Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

Hi Doug, welcome to the Michigan thread

Google the Henderson Chicken Chart for a good breed resource (although it does not include some lesser-known breeds, such as Euskal Oiloa (Basque hens) and Cream Legbars)

Once you decide how many birds you want - and 3-6 should be enough for that many eggs - consider your coop next. A tight, secure pen is a must in areas where there are strays or wild animals (basically everywhere in Michigan). Standard-sized fowl need about 4 square feet of coop floor space per bird, and about 10 square feet of run, but more is always better. Once you get a few chickens, you may find you want more!

There is an annual meeting in Lansing each June called Chickenstock, a get-together of BYC members, where birds and chicks are available, if you would prefer to get birds from a breeder instead of a hatchery.

And I would recommend the Learning Center above, it is full of useful information.

 

[babigyrl22]

:: quietly peeks in and sits down ::

Hey peoples! I know I haven't been around for a while but my life has been pretty hectic lately. I'm pregnant with my first TWO babies (yep twins) and I've had terrible morning sickness. So socializing hasn't been top on my list. I just wanted to let you all know that I am still around, doing well, and I still have my chickens. I do have some chicken concerns though.

Chickens, they aren't laying. Not one chicken has laid an egg since late September. I think I know why, but if someone could chime in and give me some advice, I would appreciate it. First, we had two silkie roos in with the girls and they were just very....um, rooish. My poor girls were brutilized by them so my DH finally got rid of them but not before it started getting cold outside. So while the girls were growing back their feathers, they remained inside the dark coop mostly and have remained there almost exclusively, only coming out if I offer scratch or treats. During that time we've had 4 deaths but everything seems kosher now that they've all feathered back out and they all look plump and healthy. I've put a timer light in the coop a little over a week ago to give them more light during the day since I keep the coop closed up (except for the pop door). Still not one egg yet. Any thoughts?

 

[Folly's place]

Hi everyone, just finished catching up on this thread. BUSY! Hope the puppies are doing well, getting mama dog free choice real food for once in her life should make all the diference. She's tough! Good for you for the rescue, and I hope the puppies turn out well. I do use a 60 watt light in my coop, it's very well secured and timed to turn on from 4 to 8 am. Much improved winter egg production! It may take a couple of weeks before you notice an increase, though. We've had a very busy Coopers hawk this fall, so the flock is in lockdown until further notice. Darn!!! .I thought they migrated, but not yet. Need to look it up, I guess. All we've had is rain so the sun is a treat, less mud would be nice! Raz, loved the poem! Mary

 

[chickflick]

Unless you're in the UP, the Cooper's Hawk is here to stay. They are here year round.

Congrats on the twins!!

Hope you feel better soon and get over the morning sickness!!

 

[chicken grandma]

Babigyrl~ Congratulations!!!

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi Jamie, glad to hear you are hanging in there - hopefully morning sickness will abate soon.

I agree that lighting is probably the issue, combined with regrowing feathers (takes a lot of protein for that). How many hours are they getting now?

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

6 of these guys and gals need homes still!!
I am keeping the one in the upper left hand corner... She is the stinkeriest one!!!
The light brindle one with the leopard print ribbon! She is pretty and she knows it!
The boys are wearing the dark green ribbon and the red ribbon








2 males and 4 females to choose from!
Pups have been dewormed and will have their first puppy shots!
If you know someone that is looking for a puppy and is pit bull capable please message me

Lizzy the mama is also going to be available after all the pups are weaned. With the adoption fees from the pups we hope to get her spayed so there will be no more pups in her future!
She is scared of men and will bark, but we can't really blame her right now with 7 pups to keep safe and with how her previous owner treated her. She is great with little kids and loves to give kisses!
She did wonderful at the vet with all the ladies popping in and holding the pups!
She is 6 years old andwould like to spend the rest of her life in the lap of someone that loves her.

 

[gladahmae]

That is just a box full of adorable!!!!! I'm a complete sucker for a sad story and puppies in general. We definately don't have the resources to take in another dog right now, but man oh man if we could..... *sigh*

I'm thrilled that you are going to get mama fixed once the pups are weaned. I recently saw an ad for pups from someone who had gotten their female from a "rescue." So that means that she was adopted, un-altered, into a home with an un-altered male. Oh the rant I had in my mind.

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

Congratulations BabiGyrl!
You have your work cut out for you!
My aunt had twins and she said that with twins everyone thinks you need doubles of everything... but then you find that one likes the swing and the other likes the vibrating bouncer more... So don't feel like you have to fill your house with double the baby gear.
Now double the diapers and formula is what to ask for at the shower!!!
And make sure to sign up online for all the freebies you can! I got tons of free samples in the mail when I was pregnant.

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

That is just a box full of adorable!!!!! I'm a complete sucker for a sad story and puppies in general. We definately don't have the resources to take in another dog right now, but man oh man if we could..... *sigh*

I'm thrilled that you are going to get mama fixed once the pups are weaned. I recently saw an ad for pups from someone who had gotten their female from a "rescue." So that means that she was adopted, un-altered, into a home with an un-altered male. Oh the rant I had in my mind.

We put them in the boxes after they were washed so they were extra squeezable in those photos because they were smelling so sweet!

Or she was already pregnant when they got her?
That surprises me...Most rescues try to alter them before they leave.