Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Folly's place]

I visit ahead of time, leave our phone numbers, and a friend's number, and tell them to call any time of the day or night.
Usually it's been 6:30 to 7:30am.
Mary

 

[MIchickenlady]

If anyone is interested, or in the area Fowlerville feed: Pre-order only, no minimums, chicks from Townline. First chick day: order by March 24th, pickup on April 4th. Second chick day: order by May 26th, pickup June 6th.

So... any concerns about Townline chicks?

Also taking suggestions on a good hardy, decent egg layer, semi-friendly in a small (starting with 4) flock bird. Don't care about egg color. I've been reading about different types, and my head is spinning. I'm leaning towards orps....but someone told me they are broody??? Yeh I know I am opening a can of worms in that question... I suspect chicken people are like bee people. Ask 1 question and get 4 right answers (or more!).

I wish I had seen this sooner. I placed an order and wont get chicks until the end of June!

 

[MIchickenlady]

For anyone who has ordered chicks through the mail, did you contact the PO before and tell them they were coming?

Mine wont arrive until end of June...but I will go talk to PO before delivery!

 

[MIchickenlady]

Anyone here familiar with @ The Chick Hatchery based in Owosso MI?

 

[Sally PB]

The Chick Hatchery based in Owosso MI?

No, never heard of them. What did you order?

Re: Townline. That is where my local TSC and the place I buy my feed get their chicks. Maybe other TSCs in the area, since Townline is in Zeeland, so closer than Hoovers.

My first chicks came from TSC in Lowell, so they're Townies. Hatchery quality chicks, but that's ok.

All 3 of the Straight Run I bought ended up being cockerels. My neighbor has gotten chicks there, and also in Ionia, and all of her Straight Runs were pullets! So not fair!

 

[CedarLane]

1st time we ordered from Townline, we were a bit disappointed to end up with 3 cockerels and 7 pullets. We had ordered together with 2 other family members so all together the "95%" was probably fairly close. The 2nd time we ordered, we actually ordered extra to make sure we got the number of pullets we were wanting. Especially since we were ordering a few different breeds, we wanted to make sure we got at least one of each of those breeds. Well, they were all pullets so we had more eggs than we could use for awhile there. Last fall we were thinking we wanted 5 layers so we ordered 8. Once again they were all pullets. We've been pleased. They just started laying a few weeks ago, and we've gotten 7 eggs several times already.

 

[TheDandyLion]

Thanks for the information folks. So much to think about and I tend to overthink such decisions. I was thinking sex-links since I only want pullets and just maybe I can tell at the store what I'm getting. But then I start reading that sex-links live much shorter lives. Then the orps and australorps look like a good fit... I was leaning to all one type, but like the suggestion of trying a couple.

Cedar what did you get from them? I see they don't have a huge variety like some hatcheries, but they still have plenty to choose from.

 

[CedarLane]

We've gotten Isa Browns, Golden Laced Wyandottes, Silver Laced Wyandottes & Barred Rocks.

 

[CedarLane]

Just remembered also Olive Eggers

 

[Dreamzchaser]

When they give you a medication for one thing and comes with a probability of 6 or 7 side effects and you are so lucky and get them all.