Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Brethren49619]

Say hello to my husband then, Opa. He is there for a 3 day nuclear scan. I won't be sitting inside today though. The major melting and raining caused flooding in the barn last night. Son and I spent hours last night in the dark and rain clearing paths in the melting slush for the flooded back water to flow out. What a mess! And a ton of work in store for me. Will do what I can before the temperatures plunge and the snow starts building up again.

 

[RIRJen]

I posted a while ago about my layers perching on the nest boxes and pooping all over them and my inability to get them to stop...well I fixed the problem! lol Last night it was so nice out I did a little outside work and ripped those nest boxes right out of the coop and put a box on the floor! HA! Little buggers looked pretty disappointed when they went to go to bed last night and realized I took away the poop perch! I WIN!

 

[Nigellas]

If anyone near Ann Arbor wants to place a chick order, I'm driving down to Meyer Hatchery on Feb 20th to pick up my chicks (We are actually taking a family trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky - I talked my husband into stopping at Meyers ob our way home, lol). I'd be happy to bring chicks back for others, so you don't have to mess with minimums and shipping fees. (Within reason - I mean, I can't fit like 200 little peppers in my car, lol)

 

[RIRJen]

(Within reason - I mean, I can't fit like 200 little peppers in my car, lol)

Well you're no fun at all are you!

 

[boris159]

Also, guys, I was wondering... today is ivermectin application day for my flock. I know that the BYC-accepted dosage is 4-5 drops for regular commercial types. But what dropper is best? I've heard some use a needled syringe. I don't have one but could buy one this evening when I'm in town. I also have an oral medicine syringe laying around somewhere from my cat's worm medicine, years ago. I might be able to find that. But what about a food-color dropper bottle? Are the drop sizes so different?

And then, I wanted to ask if anyone has ever grown mangels before, for their animals (chickens, sheep, cows)? Want to try? I ordered some seeds, a pound (smallest amount available), and will be willing to swap some seed or sell for a nominal fee (by the ounce, 25 cents + S/H). There's no way I will use a pound before it goes bad.

Hi neighbor, I'll do 1/2 of the # of mangels (never grew them either).

 

[naglady]

RiRjen you showed them..

 

[taprock]

tj - I have brooded chicks in a tank. I love it. We only use a regular 60 watt bulb and set it flush on the lid. It has been nice to keep track of the little guys just by looking across the room. As long as you keep track of the temp your good. After they get bigger we move them to a cardboard box - we like low tech and the fact I can burn the box not have to clean it.

No school up here again today as it rained on top of our snow all night. The back roads are going to be fun since they were still snow covered. We are staying home today.

I brought my chronic sneezer in last night. He's a Showgirl named Buzz. I wanted to try some antibiotic and observe him. The first thing I did was put medicine in his water and offer it to him. What I noticed was his comb is an odd Silkie kind of shape the covers part of one nostril. When he got a drink he got his comb wet which the water then drained off his comb into his nostril. I'm thinking now it may not be illness but his comb causing the problem. I don't think there is much that can be done in that case. Thankfully he is a late sleeper and didn't start crowing in the basement until after 8.

I have a couple Russian Orloff Roosters needing homes if anyone is interested. They are very friendly and I want to try and find them good homes. Puppy 1 and Puppy 2 will follow me everywhere and jump to eat out of my hand. They hatched in mid - June but are still not quite mature - just starting to show girl interest and still not crowing.




We have made plans for hatching eggs next week.

A little early for this year but they are for my son's 4-H project and we only want a few so they will get more attention and handling.

 

[tjbeckman]

Hi all, I really appreciate the feed back on the brooder! So, I am taking advice and going to change things up. What are some ideas for a relativly inexpensive set up. I understand that there is also concern in using a rubbermaid tub? I have a large one of those that I could work with. I did also change the bulb since the pic. The red only stayed about 5 minutes and it was far too warm so now we have a standard light that is keeping them at a much better temp. I wondered if I were to use some sort of small fan as an exhaust for them to keep good air flow without causing a draft? Oh and thanks for the tip on the printer, I will have to move that, didn't even think about it haha

 

[ladyrsanti]

PM'ed ya boris159

Hi all, I really appreciate the feed back on the brooder! So, I am taking advice and going to change things up. What are some ideas for a relativly inexpensive set up. I understand that there is also concern in using a rubbermaid tub? I have a large one of those that I could work with. I did also change the bulb since the pic. The red only stayed about 5 minutes and it was far too warm so now we have a standard light that is keeping them at a much better temp. I wondered if I were to use some sort of small fan as an exhaust for them to keep good air flow without causing a draft? Oh and thanks for the tip on the printer, I will have to move that, didn't even think about it haha

Last year I used a big cardboard box and didn't have any trouble with temps. I was a little worried about moisture from their water getting through to the wood floor or molding the cardboard but it didn't turn out to be an issue. The great thing is that the entire setup is compostable afterwards.

 

[SillyChicken]

Cheapest is cardboard box... While they're small I keep them in the garage or basement. I like using totes for a while, but once feathered out I have a large wire brooder box they'll go in out in the shed.

This is the brooder box DH made... (it has a hinged lid also in wire). Works great. Has a divider in the center to have separate broods going.
Keep in mind that once their feathers come in, they'll try to fly out of the container so you'll need a lid of sorts. I use an adjustable window screen from the hardware store.

On a more entertaining note....... I totally gave myself a fat lip and bloody nose yesterday. Turned to fast to go back in the house and the slight spacial miscalculation caused me to darn near knocked myself out, hitting the door frame..... it was epic! LOL! Today I have a fat lip and bruised nose and sore tooth of all things. LOL!