Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Herducks]

I have had good luck with chicks of different ages, put 1 week olds in with chicks of different ages, up to 8 weeks old. Everyone was fine. But they had a nice large area. Smaller ones stayed closer to the heat lamp, older ones stayed further away. I had 2 feeders and waters and had them on different ends, now they mingle and I have even seen one of my little ones sleeping on the back of a bigger one. Of course by the time I got my camera it was not up there anymore!

 

[Herducks]

Since you state that they are for meat you might want to reconsider. I have raised uncastrated hogs and the meat had an objectionable taste that is often called "boar taint". A bloodless method can be performed with elastic bands and a tool called an Elastrator.

The tool opens a rubber band that is placed on the scrotum. http://www.enasco.com/product/C00232(X)N

We used this on lambs. We did not have a way to keep a little ram lamb! You have to do it early though! We always did it at 2-3 days old. I would think you would have to do it early on pigs as well.

 

[Farmerboy16]

Thanks everyone for the comment on the piglets!

Farmboy, do you intend to neuter the boars?

No, I don't. Too risky, plus most of them will be for meat anyway. I only have one breeding boar, and plan on only keeping him as the only male.

Since you state that they are for meat you might want to reconsider. I have raised uncastrated hogs and the meat had an objectionable taste that is often called "boar taint". A bloodless method can be performed with elastic bands and a tool called an Elastrator.

The tool opens a rubber band that is placed on the scrotum. http://www.enasco.com/product/C00232(X)N

I came across this article a few weeks ago, and I am glad that I found it. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...VDjEF3AJc7CldqIGYcPjA&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.aWM I have never smelled my boar "tainty". So, he does not have the taint, and I have heard that sows can have the taint too, but that comes from aggressive sows. All of my hogs are docile, even Jasper the boar will come up to you, and fall on his side to have his belly rubbed. As an added bonus, intact boars grow faster and use their feed more efficiently.

 

[Farmerboy16]

Warning! More cuties!

We had moved her to my unheated greenhouse, it was not easy, but we did it.

 

[MIchickens]

I have a question....I am getting 25 hens around the 28the of next month. But....there is a certain type of hen I want and i will have to order it through a different hatchery that the hens I want will have to come here around the 2nd of next month. My question is...if I get both sets of chickens...will I be able to put the new 25 chicks in with the 15 nearly month old chicks? Does anyone for-see a problem with doing this?

Thanks for the advice all! I think I will just try to have some patience and get what I want later next year. 40 hens is a bit much anyway....although I do plan to donate most of the eggs to different charities around my area.

 

[tjbeckman]

On the way home. Just picked up some millies and seabrights

 

[NovaAman]

Thanks for the advice all! I think I will just try to have some patience and get what I want later next year. 40 hens is a bit much anyway....although I do plan to donate most of the eggs to different charities around my area.

THANKS! I have been feeding a lot of eggs back to the birds cuz people haven't been stopping for them as much. I never thought to donate to the local charities!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

ha! Perhaps that's the secret to your "eggs on overdrive" hens............ they liked eating them!

 

[NovaAman]

LOL, seems like I have been scrambling at least 2 dozen a week for them. I been getting a dozen or more a day for the last few weeks. Then today only 9. Yesterday 14, the day before 13,... well you get the picture. So only 9 today was a relief. I gave away 2 dozen for Xmas presents to Jace's teachers today. LOL

 

[gladahmae]

No power. 14in of snow and icy drifts. Went out and got a generator this afternoon. Hopefully the house will be over 58deg when I get home. Will have to boil water on the am to defrost waterers. Might get power back tomorrow night.