Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[kimmie6067]

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.

Hi Opa, I agree with the culling of birds that are not fit. I will never do it again that caused me and the bird a lot of stress.
The shelled corn is it cracked? Or can it be fed whole?
I can't wait to get back to Michigan, it's boring here in AZ without my family and chickens.

 

[kimmie6067]

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 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.

Silly how warm will it be in the garage? I am wondering because mine is not heated, and didn't think I could keep it warm enough with just a heat lamp or two.

 

[SillyChicken]

Silly how warm will it be in the garage? I am wondering because mine is not heated, and didn't think I could keep it warm enough with just a heat lamp or two.

Our garage is heated so it won't be an issue for us... sometimes DH keeps the garage warmer than he lets me keep the house....... try to figure that one out!!! LOL!

For a non heated garage, you may be able to insulate the bottom and sides (outside) of the brooder with rigid foam insulation. Though I would experiment with that first to see if it can hold the temps.

I had a hen that hatched chicks out in september./october... it was very cold out, frosty, and she did a good job raising and keeping them warm. So I know chicks can deal with colder temps if they have a warm place to go when they need to.

 

[NovaAman]

I have a mama in the garage right now with chicks. She's a good furnace.

 

[naglady]

michicken sorry you have some crossbeak chicks.. made some interesting reading the last couple of pages..

How would one cull a chick..? just wondering.. never even thought of it b4.. kinda thinking of incubating some eggs and thought this would be good to know. just in case.

the hen and rooster i am getting tomorrow, i think they are brother and sister i dont want to hatch their eggs right, but on the other hand i can put the rooster with my other girls and hatch those eggs.. since they arent related.

I know this is a stupid question- when you ad a rooster to a different flock, do you do the same as if your adding a hen do it gradually because of the pecking order. or is it different with a rooster.

i dont plan on doing this right away.. i will quarinteen the new ones first..

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Barred rocks are one of those breeds that are well worth getting from a reputable breeder. There is a world of difference between hatchery birds and well-bred ones, in appearance, temperament and productivity. Hillbilly Hen had some gorgeous birds, not sure who ended up with them when she had to sell them.

BYC user Jeff1960 has them. He also bought my German New Hampshires. I heard from him a couple of weeks ago and he says they are all doing well and he has some beautiful off spring from them. He may be interested in selling eggs or chicks if you contact him.

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.

For the person that asked about a coop, I love the hoop house type as it is easy to build and not very costly.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/386902/we-gave-the-chickens-our-bedroom-pic-heavy

Welcome to all the new members!

 

[Chambertin]

About feeding corn, we feed random feild corn here and they dont exactly love it whole they can and will eat it happily.

No problems processing it that I can see in the exit end, the grit and gizzard do a heck of a lot better on that feild corn than my teeth and belly do with corn on the cob.
I think I'd crack it if I had the mill to do so because they do waste some, but there's always one girl bored enough to dig it out of the sand.
When I used a hammer and cloth they ate it up much faster, but there is effectivly no difference from a visible nature in health or poo.

 

[ladyrsanti]

My chickens would risk death to forage in the field after the farmers harvested field corn to get some. They'd eat it whole. So much so that the farmer who farms my field came over to warn me that they were in the field when he was out there with the tractor one day. Anyway, they are forbidden from venturing to the field anymore, especially because he sprays it. I have an old grain mill (ebay find) and a bag full of organic dent corn that I grew and stored. That is my substitute for their addiction.

 

[SillyChicken]

culling chicks... there are options. none pleasant. PM me if you want to know how I manage it.

 

[eeyore75]

Well- if the boys aren't in there- may just be temp and light issues. We keep the lights on about 16 hours. Mom switched from a 16% layer to a 18% layer a couple months ago and have noticed they lay better since too.
(Aside from the sussex- they are often on strike in the winter)

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.