Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

The metal heated bases are intended to be used with metal waterers, as they might get too hot for plastic. Some people use plastic waterers with them, but the thought of melting plastic and fire danger scare me.

 

[chickflick]

Newbies!! Glad you found us!

I've got 30 hens. I get from 0 to 4 eggs a day! My EEs don't seem to like to lay in the winter. Been thru molt, look great, but no eggs. My six year old silkie has started to lay again after hatching out a couple of eggs in May. She probably will go broody soon! lol Don't know what the rest of them are thinking. But, nothing I can do about it. I enjoy watching them and being with them, so that's my payment.
Hope it's another pretty day tomorrow. Enjoy and good night.

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

Hello, Michigan peeps. Newbie here. I was wondering if there were many here living in or near southeastern Michigan. I suspect just a few would since it's generally pretty urban, but though I'd chime in and see.

Cheers,
Greg

I am in Oakland Co.

SO today would have been another 4eggs out of 6 hens, not too bad, but they ate another one.


ANy tried and true methods, except caging them all up individually?

OPA has a sweet roll out egg box in his siggy that he built!!!

Today is Granny's 86th birthday. Often she has mentioned different things she has done over her lifetime. One oft told story is about her working for the National Bisquit Company during WWII and how, during breaks, her and the other women would take fresh crackers from one line and go to a line that held molten chocolate. Sometimes it's the little things that make people the happiest.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANNY!!!

That is an interesting mix that I would not have thought about...Sounds yummy!!!

Hi everyone
I do have a problem though.. Our little white silkie "Snow White" has turned out to be a "Prince Charming" and now needs a home! Any takers? I was just outside and heard a very loud cock-a-doodle for the first time. *Sigh*. He's only about 3 months old, I thought it would still be a while until the crowing started

Great names!

I have also had that problem this year... roo year for me!

 

[Brethren49619]

Welcome newcomers!

Thanks for all of the responses on the lighting. I think I want to get light in for my own benefit at the very least so that when I am out there too early and too late that I can see what I am doing and do a visual check on everyone. Had nine eggs yesterday out of nearly
13 12 possible (a couple might not be fully mature yet, and one went to live with WrightsX4) I just can't complain about that, especially when there is not additional light being added.

Da Da De da De Daaa,
Da Da De da De Daaa,
Da Da Dee da,
Da Da Dee da,
Da Da De da De Daaa.

 

[Wrightsx4]

Good morning everyone! Brethren- sounds like yours are laying great. Maybe because this is their first winter? Mine too, so I'm wondering. I've been getting 6-8 eggs a day from my 8 layers (yes even a few 100% days ) Now I have 9 layers (thanks!) and she's already proven herself! DH says she's a keeper I do have a VERY minimal amount of light in there in the morning from 5:30-7 a.m. just enough to get them up and laying their eggs before I leave for work so they don't freeze in the nests. Before I added the little light I was getting most in the late morning/afternoon and they'd sit in there til either I got home at night or until the kids get home and MIGHT remember to bring them in. The kiddos are in the coop all the time yet forget and leave the eggs.

 

[Scifisarah]

I never get any eggs in the winter, but maybe that is because I only keep silkies, seramas and cochins who all seem to be pretty lousy layers. They are out in the sunlight and their diet doesn't differ a whole lot from the summer. I wonder if I will get an even worse laying from my cochins now that I have closer to SQ ones that put all their energy into big fluffy butts unlike my slim hatchery cochins were.

 

[Wrightsx4]

I never get any eggs in the winter, but maybe that is because I only keep silkies, seramas and cochins who all seem to be pretty lousy layers. They are out in the sunlight and their diet doesn't differ a whole lot from the summer. I wonder if I will get an even worse laying from my cochins now that I have closer to SQ ones that put all their energy into big fluffy butts unlike my slim hatchery cochins were.

I don't know - LOL - my dependable BO's and BR's have huge fluffy butts! I got the new Meyer catalog and was surprised how trim the heritage breeds all looked - so I guess mine are rather spoiled and fat.

 

[RonEstrada]

I won't start my flock until spring, but am wondering how to deal with water in the winter. I won't have power in my coop, so any thoughts? Still looking for folks in Oxford, btw. I'm working on changing our ordnance and need some support.

 

[SillyChicken]

Hi Ron,

If you can't use an extension cord, you'll probably need to give them water in the morning and evening. Is your water going to be inside the coop or outside? It may be easier to keep it from freezing if you had it inside.


I keep mine outside because I have a floor in my coop vs dirt. I do have ele out there as well and use the small heated water buckets. But I will use straw bails to shelter it from the winds etc so the birds won't be discouraged, and it helps a little.

 

[greenmimama]

I do have electric in my coop, and I only have the 6 hens, I just got a heated dog dish from TSC and so far so good. The dog dish is already set to go off at 40 degrees, so I didn't need a thermocube for that one

I did buy an bigger 3gal one it's on it's way from Amazon, and a thermcube. Hoping this will be enough water for my chicks, they always drink the 2 gal. dry, so hoping adding a 3rd gal will solve that problem.

It's a big laundry day here, I know so exciting, but I got off my game over my relaxing weekend. Ahhhhhhhh