Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Candy442]

OhNo...So Sorry!!

@gladahmae so sorry to hear! That is terrible

 

[gladahmae]

I had cut way back on numbers in late summer (gave away a bunch of 3 and 4 year olds that would only lay regularly (5-6eggs/week each) from April-June and then maaaaaybe 2-3 a week until September and then nothing until March. I "only" lost 8, but it was pretty irritating since I was FINALLY going to have eggs again (we haven't had our own eggs in probably 8 months) and they all died.

Debating between trying to find a small group of 1-2 year olds for immediate eggs, or resign myself to raising chicks for an ENTIRE YEAR again before we have eggs, because for whatever reason, spring chicks NEVER start laying for me until late-February or early March of the following year. Last year I got chicks (ISAs even!) the FIRST WEEK that TSC had them (end of February) and they never laid a single egg.

 

[chickflick]

Glad.... that's horrible!! It's been a rough winter for the chickens. I lost a couple during the first cold snap. So sorry!
Another pretty day today. Chicken enjoyed being out most of the day yesterday. Sure they'll enjoy today. Hopefully the hawks will stay away.

 

[aart]

Debating between trying to find a small group of 1-2 year olds for immediate eggs

C'mon down...I've got 4-6 Olive eggers from last years hatch, will make you a good deal.
Pics in previous post.

Had beau-coup frostbite this year, but no cold stress due to giving a few doses of savachick. I swear by that stuff now, during both temp extremes.

 

[aart]

Gorgeous sunny all day today...got up to about 50.
Ran a bunch of errands in the 'big towns'.
Got good news regarding male chicks as raptor feed,
just in time to start saving eggs for the bator next week.
Started fertility boost feeding with HB eggs yesterday,
found and modified a new 'treat' feeder that works best yet....
....and think I solved the billing out issue with my 'no waste' (SMH) feeder.

 

[RaZ]

The morning started off cold and frozen. I had an early interview at TSC. By the time I got home (around noon) the road was still ice and standing water. Needed 4WD to get up the drive.
2 hours later, everything was ankle deep mud. I made a pallet boardwalk from the house to the garage. I have enough pallets to get to the coop. That's a chore for tomorrow.

Welcome to mud season.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Gorgeous sunny all day today...got up to about 50.

found and modified a new 'treat' feeder that works best yet....
....and think I solved the billing out issue with my 'no waste' (SMH) feeder.

@aart
Need photos and explanation for modified "treat" feeder and the billing out fix, please.

 

[1muttsfan]

I had to take a shovel and dig down into the snowbank to be able to get my pen door open today. The bottom of the door is 6in above the ground, and overall I've had to dig down over half a foot to keep that door opening. Which means that even where I have been shoveling, and running the snow blower, the snow is close to 10 in deep where it is packed down. If you get off any packed areas, you sink in to mid thigh, with more snow packed under your feet. I think it's going to be a while before we see mud here. I've only been here for almost 20 years, but people who grew up here have told me that they haven't seen snow here like this since the 1970s.

 

[SillyChicken]

I think I rather deal with mud than snow like mutt has! lol!

I finally got the coop cleaned yesterday! Not having a wheel barrow really put a dent in keeping up with it! I'm sure the girls are much happier now.

 

[aart]

@aart
Need photos and explanation for modified "treat" feeder and the billing out fix, please.

Treat feeder is just a large(15" x 2") waterer base someone gave me long ago,
I cut off the tabs to make it easier to clean. Big enough for many birds to gather around and it won't flip over if they step on the edge.

My 'no waste' feeder has a 3" 'dish' on the bottom, this keeps most billing out from happening...but I have one(I think only one) that digs and digs and digs to pile up and then pull feed up out of the dish. SMH. I slit some 3/4" tubing to put on the edge, I think this is working to stop the billing and should also help keep the neck rubbing on edge from causing feather damage. So far the tubing has stayed on, one(in front) I cut longer with some slits on ends to hold it tighter.