Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[gladahmae]

I have some cockerels that I don't know what to do with.


I would like to use one or more of the welsummers for breeding, but will most likely need to keep it/them in some other place. Is it feasible to bring a roo in as a breeder but not keep him with the hens for more than just a few days? Or would it work to put the hens with the roo at his place for awhile? If so how long in each circumstance? What I'm asking is how long do they need to be together to assure fertile eggs ?

The guys, hatched Aug 21, are trying to breed the 19 month old hens now. The hens are not cooperating though. Matter of fact they are usually kicking butt. Or hiding.

I feel really stoopid. Oh fudge, If you have something to say about these questions/comments, please do so.

I also have a few excess cockerels. They're on craigslist. If no one takes them, I'll be having chicken dinner in February.



I'm also trying to figure out the breeding thing. I've done a few searches and have a very slight idea as to what may work for my situation (3 roos, 12 pullets) My plan is to have a coop for my roos, and to toss one of them in with the hens I want fertile eggs from (in a grow-out pen or big dog kennel or something) for a day, everyone goes back to their own coop at night, and repeat if necessary. I don't know how long the roo has to be in with the hens, but I know that if he's doing his job, eggs should be fertile for up to 2 weeks (give or take). I'm hoping that such short seperations will prevent the pecking order from getting completely ruined, and hopefully the roos will all continue to get along. Ideally I'll be able to get my olive eggers, some more EEs, and toy with a wyandotte mix.

 

[NovaAman]

Um... Might need more than a day...

 

[dascountry]

Chickens will eat almost anything in front of them so never pass out in a chicken run.
After boning out a deer I often have placed the remaining carcass in the run for a few days. The same with steelhead carcasses. I also give them the fat I trim from deer carcasses. The increase in protein is good for your flock.

Hmmmmm......never thought to do that. Thanks.

 

[Opa]

Bob, check out http://wcna.webs.com/home.htm You'll find lots of info

 

[mrcush]

Does anyone know what breed of chicken lays the olive colored eggs? I'm thinking of getting 2 more come spring and would love to find out what breed lays those eggs. Or if anyone has a suggestion on some other neat colored eggs I'm open for suggestions, Thanks!

 

[Herducks]

Does anyone know what breed of chicken lays the olive colored eggs? I'm thinking of getting 2 more come spring and would love to find out what breed lays those eggs. Or if anyone has a suggestion on some other neat colored eggs I'm open for suggestions, Thanks!

They are called Olive eggers as they are a mix of easter eggers and marans usually. Isbars lay a green egg but are very expensive.

 

[teeville5]

My chickens will eat pretty much anything. I can't recall them ever leaving a tossed treat intact. We give them meat on occasion, too, but nothing with chicken in it. Just seems a bit wrong to me. Anyway, they have a knack for finding their own treats at times, too. We've watched them catch and enjoy frogs, mice and itty bitty snakes.

 

[taprock]

A dreary snowy start to the year. Mr. Pheasant was back again. He seems to be more skittish now. My guess is the first day he was REALLY hungry so hunger out weighed fear. Now that he has had several days of good eating he's not too sure of us.

I'm not sure what to do about the dog. It seems whatever is wrong is getting worse. We have had 6 accidents in the house over the past month. On Saturday we were gone to a party for 4 hours and came home to a puddle on the carpet. Last night we were gone 5 hours and came home to 2 puddles, both on the carpet. It's not something acute and as much as I love my dog I don't think I can handle a chronic condition that results in more puddles. We've done it before and both we and our dog were miserable by the end. I guess call the vet and see if he has any more ideas.

All the talk of hatching and chicks has got me thinking on how I want to separate my birds this spring and what I want to hatch. There is a kids book where the giant steals the hens eggs and he lists all the food he wants to make with the eggs. Well i want to get some eggs myself so I think of the giant as I think of the list: Cochins, Orloffs, Dorkings, Silkies, Showgirl, Old English Game, Polish, Olandsk Dwarf, Hedemora, Sizzle and Marans, oh how will I ever decide!

 

[chickenwalker]

My girls love tomatoes, squash seeds/rind, cukes, all kinds of fruit, kale/lettuce/cabbage leaves and carrot/parsnip peals. They like a variety of veggies but sometimes they leave part of the goodies alone on the first day and finish eating the rest of the treats the following day. I guess day old treats are better than no treats. They only get these kind of treats a few times a week. Today I gave them left over corn pudding and mashed potatoes for the first time and they seemed to inhale these treats.

Of course, their very favorite treats are mealy worms and BOSS. I use these treats to call them into the coop. I realized if I first went out to the pen with the treat box in my hand and had a short conversation with them, then go into the coop, they ALL hop through the hatch expecting goodies. Then I close the hatch, tuck them in for the night and tell they what good girls they are.

 

[HooverHenHouse]

Yay yay yay...everyone meet Eloise...my first bantam Cochin!