Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[MIchickens]

I ordered all females. I don't want any roosters. I'm rolling the dice on the mystery chick..lol

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Hm. Looked at the link, and can't find the heater! It was featured, so it must be back to the drawing board...................

I don't think one would be hard to build, either. I think heat tape and a pipe, but how would you keep the water from freezing at the metal nipple part??? A bigger reservoir could be heated with a stock tank de-icer maybe? I looked at them at TSC, but am trying to decide which is more dangerous- having an electrical heater IN the water, or having one UNDER the water dish. One risks electrocution, one risks fire............... hmm.

 

[MIchickens]

There was one on here that used a bird bath heater that looked like a stone...is that the one you were speaking of?

 

[fuzzybutt love]

no, i was talking about the things that you drop into the stock tanks to de ice for the cows, some float and some sink.

I would be interested in the bird bath heater perhaps though, i haven't settled on a "method" yet this year!
So far i am using the rubber dishes, the other year i used a heated dog bowl but now i have more birds.

I don't like the standard water dishes at all, i don't like having to tip them over to be able to re-fill, and the short lip makes it too easy for dirt and crud to get kicked in. Someone on here had a rooster get frostbit from his comb making contact with the metal dish, too.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Well, i just did a search on birdbath heaters, and they cost the same as a stock tank de-icer! I wonder if they cost less to operate? Anyone? I did come upon this handy gadget,though. It keeps the cord connections from getting wet

http://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovato...d=1355453735&sr=8-8&keywords=birdbath+heaters

 

[chickflick]

Daron, how about hand made goat's milk soaps? A BYCer makes wonderful soaps, lip balm and other wonderful bath things. You can check her out at [email protected] or www.scentfulhearts.webs.com

MIchickens!!

 

[Farmerboy16]

  MIchickens!!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I will make/get it for HER.

Nova- I will go to the antique stores tomorrow, and poke around for any wood stuff that I can make out of. Thanks!


chickflick- My neighbor makes hand made goat's milk soaps, and my family loves them, they are great. She owns me a few bars....and I have lots of eggs.....so, bit of trading might be in order.....

 

[kimmie6067]

Greetings and Salutations!
I just thought I would introduce myself. My name is Josh and I am in the Air Force and work at Selfridge Air National Guards Base in Mt Clemens. I have been a long time stalker of this website and love every minute of it. I have learned allot and don't even have my chickens yet...lol. I am expecting them at the end of January (That's the earliest that McMurray will send them out). I ordered 8 buff Orpingtons, 5 Silver laced Wyandottes, 4 Jersey giants, 4 barred rocks, 4 Aracanas, and the highly coveted mystery chick. With the knowledge base of you all here in Michigan, do any of you foresee any problems with the choices I have made?

I am building my brooder this weekend which will be 4'X8' with 2' walls. I imagine this should be big enough for 26 chicks for a month or two? I am a newbie so I hope I can call upon all of you from time to time for advice. I look forward reading your post. Have a great evening all!

Hi Josh, I made my brooder box that big, the only thing is it was hard to catch them when I needed to. I couldn't reach. Also I had my son cut the sides down by 6inches. 18 was high enough. I had mine in the house big mistake I had chicken dust everywhere all through that house. But I had no other choice really. I had to make sure they were warm. The Jersey take a lot longer to mature. I have three right now a blue rooster and two black hens. I only have one laying right now. I heard it takes 8/9 months. But boy are they big chickens! I want to get some silver laced wyandottes. We have a get together in the spring Chicken Stock maybe I will get one then or two or three. I love the orpingtons they are so sweet I have a blue roo he is so pretty I had to put down his girlfriend because she broke her leg months ago and she couldn't stand up very good, it was so sweet he would protect her from the other hen but sometimes they would peck her in the head and she would try to hide. The others in the coop were golden comets and a partridge rock, so I need some more blue orpingtons. I have a really nice barred rock named Rosie she is so sweet just hangs with me in the coop. Don't forget that even though you orders girl that's not foolproof. Out of the 25 I got two roos.


Kimmie

 

[chickflick]

Wow! It's just me here! Good Morning and I'm off to Lansing to sit for a sick grand kid. Have a good one........

 

[kimmie6067]

Good morning everyone!! Chickflick that's nice to do that for your Grandbaby.

Kimmie