Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[NovaAman]

Thanks Tendon.

Morning snowflake.

 

[SillyChicken]

It really is sad how many people should never have animals or kids.

Couldn't agree with you more!


Good save BYM! Any idea what the "mastiff" was mixed in the puppies? You guys are right for sure that pups need to stay (my rule is 8 wks or better) because this is when they learn proper socialization and "dog rules". plus, they need shots etc. Which, I doubt they've had. Please tell your SIL to be extra careful going places like a pet store, where parvo would be prevalent, or allowing people in the home who could also track it in you can bring that crap home on your shoes (shoes left outside at the door). They can get the shots at TSC for cheap. I so miss not having puppies around. Good luck!


Oh yeah........ good morning everyone!


I seriously try to persuade anyone NOT to use any heat lamps out in the coop. The temps are not that bad... the birds will never acclimate to the temps if you don't allow them too. They will be just fine out there. Even at 20 below, my birds were fine. A little chill is better than having your coop catch on fire and burn your birds alive. the only way I would do it would be if it were properly wired in fixture with conduit and stuff.

 

[snowflake]

They have always used the roost until I turned the red heat lamp off 2 days ago. Then last night and tonight they are sleeping in the boxes. I'm not sure if I should just turn the red light back on or maybe set it on a timer at night to go on for a little while so they might use the roost again. I really don't want them to sleep in the boxes. They've been using the roost since I got them back in August. And they are laying eggs pretty often, almost everyday. I'm just not sure what to do...

I have hens that will try to sleep in the nest box's, usually the one's low in the pecking order. I usually put them up on the roost when I go lock up for the night, some times it takes several days but they usually stop,

SO GLAD you found her. she sure is tiny and sweet!

Has anyone seen this ?

This was taken in MI by a friend of mine, no one knows what is going on?

You should stay out side and wait to see who gets in,might be interesting

ss.

Congrats on the fish and the Wonderful day, nice pic

Darn hawks, once they get a meal they seem to hang around for a while, maybe more so cause you are near the lake and in the woods

Thanks Tendon.
Morning snowflake.

Good morning!

Silly glad you girls were able to save the puppies and momma, those will be funny looking pups, love to see some pics

 

[1muttsfan]

Good morning Michigan

Nova's phone is acting up again!

 

[snowflake]

well tried to eliminate the pic of the truck didn't work,
Tap was that your sons, chicken hide out? love it, I bet the chickens will to, I have an old dog house in the run and they love to hang out in it...He did a real good job

 

[mrcush]

I have hens that will try to sleep in the nest box's, usually the one's low in the pecking order. I usually put them up on the roost when I go lock up for the night, some times it takes several days but they usually stop,

SO GLAD you found her. she sure is tiny and sweet!
You should stay out side and wait to see who gets in,might be interesting
Congrats on the fish and the Wonderful day, nice pic
Good morning!

Silly glad you girls were able to save the puppies and momma, those will be funny looking pups, love to see some pics

Hey Snowflake. I have 4 hens and they are all doing it. They're all the same age and grew up together. Maybe I'll try and move them this evening. Thanks!

 

[gladahmae]

I will probably have to cull one of the pullets. Her poopy bottom got better, and since going out to the coop has gotten a lot worse.

Have you tried giving yogurt every day for a bit? Perhaps some cranberry? She could have too much e coli in her gut

Yep. I did that for a week while they were still indoors and I was giving her a bath every day so I could tell if it was getting better. It got slightly better, or so I thought, but then worse as the week progressed. She's been like this since day one, so I'm guessing some of her plumbing isn't working. She's also significantly smaller than the other wyandotte chicks, but they're boys so who knows.

What's a good month to put eggs under an un-proven broody for early spring chicks?
A broody will be broody if and only when she decides. Not even with bribing with big comfey nests of eggs; she will always go broody at the least convenient time. Trust me on this one! I didn't eat eggs all summer just TRYING to entice my orpington!

