Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Sally PB]

@aart the color was the same yesterday. I just did the NutriDrench this morning. I had Sav-a-Chick in the water yesterday.

 

[aart]

Are all their poops like that?
Could just be a cecal poop.
I'd go to plain water and see what 'comes out' from that.

 

[Sally PB]

Are all their poops like that?
Could just be a cecal poop.
I'd go to plain water and see what 'comes out' from that.

I thought about if they might be cecals, but there seem to be a lot of them. I'd say 1/3... maybe a bit more. It's kind of hard to tell; when they dry up, they're darker and not as reddish.

New momma worries... Especially after losing one the first night and not sure why.

 

[1muttsfan]

I feed medicated chick feed for the first 6 weeks. The "medication" is not an antibiotic or an antiparasitic, it is just a niacin inhibitor that reduces the ability of coccidia to reproduce. After 6 weeks I mix it with chick grower for another 2 weeks, by then the young birds should have better immunity to parasites. Then when the grower is gone on to grower/finisher.

Stress can increase the chance of coccidia, as can overcrowding, or chicks kept with older birds in close quarters.

When you offer water with additives, be sure to always offer plain water as well - some of them may not like the adulterated water and not drink enough, others may get too much electrolytes.

 

[Dreamzchaser]

Hey I am back. Sorry got all choked up. Those babies are so cute. Sorry one of them did not make it after the first night.
The more I read here, I think that if I ever get any more chickens, I have to go and pick myself. I think hat chicken math will not get me. It is very hard to get a week old and then go through not knowing what it is and be told is a she and embraced her to then later ending up a He and now is gone. He was my Dinosaur. I thought that as a she was going to give me the biggest eggs. How silly. I feel so stupid.

Anyways, I see that everyone has new anecdotes. Hope the little chicks get well soon. Here it has been pretty interesting night. I bring the girls in about 8pm and stay in the coop with them and give them treats. They do not like dry worms for nothing in the world. Those sillies love anything sweet. Love oats and muffins. I got some fruity ones and did not liked them and they are having one every night. Bought a mango just to try because I have not been able to find any like in my country and it was ok. Gave some to Pixie and well, that dog eats anything. But the girls, none liked it. After I left the coop Rachel flew up to the loft and pecked the seabrights down to the nesting boxes. Got he inside the house for a bit and the other ones, did the same. SO I got Rachel back and placed everyone in the same perch, minus Sophia and Monica(ISA). Those stayed in the short one. Every day is something new with those crazy birds,lol

I have not seen bunny pictures anymore, Riss, are you slacking?

Well, I am tired and it is past my bed time. Good night ladies and gentlemen!

~Hugs~and~Kisses~

 

[bigmrg74]

Thinking that the Americauna chick that I saved 2 weeks ago might be a roo. Not seeing tail feather on it like I am with the other two.

 

[Sally PB]

The more I read here, I think that if I ever get any more chickens, I have to go and pick myself. I think hat chicken math will not get me. It is very hard to get a week old and then go through not knowing what it is and be told is a she and embraced her to then later ending up a He and now is gone. He was my Dinosaur. I thought that as a she was going to give me the biggest eggs. How silly. I feel so stupid.

@Dreamzchaser, we all have a steep learning curve when we start with chickens. Don't feel silly or stupid.

Having any animal is an emotional investment too.

 

[Frankiegirl]

Can you imagine not having the people here to help! I know some folks dont attach themselves to their flock like some, but I simply love these little critters.

The weather has been so humid that I am beginning to smell the run a bit when im in with the girls. The coop is pretty good as I always clean it out in the morning. Someone suggested wetting it down. Does that help the girls stay any cooler during days like this? It does get pretty dusty. I throw a mower bag of green stuff in there for them every few days to give them something to work on and they go nuts for it.

I’m afraid to free range them since I moved up her out of fear they are going to get snatched or I wouldn't be able to get them back into the coop/run. The current covered run has dimensions large enough for 13 birds so when the 4 littles get in there, I will have 9 total. I just feel like it is cramped quarters. I may put a chicken door on the opposite side and create another run that isnt covered but will give them more room. A chicken keepers job is never done!!

 

[aart]

Does that help the girls stay any cooler during days like this?

Not in our climate....and as you've already noticed, humidity ups odors.
The humidity is disgusting, makes the heat feel so much worse.

These are the things I've learned that works best for battling the heat:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-extreme-weather-spiel.75893/

 

[1muttsfan]

Can you imagine not having the people here to help! I know some folks dont attach themselves to their flock like some, but I simply love these little critters.

The weather has been so humid that I am beginning to smell the run a bit when im in with the girls. The coop is pretty good as I always clean it out in the morning. Someone suggested wetting it down. Does that help the girls stay any cooler during days like this? It does get pretty dusty. I throw a mower bag of green stuff in there for them every few days to give them something to work on and they go nuts for it.

I’m afraid to free range them since I moved up her out of fear they are going to get snatched or I wouldn't be able to get them back into the coop/run. The current covered run has dimensions large enough for 13 birds so when the 4 littles get in there, I will have 9 total. I just feel like it is cramped quarters. I may put a chicken door on the opposite side and create another run that isnt covered but will give them more room. A chicken keepers job is never done!!

I found that I don't care to eat anything I have raised - I certainly could if I was hungry and had to have food, but that is not the case. I just loose my appetite when they are cooked up.

You don't want to add moisture inside coop, it will encourage mold in the humid weather. Grass clippings if fresh could maybe be put in the run, but when allowed to sit for even a day or so, are very musty and should not be used in either the pen or run.

Try training your birds to come when you shake a can of scratch grain. Never feed them any except in the run, and not until you have shaken the can and they come up to you. My hens come running from all over the yard when they hear that can shake, and me holler "Chick-Chick-Chikee!"

Your run is big enough for 13, how about the coop?

Dreamz, You will find that as your birds get older they will start eating a wider variety of things, just like human kids. Just keep offering them different stuff.