Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Lisa and girls]

I figured that since I haven't posted coffee for several mornings and the thread has been rather slow I had better try and get some caffeine circulating. It also might be a good idea that if your coffee supplies are getting low you might want to replenish them this morning. From the sound of the weather forecast things are going to get a little nasty later today. I did go to Tractor Supply to buy some ISA browns yesterday and found out that they won't be getting them until Wednesday. However, with the severity of the approaching I wouldn't be surprised if the arrival gets delayed.

Our TSC is supposed to get babies this week too. Can't decide if I am going to avoid it during chick days or go in. It's guaranteed if I go in I will come home with babies. Can't resist those fuzzy little things. Good morning Opa btw!

 

[Nigellas]

Today is already better than yesterday was - Yesterday I woke up to a dead chick. It was from the batch I picked up at Meyer Hatchery last week. A blue cochin that seemed really small and not growing well. I found her in the water dish, so I don't know if she fell in and drown, or if she just died of being weak and that's where she fell. She was my favorite, so that was a bummer.

Then our power went out for about 2 hours yesterday - I had the rest of the chicks in a blanket next to me on the couch and was rotating them under my shirt (with a towel) to keep them warm. What do other people do in such emergencies? I can' be the fist person to loose power while brooding chicks. It was scary, especially after loosing the other chick earlier that day. A generator is sounding really nice...

 

[Sara Jayne]

I got chicks yesterday at the tractor supply in big rapids they had isa browns and i got some. they are really cute and survived the night which is always good.

 

[Sara Jayne]

Big Rapids have them right now i bought some yesterday they all look healthy too.

 

[RIRJen]

When I get a gun and learn how to use it, I will consider trapping skunks but not until that time.

we don't shoot them

 

[Maah]

Today is already better than yesterday was - Yesterday I woke up to a dead chick. It was from the batch I picked up at Meyer Hatchery last week. A blue cochin that seemed really small and not growing well. I found her in the water dish, so I don't know if she fell in and drown, or if she just died of being weak and that's where she fell. She was my favorite, so that was a bummer.

Then our power went out for about 2 hours yesterday - I had the rest of the chicks in a blanket next to me on the couch and was rotating them under my shirt (with a towel) to keep them warm. What do other people do in such emergencies? I can' be the fist person to loose power while brooding chicks. It was scary, especially after loosing the other chick earlier that day. A generator is sounding really nice...

When you have a small weak chick, or other banty hatchling, put marbles in the water. It should help to keep them from drowning in it.

For heat, next time try rigging up as many flashlights as you can find. While they don't put off as much warmth as the heat lamps, they do put off some, and if in a bin with lots of blankets around it should help keep the warmth in. Also, hot water bottles (if you have a gas stove or wood burner to heat the water with) to put under the bedding or hunting hand warmers. Sound like you got to snuggle with babies though. How many do you have?

Generators are nice too...

 

[taprock]

I've thought about that Nigellas. I bet a hot water bottle would help or some hand warmers. Hopefully by the end of the week we will have chicks of our own. Our eggs are in lockdown now. Two days ago we had a huge temperature spike. However, my son was keeping close tabs. I took all the eggs out and laid them on the carpet. Then I put them in a carton in an insulated cooler until I had time to reset the incubator and get it back to temp. When I candled them all but two were very active so it seems they survived.

Yesterday after my head was feeling even more out of whack I went to the dr. to discover I have Vertigo. So no chicken coop cleaning today, or for a few days at least. Back to the recliner. I haven't even set up the brooder yet.

We still have snow everywhere here, except a 2 foot by 5 foot spot at the east end of the house. The coops are about 150 foot from the house, but yesterday more than half the chickens and all the guineas made several treks wading through the snow to check out the one patch of grass.

 

[ladyrsanti]

we don't shoot them

I think we had this discussion before? I can't remember who, when, what though. Drown? I drowned a raccoon last year but I didn't have a big enough container and it meant me sectioning off part of the trap while it was inside which was a pain. Couldn't do that with a skunk... not without getting sprayed.

 

[1muttsfan]

Tap, sorry to hear you are still not feeling well. Vertigo is very uncomfortable.

 

[chickflick]

My good friend has Vertigo. Doesn't sound like very much fun. Sorry, Tap. Hope you feel better soon.

Chickens sure did enjoy the sun yesterday. Nice to see them free ranging, too. Got all mine and Krisrose's feeders and waterers filled, so if the storm does come, we're ok for a day, haha. I did enjoy being outside most of the day with all the critters. That sun sure did feel good!!

Hope you all survive the storm that is suppose to come. We'll see how it ends up.