for sure he would never be able to balance enough to breed, and yet they did more than once! You just never know!

Tell me more about this brooder! I have a lab that loves the taste of chicken and a german short haired pointer that is all kinds of birdy that I don't want to risk ruining by him eating chicks. I would love to be able to put them in my basement or straight outdoors where they can reach.

I'm so happy! I'm getting into the eggs these chickens made after being here a few days. The shells are harder and the yolk has a more farm fresh color to it. I think having some extra run space has really helped them. Now we just need a bigger coop.

 

[gladahmae]

It's an Ohio Brooder. If you google search for "plamondon hover brooder" there's a long post about the history of them, and how to build one. I also have labs who think chickens are delicious, but they are hesitant to go into the basement, which is one of the reasons we would brood chicks down there. Having a draft-free place is the biggest thing. We put in a temporary ceiling in the coop section they're in so cut down on any possible overhead draft.

 

[Adevary]

Yeah. Our dogs don't actually go in our basement, but it is not draft free. Our house is 142 years old. Replacing windows down there is on the list for this year.

 

[RaZ]

Picked up my barns cats from Huron Valley today. Orange tom with a head the size of a softball. Tolerated me getting close but needs some more socializing. The light grey tom didn't mind a head rub and back scratch but he was very weak when found but is getting stronger/healthier every day. I forgot their names but it is written on the paperwork that I left in the car.
The people at Huron Valley Animal Shelter are wonderful. Not only were the barn cat adoption free, they sent me home with 2 carriers and a kennel that is twice the size of the one I brought with me. Heck, it is big enough for me to sleep in. I will take them back when I go down again in a couple of weeks. The crates, not the cats.

They have a good process for acclimating the cats. The cats stay in the kennel for 3 weeks in the barn where they will be living so that they get used to the sights, sounds and smells. I'm going to modify it a bit. The BCs will stay in the house with me and the dogs for 1 week, then in the chicken coop for a week or 2. I should have the new coop built for the third week if it ever warms up. I think that both cats will warm up to me in short order.

I was at TSC a few days ago and they had "Ameracaunas"...OK EEs. I passed, but if they have any after I'm done traveling in a couple weeks, I just might get a few for the blue eggs. Still want some pheasant and peafowl.

It was a long day of testing at the hospital but things look pretty good. I've lost 30 pounds according to their records. My scale tells me closer to 40. Other results will come from the lab in a few days. So happy to be home.