Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[tdhenson86]

I've been thinking about the past month and the stress my poor birds have had. Finishing up molting, dog attack, coop filled with snow, snow storm that they were locked up for 3 days, last storm iced everything and took down the run area. They have gone from all over the yard birds to only in the coop in the past two weeks. I think they need some spoiling and maybe a bag of BOSS.

We had sun ALL day yesterday. I was a reptile and sat and soaked it up all day.

Dog to the vet cost a lot and didn't give us any answers. It did however rule out many things like Cushing's and cancer that were at the top of the list; also liver failure, diabetes, infection and anemia. But unless we do more tests we have no idea what it might be. He will continue to drive me crazy with continual drinking and having to go out potty 7 -10 times day or night.

My hatching eggs I have tried to keep under 7 days. The only shipped eggs I have had good success with were Showgirls that 6 out of 7 hatched.

I'm glad they ruled those diseases out with your dog! That would have been horrible. I hope they figure it out soon!

 

[tdhenson86]

OK! ALL OF YOU NEED TO STOP RIGHT NOW!!!! YOU REALIZE THIS IS MICHIGAN, IT IS THE END OF DECEMBER THERE ARE AT LEAST 2 VERY COLD MONTHS AHEAD OF US!
ALL THIS TALK OF BABY CHICKS HAS TO STOP!!!!

because I can't get any my coop is full

I have chicks in the hatcher, in a brooder inside, and a few older ones outside under a heat lamp... I thought winter would be the perfect time to hatch eggs since they would be laying in spring... I may have to rethink that for next year. lol...

 

[Farmerboy16]

mapquest says 3 hrs 23 min for me...one way......will probably pay the shipping...lol

 

I was just getting ready to look and see. Have to agree with ya MI

I am only 32.6 mi, 51 mins away!!! Must not go! Must not go! Must not go!!!!!

So I think my girls are a little chilly today.  I turned the heat lamp on just for a few hours this morning then turned it off when I gave them their warm oatmeal.  I'm curious after all this snow if they will come out of their run?  Hmmmm, do I try??? 

I had let my chickens out yesterday, and they were EVERYWHERE in the 3 in snow. Chicken prints allover the farm.

 

[1muttsfan]

Shipped eggs have a shorter shelf life and poorer hatch rate than unshipped eggs. They are usually already at least 5-6 days old, sometimes older, by the time you get them. On top of that you have the temperature fluctuations and rough handling associated with shipment. It its best to put them in an incubator as soon as they have reached room temperature. If you are going to have them shipped, don't order them until they can go directly into an incubator to help maximize your hatch rate.
I usually allow the package sit at room temp unopened for a half a day to allow them to stabilize slowly, then open the box and put the eggs directly into the warm incubator. Then don't turn the eggs for the first 2-3 days of incubation.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: Watch places like Walmart they will probably start having some BIG plastic totes CHEAP!!! They work good for brooders. You can cut most of the top open and put screen so there is good ventilation and the chicks cant get out.

 

[mrcush]

I had let my chickens out yesterday, and they were EVERYWHERE in the 3 in snow. Chicken prints allover the farm.

That's awesome Farmerboy! I will have to try and see!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

I don't live far from that hatchery, i don't think. I still bet that they would come to chickenstock, which would be sooo much easier! Then you guys could order ahead, and pick them up there I'd say i'd do a "chickentrain" but all i have is a small car! lol.

I looked around to try to see what the difference between a "quality" wyendotte and a hatchery one, and what i've picked up so far is that their tails are supposed to be an open V in the back, not a tight pinched one.

Also, for the blue laced red the red is actually supposed to be red, not a washed out gold version. The darker colored birds are so dark on the blue that the blue actually looks black to start, then goes to a very dark blue and a very dark red.

That's all i got, all i know is i wish i could get some they are so pretty! Can't tell from the pics but they look like decent ones.

 

[ladyrsanti]

I'm only an hour and 15mins. from that hatchery and they look pretty good, at least from decent practices - a no-kill hatchery? They sell their males as broilers and fryers. I might have to check them out. I drove out to Zeeland, for goodness sake, to pick up my very average hatchery-quality stock last year. I can certainly drive up to Muskegon to get good ones.

I've been letting my chickens out of the coop when it snows. They mostly hang in the barn with the cats and sheep. So far they haven't gone exploring in the snow but I figure that will change as they get more used to it. Heck, Fritter the roo wouldn't even come out of the coop yesterday on account of the fact that a thin layer of snow had drifted in front of the door, lol. He eventually overcame his fear when all his hens had left and he was alone and they, unattended. Silly rooster.

 

[Lisa and girls]

What is Chickenstock?

 

[fuzzybutt love]

ha ha ha. Had to share