Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[laura877]

Is anyone taking chickens to the show in Birch Run this fall? I may want to show a couple araucanas if they keep developing like they are but I don't know anything about showing chickens. We've spent years showing horses but this is totally different.

 

[RaZ]

Kim, I'm not sure what you could do to fix a blanket that's no longer soft and cuddly. I know I once had the same problem with a couple of wives.

You and me both, Brother! You and me both.

It's been a while since I posted any progress on my coop project. It still is a work in progress (isn't it always, with everything it seems!) Just thought I'd share.

Very nice, you should be proud of yourself.

Morning all! It was such a beautiful morning that I took some pictures while doing my chores.



Fuzz butts

My brother and his wife were visiting us once when I was involved with cutting trees, big Oaks, legally in a state forrest. I invited them to join in on one trip. They did and, believe it or not, both of them found NO fun in the adventure. To this day they completely understand how heating with wood can give heat to a body twice.

Cutting firewood heats you more than twice. After falling the tree, cut it to length, split as needed, stack. Then tote into house. All before it ever sees a match. Then there is the clean up part.

I actually like doing ALL of those things. So today I will either finish installing the wood stove or go out and re-stack wood along the fence line. Any helpers?

Someone is giving me real dark brown eggs like the marans but I don't know who. Does anyone know if the ISA's eggs are usually a much browner egg then most brown egg layers? The seller that I got the marans from said it sway too early for them to be laying.

My ISA Browns lay a very dark, glossy egg, they started at 21 weeks. I found that a hen will lay her egg when she is darn good and ready.

 

[ksl42]

We have to really cut back on our birds. My husband lost his job 3 years ago and hasn't been able to find anything that pays much above $8-10/hour since then. As much as we hate to, we are going to have to seriously cut back because we can't go on with the cost of feed. I wanted to give those of you here on the Michigan thread a heads up first. I'll be listing items on Craigslist soon. You can pm me for more information. I go back to work starting tomorrow so I won't be home during the day. If you give me your phone # in the pm, I can call you back.

We are in Casco Twp., which is just east of Richmond, MI.
If you don't know where Richmond is, we are about 25 minutes south of Port Huron off of I-94.
Or within 5 minutes of 31 Mile Road/Gratiot.

• 7 week old black swan cignet (not sure of sex, but we're thinking female. Talk to me and I'll tell you why)
• Narragansett turkeys. I currently have 8 - 1 week old poults. This year, I also bought some new poults from two other breeders. Now that they are older, I'm picking what I want to keep and am selling the rest. I have one really pretty Golden Narrangasett tom for sale. Check Porter's site to see what they look like. That's the stock they came from. Then I also have the "regular" Narragansetts, both hens and toms. They are all this year's hatch and probably range from 2-4 months old.
• I have tons (like 40 or so) pearl and lavendar guineas. Most are a few months old, about 1/2 to 2/3 grown. I have a small quantity of some about 3 week olds also.
• Point of lay pullets (a couple have already starting laying); Barred Rock, Silver Laced Wyandotte (hatchery stock); and then there may be the occasional Black Jersey Giant or Blue Orpington from my stock. Maybe some other stuff. I'd have to check to make sure.I also have a couple oops! mixed Buff Orp/Wyandotte or EE pullets.
• I'm considering letting go of my Black Jersey Giant small flock that I started with a trio from Wynette. I could sell a trio or the flock (about 6-8 birds).
• I'm also considering letting go of my Buff Orpington flock (my roosters are mammoth!). I started this flock with hatching eggs from a BYC member from PA (hjinks?). (not sure I'm spelling his screen name right.) If I do end up letting these go, I would start over with eggs from him in a heartbeat in the future.
• I have excess roosters, 1 year-olds and this year's, if you need new blood or just a protector. I have one large fowl silver-spangled hamburg (has crooked toes, but gets around fine), a few Buff Orpington roos, some heriitage RIR roos, Black Jersey Giant Roos. Maybe some BLRW roos also (from MrsChickendad's line).
• Ducks, ducks, ducks! - I have 9 Muscovy ducklings. They're about 2 months old. Parents were white and white/black. I also have 15+ Rouen ducklings, a lot probably 3/4 grown. Some of the males are starting to show the white ring around their neck. They still have most of their baby fuzz, but they're getting big!
• 1 year old African gander. I already have two pair and this guy is kind of a fifth wheel. He needs his own girl. Our geese are friendly, not aggressive. Our alpha gander sits in my husband's lap and always comes over to have his chest scratched!
  

 

[swampducks]

I have Golden Buffs which are apparently a different strain of Isa Browns and a couple of them just started laying and I've gotten3 really brown eggs as well as one much lighter brown one. Had them for breakfast so I can't take a photo. Very smooth and uniform, too. The lighter one was not as pretty.

Someone is giving me real dark brown eggs like the marans but I don't know who. Does anyone know if the ISA's eggs are usually a much browner egg then most brown egg layers? The seller that I got the marans from said it sway too early for them to be laying.

 

[1muttsfan]

ksl42, so sorry to hear about your troubles. I am also decreasing my flock for the winter, but I am sure others will be interested in your birds. Good luck.

 

[SillyChicken]

KSL.. So sorry about your DH's job status... we feel almost guilty that mine has had a couple new jobs lately. I'd love that cignet!! What are you asking for her?

 

[chicken grandma]

Welcome Laura877

 

[Brethren49619]

Quote: Cutting firewood heats you more than twice. After falling the tree, cut it to length, split as needed, stack. Then tote into house. All before it ever sees a match. Then there is the clean up part.

I actually like doing ALL of those things. So today I will either finish installing the wood stove or go out and re-stack wood along the fence line. Any helpers?

Splitting wood is my favorite part! A great way to release frustration! Kind of like putting the picture of someone you don't like on a dart board

 

[RaZ]

Replying within the original quote doesn't see to copy over...
Anywho, I love reusing old materials. Saves a ton of money. I built my garage-coop with used, recycled and leftover materials. I only spent about $30. I need to make another pallet run for more material.

I no longer split wood by hand. A 27 ton hydraulic unit makes short work of the biggest chunks. Having a peavey helps position those big ones.

I too am one of the many unemployed people in this state. I've been sending resumes and applications all over the country. Anyone need an engineer or ecologist?

 

[Wynette]

We have to really cut back on our birds. My husband lost his job 3 years ago and hasn't been able to find anything that pays much above $8-10/hour since then. As much as we hate to, we are going to have to seriously cut back because we can't go on with the cost of feed. I wanted to give those of you here on the Michigan thread a heads up first. I'll be listing items on Craigslist soon. You can pm me for more information. I go back to work starting tomorrow so I won't be home during the day. If you give me your phone # in the pm, I can call you back.

We are in Casco Twp., which is just east of Richmond, MI.
If you don't know where Richmond is, we are about 25 minutes south of Port Huron off of I-94.
Or within 5 minutes of 31 Mile Road/Gratiot.

• I'm considering letting go of my Black Jersey Giant small flock that I started with a trio from Wynette. I could sell a trio or the flock (about 6-8 birds).

So sorry about having to cut back - that's a tough thing to do, for sure. But, good on your for realizing that you need to move on some birds.

[Just wanted to add a sidebar to anyone interested in these Giants that I do not have the line that this member has any longer; the Giants that I have now are from a completely different breeder, and they are all that I now have - I moved on all of my originals.]

laura877 - I've had Isa Browns that do lay a much darker brown egg than the typical brown you see in breeds such as Plymouth Rocks; however, a Marans should lay a much darker brown than any Isa.