Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[gladahmae]

We too are going to pick up a few chickens today. The woman I spoke with rattled off a list of about 7 or 8 kinds, and then said, something along the lines of 'and a lot of other ones' so we'll decide when we get there for sure what we want. Mostly looking for layers, but kind of contemplating a silky to use as a broody. She didn't say it, but if she has any Polish I might have to get one so Wilson isn't the only fluffy-headed girl in the coop. DH and I decided that we could live with chickens in the basement kennel for a few days until we get something figured out for outside.

I've got wazine. should I go ahead and worm the new chickens?

The power came back on last night, and we're already on our second load of dishes and 3rd load of laundry.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

If you could sprig for some ivermectin, i'd treat everyone. That way you know that the worms AND any potential lice/ mites are gone all at once! Ivermectin kills more types of worms too.

If you can't do that, a bath in some cat/ dog flea shampoo would work too. I don't like doing any kind of "wet" in cold weather, but if they were indoors for a few days and you gently blow dried them............. Really it is a shock to go from "hot" to "cold" though. Mites are the worst scare, worse than worms Imo!

 

[Stacykins]

Ducks can belly slide over the snow exactly like penguins! I did not know that! I was rounding up a drake who will be butchered later today, and I thought the deep snow would be to my advantage. Turns out, that is not the case! The whole duck flock shot away on their bellies, leaving little sled trails in their wake. They went faster than when they are on firm ground! I did eventually corner the lad, but it was difficult!

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

After the eggs are cold from being outside... is it okay to leave them out?
BF brought an eg in yesterday (I am sure it was already cold) and left it in a bowl on the counter. I saw it several hours later and put it in the fridge... will it be okay to eat?


Christmas Round One
With the in laws went well considering MIL cancelled it the day before... LOL such drama
DS was happy with his gifts and I was happy that he did not come home with too many toys.
He got a truck set that is really neat! You can flip the scenes on the platform it came with... then you grab a peice that sticks off the back of the truck and flip it upside down and it changes to a different truck!
He got a zoo game for the Wii that teaches him to take care of animals. He has to feed, wash, play, and do health checks on his creatures.
He has been playing it for a little while and it is cute.

I got some super sweet heels from my SIL... they are crazy tall.

I asked her where my pole was.

 

[1muttsfan]

 

[gladahmae]

If you could sprig for some ivermectin, i'd treat everyone. That way you know that the worms AND any potential lice/ mites are gone all at once! Ivermectin kills more types of worms too.

If you can't do that, a bath in some cat/ dog flea shampoo would work too. I don't like doing any kind of "wet" in cold weather, but if they were indoors for a few days and you gently blow dried them............. Really it is a shock to go from "hot" to "cold" though. Mites are the worst scare, worse than worms Imo!

pour on ivermectin? how much per bird? and do I have to discard eggs?



We ended up with 2 EEs, 1BR, 1 gold laced polish, a white silky, what I think is a white rock, and 1 black australorp. DH and I agreed that we didn't want a solid white chicken.......and then both DS1 and 2 picked the white ones.

We have a new feeder built, got a rubber bowl from TSC for their water, and made a nest box out of a 5gal bucket. DH is planning on getting the isolation coop built within the next 3 days.

 

[dascountry]

The power is finally back on. It went out Thursday night at 11. Gotta love living in the northwoods of Northern Michigan.

 

[taprock]

Glad to hear you got your power back. Friends up here were told not to expect theirs till the 2nd. They winterized their house and are headed to stay with family downstate.

I was very happy that I went and checked on everyone when I did this afternoon. I immediately noticed I was missing Poppy a little sizzle. I looked in both coops, the yard and the area in front and couldn't find her. The benefit of snow is tracks, so I knew no one had gone farther. Upon more searching further I found her wedged in between a small movable nestbox and the wall of the coop. It is an area of about 3 inches. How she got in or why I don't know. She could not get out on her own. She seemed fine, eating and drinking right away and walking with no problem. I checked her to make sure she was warm and she was. The only thing I could see off was her feathers aren't curling up right now - they look pressed flat. I guess there is sometimes a benefit to knowing all 63 birds by name - I know when someone is missing.

 

[tjbeckman]

Question... I just picked up an incubator from my parents house. Dad bought it a few years ago at a yard sale. It is one of those little giant foam ones. This is my first time incubating... Wondered if/where I would add water to it. I have it plugged in now checking the therm. to be sure it holds temp correctly... Any help is appreciated.

 

[chicken grandma]

pour on ivermectin? how much per bird? and do I have to discard eggs?

Glad- At the bottom of Fuzzy's post is a link to her care page called 'Fuzzy's notes'. She might have dosing information there. I know you can find it if you search the BYC site.
Using Ivermectin is a good idea for your original flock and your new hens both. The Vet at Michigan State University said we do not have to discard eggs when using Ivermectin but he said that the instructions will tell you that you do have to discard the eggs. His dosing recommendations according to my notes were -- 1 drop on a bantam chicken and 2 drops on a full size chicken. He does not recommend that you use the paste.

Good luck!
p.s. You have to repeat the Ivermectin after 10 days.