Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[fuzzybutt love]

Does anyone here know of anyone or anyplace that sells tea sets? I am starting to collect...... Shabby chic style. I like the cabbage roses and the pastel greens.

 

[eeyore75]

Hi, Naglady. I'm Ryan, I was saying hello to Amie who I know personally, sorry 'bout the mixup, lol!

Well, I got my BR's from TSC who I assume got them from Townline Hatchery. I got them because they were the cheapest ones, a little over a buck and a half apiece for straight run. Lots of twisted toes, skittish disposition. They will eat out of my hand, though. I brooded them in my basement and tried to spend time with them every night. There were a couple that wanted to be held, but the rest would scatter if I put my hand in the pen without any food in it. Some of the hens are what I would call a decent size, some are the size of a large bantam. I've gotten some eggs, but not near as many as I would expect out of ten, or so, hens. I've hardly gotten any eggs since winter set in, but I haven't put a light in the coop either. Also, I think of the ten, or so, roosters, there is probably one I am going to keep. Decent size, good looking and doesn't act like he wants to pepper your legs.

I know it sounds rather complainy, but I bought them for eggs and meat. So, I will be thinning them out a bit when it warms up some. Then I will keep my eyes and ears open for potential new additions.

As far as feed, with 14 BR's,an isa brown, 4 various banties and a turkey, I go through 50lbs in a week or week and a half.

One of my banty roosters was getting pretty abusive in his coop, so I put him in a different coop with my older hens and he is pretty mild mannered now. Being a golden laced wyandotte, he is too handsome to get rid of.

My girlfriend's dad has a mix of 30 NH reds and isa browns and gets over two dozen eggs a day. He said they will need a new home soonbecause he will be too busy to deal with it. Perhaps I will be able to adopt some!

We've noticed if the hens are being molested by roosters non stop (like when there lots of roos in with them) they tend to be stressed and lay less. If you'd cull all but 2-3 roos for your size group- you may get more eggs.

Howdy Doo all,
I noticed that a couple of my chicks have an offset beak. Will this correct itself?, do I need to trim the beak?, will the chick be fine the way it is?....any help will be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Mom's first 5 hens years ago there was a crossbeaked one. "Crooky" lived to be about 7 or 8 yrs old- only cross beak one that she got that lived beyond 3-4 months old. The other few (all hatchery sent EE's) thrived and grew until about 3-4 months old, then would spend 1/2 the day in a feeder trying to eat enough and getting thinner. They are put down at that point- no need to suffer.

 

[bullof7battles]

Eeyore: I don't have any more than 2 roosters in a coop. I've got three coops and also a rabbit hutch that I call the bachelor pad where I put the roosters I have seperated from the rest until I do the deed.

 

[kimmie6067]

Quite honestly, I do not have the time or inclination to provide for "special needs" chicks. Some people do. I would cull, it is much easier to do before you spend time nursing a chick and then find out they need to be culled after you are attached to them. I am more inclined to raise chickens that are hardy and self-sufficient, and a chick like that could never be used for breeding.

I agree I kept a chick that had a broken leg she couldn't stand on it or walk she would hop, poor thing the others would pick on her the roo would come in her defense even he was starting to forget her so I decided to cull her of course I had my hubby do it.

 

[Chambertin]

Unfortunately in a coop cuteness and love cant keep you safe and alive.

Takes a careful hand or a lifetime of seperation from the others. Everyone has their own answer.
I'll give them till they are pullets, but it always ends up in my careful hand (I'm the husband).

My take on it is if you can at least give them the chance to get as much meat as possible then maybe you can make soup and give them a proper "chicken" death.
The babies who can survive I always feel al little sorry for when they go out in the trash.
"Beak or no beak I make better soup than anyone!"

I'm sure many will disagree, and that's their right.

 

[Opa]

Since I culled my first bird over 60 years ago I think my position as resident "old rooster" is well established. In those years I have learned that raising a bird that is less that 100% is good for neither you or the bird.

 

[snowflake]

Hello everyone ! New to the thread . Just wondering, does anyone know where I can get a coop to hold about 7 chickens in for cheap? Or coop plans ... anything ? In September we had one hatch. Since, she's had to live IN THE HOUSE because apparently Tractor Supply doesn't sell coops in Fall/Winter !

Anyway, February 24th, Tractor Supply is starting "Chick days" where they sell chicks, ducks and hopefully geese. I'm planning on 2 chicks, 2 ducklings (one roo, one hen, one drake, one hen) and a female gosling, but I won't get them until I get a good coop !

you can make a good coop MUCH cheaper then buying one, you can make a really nice one out of tractor panels, Hillbilly Hen, has a pic on her sight. it is a run but if you tarp off one end or build a box with a door you have a good sleeping area, some have made them out of shipping crates, chickens are not fussy. and old camper, dog house with cement blocks under it to raise it off the ground, Were do you live?? I am in Belding Near Rockford, A store up on the corner from me had a nice chicken tractor for sale for quite awhile, I can go check and see if it is still there if you like?

I think you should consider more then 1 hen though the rooster will ware her out,(no feathers,stressed from over use, no eggs) don't know any thing about ducks

Does anyone here know of anyone or anyplace that sells tea sets? I am starting to collect...... Shabby chic style. I like the cabbage roses and the pastel greens.

Auctions ! great place to look if you are into old stuff estate sales(some times priced high) craig's list, Dime stores

Since I culled my first bird over 60 years ago I think my position as resident "old rooster" is well established. In those years I have learned that raising a bird that is less that 100% is good for neither you or the bird.

it took me a long time to get there but I have to agree,,,, I now have a cross beak and a crippled cause my grand kids love them, How ever .... it would be much easier to not have them and you do not want to hatch any of their eggs as the will pass on the deformity

 

[MIchickens]

Thank you all for your advise! I guess I have some culling to do. To bad I cant even get some buffalo wings out of the deal...lol.

 

[Opa]

Another snowy morning is underway and it will be another good day to just sit and watch the snow fall. David is bringing me 100# of shelled corn so I suppose I will fill the feeder. With the exception of that and watering the birds, turning the pages of the book I'm reading will be the extent of my physical exertion. Aging brings new problems one must face but not doing anything unless you want to is one benefit.

 

[SillyChicken]

Though I love the big snow flakes coming down....... I am so ready for spring! Thanks for the update - 55 days left right!!

We got the brooder cleaned up and in the garage for chicks this week! I'm trying sand in the bottom this time. (I know, I'll watch for compaction) Will line with paper for a few days before putting them on the sand. We put plastic all the way around except for 1/2 the front and top for air flow. I got the work bench base from Grainger for work... I ordered and paid for only one base, they sent two (with an extra brace, the grey one in back)....... and when I tried to send the base and extra brace back, they said just keep it........ so I did! After these chicks, I think I'll use a door slab for a table top and support for the brooder.



I have a couple dozen turkey eggs I brought to work for Glambka to make her eggs with........ she does beautiful work!

I had a crossed beak bird once, it got worse over time and she eventually wasn't able to get enough food. Any bird like that I will cull. If they aren't genetically healthy, I don't want them breeding and passing this bad trait along. Nor do I want to spend the money or time on a bird if she cannot even put on enough weight to butcher. I currently have a chick with a bad leg, she is trying and struggling and, the only reason I keep her alive is for a companion to the one healthy chick I have. I will probably cull her as soon as I put the healthy chick with the others. I feel bad about letting her live as much as I do about her future.