Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RIRJen]

I have no idea. She's not on the bottom of the pecking order, surprisingly enough (the polish, the houdan, the banty brahama, and 2 EEs are on the bottom of the order). I only have 5 or 6 laying, and they're making use of 3 different nest boxes. I hadn't considered them not 'allowing' her to use a box. If that's the case, how do I address that issue?

Mine do that sometime. I think a lot of it has to do with them wanting to be broody and sit on them longer. I finally got the ladies to all lay in the box...for now lol.


On another note I'm heading to North Carolina this week to see my family down there. Of course I'm making time to stop and grab some chickens while I'm down there too!! shhhh....hubby doesn't know yet heehee

 

[gladahmae]

Quote:
Oooooh!!! I could REALLY deal with her going broody in about 3 or 4 weeks. hahahahaha! I've got BLRW eggs coming and I'd love to put some under her and some in the incubator.

 

[RaZ]

Another morning spent at the Ag Commissioner meeting. If you ever get a chance, you should attend a meeting or two. There is so much information shared. You might be surprised at how many things are going on behind the scenes that have affects on your daily life.

Anywho, stopped at TSC in Howell on the way back and some mallards and runners followed me home. Not sure how that happened.

 

[BobBry]

I have a few questions.
Background first; we had chicks hatch Aug 21, 2012. From that hatch we have 2 welly pullets and a roo. we had 7 other roos that we got rid of. At the time of hatch we had 3 hens. As the roos matured they pecked two of the hens quite badly about the head. I thought cutting down to one roo would eliminate the excessive damage to the hens. Not So ! Feathers grew back for awhile, however, Rufus has been worse lately. The pullets are losing some and the only hen not damaged before, a BO, was hiding under the hen house today with a comb sorta torn at the posterior end and bleeding quite a bit. The wound is treated.

Are Welly roos particularly mean? or is it just this one. Robin?
Anyone want a red rooster?
Anyone have a hen saddle or 3 for sale?
Are there hen head helmets for protection?

I don't want to simply kill him. He is beautiful.

 

[snowflake]

Great cartoon. Helps to explain why Calvin & Hobbs is so popular.

A discussion with David this morning lead to some internet searching and I am now going to try baking some eggs rather than boiling them. Supposedly you basically get the same result as boiling but with the yolk being a little creamier and the white less rubbery. It's also claimed they they are easier to peel.

love to know how the eggs bake

I have a few questions.
Background first; we had chicks hatch Aug 21, 2012. From that hatch we have 2 welly pullets and a roo. we had 7 other roos that we got rid of. At the time of hatch we had 3 hens. As the roos matured they pecked two of the hens quite badly about the head. I thought cutting down to one roo would eliminate the excessive damage to the hens. Not So ! Feathers grew back for awhile, however, Rufus has been worse lately. The pullets are losing some and the only hen not damaged before, a BO, was hiding under the hen house today with a comb sorta torn at the posterior end and bleeding quite a bit. The wound is treated.

Are Welly roos particularly mean? or is it just this one. Robin?
Anyone want a red rooster?
Anyone have a hen saddle or 3 for sale?
Are there hen head helmets for protection?

I don't want to simply kill him. He is beautiful.

Bob, sorry about your trouble, don't know anything about that breed, but he sounds nasty. Should be over the teen aggression by now??

HH makes nice aprons

 

[snowflake]

Another morning spent at the Ag Commissioner meeting. If you ever get a chance, you should attend a meeting or two. There is so much information shared. You might be surprised at how many things are going on behind the scenes that have affects on your daily life.

Anywho, stopped at TSC in Howell on the way back and some mallards and runners followed me home. Not sure how that happened.

The meetings are interesting, a long drive though.

ducks are sneaky that way, kinda like chickens

 

[dascountry]

Some mud sounds good about now. We are still all snow and ice covered.

I rained has rained steady the past day so the snow did go down enough you can tell but everything is still white.

Same here...you must live close to me. More snow on the way.......so they say

 

[NovaAman]

I have several hens who lay in the corners of the coops. I've gotten used to it. They spin themselves out a nice nest, and lay eggs. It was a real shocker to them when I had to close them out of the broody coop, a favorite laying spot, in order to have Big Red in there with her first babies, and closed them out. Oh the PAIN of using an actual nest box! The faverolles also have a nest box, and they prefer the corner. Actually, they like to shock me on occassion and lay in the nest box. OR they'll be really sneaky and lay in a different corner. Good thing it's a small coop. Oh, they prefer to roost in the run, so their whole dang coop is a nest box.

No chicks have followed me home. Yet. Although, two hens are a few days away from hatching, so you never know what may happen. One hen is a second timer, one is a first timer. I broke her several times, but decided this time she could... We'll see how well she does. SO, those two broads have the 4x8 coop all to themselves for the most part, except for the girls coming in to lay... I am thinking, maybe I need to build a nest box in the run. Soon.

 

[Wrightsx4]

I had never found an egg on the floor until a couple weeks ago when my faverolles started laying - in the corner...every day it's there in the corner. Then again, she doesn't roost either. She sleeps on the floor in another corner unless I put her on the roost.

 

[Maah]

Anyone have a hen saddle or 3 for sale?

I just ordered hen saddles today from a BYC member. Here is her posting: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...apers-harnesses-great-prices-check-them-out-2

Her price includes the shipping cost. I must have inspired her to raise her price, cuz it was $3.75 each this morning when I ordered, but now I see they're up to $4.25 (glad I ordered 6!). I emailed her at 10:30... she replied, I paid, and got confirmation from her all within just 2 hours later. I should have them in a couple days.

I have more hens that need the apron (thanks to our big brahma goof ball roo. lol), but really I can sew just fine and now I'll have the pattern and the time to work on the rest.