Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[tjbeckman]

Oh come on! It's only 3 to 3.5 hours, depending on the weather!

Haha right! I keep telling her that its not about the gas money its about the joy they bring LOL She doesn't buy it... She would be content not having a roo at all but I want to be able to do some hatching haha

 

[RaZ]

RE: Potato peels for chickens or compost.
Why throw away the peels in the first place?

I use the entire potato, skin and all, even when I mash them. No waste.

RE: Compost pile in run.
I'm trying something this winter. A 4 foot tall/ 4 foot diameter cylinder of fencing in the run that I filled with mulched leaves and woods chips as a base. It is being topped off with coffee grounds but not much else. Come spring, the fence will come down and the chickens will get to turn the pile.

 

[SillyChicken]

we eats our potato skinsies.... yes... we eaaats them........GoLLuM, GoLLuM!!

 

[Wrightsx4]

Potato skins...Sometimes we eat them. Depends on how much complaining I feel like hearing that day! Especially from the husband. The kids aren't allowed to complain but he doesn't cooperate.

 

[snowflake]

So, I am planning to build a hoop house/ high tunnel green house this late winter to start plants in...I am wondering if that would work also as a chicken coop, I would build it so that the bottom three or so feet would roll up for ventilation... My thought is that by doing this it would make sure that they get all the possible light because it would pass through the plastic... any thoughts?

you could also put a worm bed in the bottom and the chickens could have worms all winter

Mine eat EVERYTHING! I do give potato peals after baking/boiling (I know - I'm pathetic) because I read that cooking makes them safe and they love them. In all honesty I'm trying to accumulate a compost pile in a corner of the run but it's not working. They eat it all. I'm reading Harvey Ussery's book- it's wonderful - got it for Christmas! I plan to try his suggestions for composting for my garden. Then again, his book gives many ideas for letting chickens do the work as far as creating and working the compost.

I got Harvey's book last year loved it. lots of good ideas

I'm anxious to hatch again too. My daughter and I decided to rebuild our DIY incubator and make a few improvements based on what we learned since the last hatch. That will help my self control - I need to resist at least til early March to start incubating so I won't need to brood in my livingroom again. My husband doesn't understand why we "need" more chickens...
I told him there are still just a few more we "need"

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

I understand an olive egger as a blue egger crossed with a dark brown egg layer. A light brown egg layer would just make a light green egg. Darker olive drab eggs come from the blue shell with the dark brown pigment. Black copper marans are a common ingredient used for olive eggers, because of their dark eggs.

That makes sense!

Hello I am starting to hatch already (first hatch is due this weekend!) and usually get partridge silkies poppin' out here and there. He's a handsome guy! I've got more eggs going into the incubator next week and will start the madness of a rotating hatch for the next couple months
Oh, and your question on breeding true. I believe they will still throw blacks and buffs depending on what they are out of.

Are you going to CS? If so... I will want a girl from you... by then you will be able to tell for sure who is what, right?
And how much do you charge?

 

[tdhenson86]

we eats our potato skinsies.... yes... we eaaats them........GoLLuM, GoLLuM!!

 

[BobBry]

Sam and fuzzyb,

Thank you both for the leads. Already read some from them. Interesting.

Millie

Spent most of last night thinking of things to do to use the services of a roo but not have him on the premises. All of the possibilities seem to be dependant on the "other person (s) involved in the venture.

Got a good leed from a long time friend. Her daughter was recently married ( 50 ish) to a man that, according to friend, aspires to be a gentleman farmer. The couple have ten acres with a small barn, but little income and he has a job that requires travel statewide. Their home is only a couple miles from ours. Hopefully we can get a cooperative going. I hope I hope hope hope.

 

[HooverHenHouse]

gladahmae-Do you mean your going to keep all your roo's together, away from the hens..so they wouldn't be fighting over hens? If so I think that may work...depending on how aggresive your boys are. If they have no hens to fight over it may reduce the fighting.

 

[gladahmae]

Cut up a cantalope for the kids and took the pulp and the peels out to the chickens. Split it up into 3 groups kind of according to the # of chickens in each pen. The new girls made a 3ft circle around it and just stared until one got brave enough to get it a try. The chicks were still huddled in the opposite corner of the coop like I had placed some evil predator in there when I got cold enough to stop watching and come inside. The 3 oldest ladies knew what to do though. Treat time!


Making ham and bean soup today. DH is working on a new house, so no windows, no heat, no insulation for him all day. BRRR! I could never have a job like that. I'm a walking icicle as it is! Hopefully a warm dinner will help thaw him out.


My self-control is wavering. I want to buy some Marans eggs soooooo badly! I don't wanna wait another 3 months to incubate!!

(Although, I did tell DH that if we had a hen go broody before then that I was defaintely getting some eggs, so hopefully one of the wyandottes or the silkie will cooperate.)