Yep. And I understand that. I have 2 orps and 2 wyandottes, so in the event that they decide to go broody, I'm looking for pointers. I don't want to hatch out Jan or Feb chicks because of how cold those months get for us at night, but if others have done so routinely and not had issues, maybe it would be alright?

And would I need to introduce a roo to the big girls the same way I introduced the younger pullets (look-but-no-touch for awhile and then supervised together for a few days) or will a roo generally be more assertive right off the bat?
Depends on the roo, you could try in the evening and if he turns out to be too aggressive you could seperate after dark. (Easier to catch, not a whole day of stress on the girls if he turns out to be rough) I have had both kinds of roos, the one i have now was a total sweetheart right away. Probably depends on age, too. Right at puberty is bad, if they've gone through puberty and are gentle than they are probably good. ? Every roo i've had has been different!

This is our first batch of boys, so I have no idea what they'll end up being like. I would kind of like to keep the EE and the darker splash wyandotte (because he's soooo pretty!) but that means they'd have to get cooped together since my intention is to use the coop and run the chicks are in as a chick/growout pen. I'd say they're around 8-9 weeks right now. That would put puberty in mid-february (18wks) correct? Just trying to figure out when I may need to seperate the pullets in there from all the boys so they don't get hurt from all the testosterone-induced competition. 6 or 7 boys and 3 girls? Probably not the best situation for the girls.

Thanks so much for answering my questions!



I gave the houdan pullet, wilson, a haircut yesterday. Poor girl sat on the ramp to the coop for an hour without moving when I put them all out for the day. She really can't see much, and has been getting a pretty wet head (I'm guessing from the waterer since we have to keep it a bit low for the little orpington chick) and I don't think she manages to get up on the roosts for the night either.

When are eggs not considered "pullet eggs" anymore? after 1 year? the 2nd laying cycle after they moult?

 

[snowflake]

FYI... I was going to write the maker of the 3 gallon heated waterer and I see there are 2 different co. I have one of each, and am much happier with the one that has the cord coming off the bottom as apposed to the one with the plug in the base. 1st there is a good size lip on the base of the one with the 15" cord witch makes it MUCH easier to fit to the top when upside down and filled with water(I don't use the plug on the bottom) it is also easier to keep water away from the plug when cleaning. As apposed to the other with the lip on the rim witch is smaller like the regular 1 gallon waterer. also the plug that is in the base is harder to keep the plug attached.


TSC sells the one with the plug in the base. on line through TSC they are $56
I got the one with the longer cord coming out of the bottom from CN Sawdust. for under $40, ( I think it was closer to $30)

 

[gladahmae]

and another question! I'm full of those lately.

The EE chicks from Townline that TSC will have in the spring.....do they (in everyone's experience) tend to lay blue or green?

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

Thanks Tendon.
Morning snowflake.

It really is sad how many people should never have animals or kids.

AGREED!
This man has both and deserves niether. IMO.

Good save BYM! Any idea what the "mastiff" was mixed in the puppies? You guys are right for sure that pups need to stay (my rule is 8 wks or better) because this is when they learn proper socialization and "dog rules". plus, they need shots etc. Which, I doubt they've had. Please tell your SIL to be extra careful going places like a pet store, where parvo would be prevalent, or allowing people in the home who could also track it in you can bring that crap home on your shoes (shoes left outside at the door). They can get the shots at TSC for cheap. I so miss not having puppies around. Good luck!

French Mastif is what I was told.
Yes, we forget how many "goodies" are brought in on our shoes.
I will look into the vaccines at TSC again.

CUTENESS OVERLOAD!!!



We are going to be picking up a crate for them today so they don't have to be piled in a box.
The kids love them!!!



Mama is so gosh darn skinny. He fed her once a day and would let her bark until it was "time" for her to eat... meaning when he got around to it again.
Her teets are so swollen that she looks like she has 2 utters under her belly... poor girl.