Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

Naglady, I love the Delawares I have from Sandhill Preservation. Some of the others have not been so great. I guess the point with your birds is that they are not a breed but a hybrid, so their offspring will be unpredictable and not as likely to be as good a quality or as good producers. You might want to think about Chickenstock this spring, many people bring purebred chicks and older birds along to sell, some of the stock is really good.

 

[gladahmae]

Uuuuuuuugh! I think my olive egger project for the summer may be gone. I went out to check for eggs/check water, and my splash marans has a big thing hanging off her butt. Going out with DH to catch her and see what's going on.

 

[1muttsfan]

I can't remember who was asking about Quail eggs, but there have been some popping up on the Swap thread, you just have to keep your eyes open it moves along pretty quick some days. Some of the breeds have been really cool-looking

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/733198/paypal-hatching-eggs-chicks-swap/3320

 

[greenmimama]

Hey guys, a quick question and a quick update.

Our 6 hens that are about a year old have pretty much stopped laying, we are getting 1 egg every couple of days, my Hubs wants to make them chicken soup, I told him it's pretty normal for them to stop laying right now, he isn't convinced they aren't eating all the eggs, I think they might be also.
Should we just keep them around and alive until it warms up and see if we are right?


My chicks that hatched Sept. 4th are laying now, at least a few of them, we got our first egg maybe 2 weeks ago and then since then now we got 10 eggs yesterday, so fun to see the number increase, we have 41 out there, and I noticed our little rooster is really doing his job, the one blood spot was so bright red and maybe 3 spots, it's fine to eat them right? because we did

 

[ladyrsanti]

Are anyone else's chickens afraid of snow? The girls that hatched in August refuse to go outside when there is snow on the ground. Even as beautiful as it is today they just stand at the door. I booted a couple out and they act like they can't walk on it. They like to eat it but that's about it.

Mine won't touch the stuff, not even to reach the sun they love so much.

 

[ladyrsanti]

Hey guys, a quick question and a quick update.

Our 6 hens that are about a year old have pretty much stopped laying, we are getting 1 egg every couple of days, my Hubs wants to make them chicken soup, I told him it's pretty normal for them to stop laying right now, he isn't convinced they aren't eating all the eggs, I think they might be also.
Should we just keep them around and alive until it warms up and see if we are right?


My chicks that hatched Sept. 4th are laying now, at least a few of them, we got our first egg maybe 2 weeks ago and then since then now we got 10 eggs yesterday, so fun to see the number increase, we have 41 out there, and I noticed our little rooster is really doing his job, the one blood spot was so bright red and maybe 3 spots, it's fine to eat them right? because we did

My 11 hens are almost a year old too and we started out the winter pretty strong but now, in the thick of the cold and snow and being cooped up, they are giving about 1-2 eggs a day. So I'd try to convince the hubby that chicky soup should wait until spring and then reassess.

 

[snowflake]

Are anyone else's chickens afraid of snow? The girls that hatched in August refuse to go outside when there is snow on the ground.

Mine do not like the snow,,, they stay under the covered area, unless I toss out some hay, as I did today, they are laying in the sun on the hay

Hey guys, a quick question and a quick update.

unless you supplement the light to about 16hrs the do not lay as much as in summer, if they are molting they usually do not lay. I have 28 hens and get 4 to 6 eggs a day, at least 10 of my hens are 5yrs old though soooo

 

[gladahmae]

well I am now 2 pullets less. and my olive egger project that I was SO excited about is not going to happen this year. My splash marans pullet's insides were outside, so we culled her immediately, and while we were at it we culled the splash wyandotte pullet that we've had problems with her butt since day 1.

That marans was the only reason I've kept the EE roo around. When this bag of food is gone, I'm going to make a final decision on who to keep, and make the rest into dinner (the roos, not the pullets).


My crested pullets heads look awful from all the feather pulling too. This is not a good day.

 

[Lisa and girls]

Mine do not like the snow,,, they stay under the covered area, unless I toss out some hay, as I did today, they are laying in the sun on the hay 

Thanks for the idea. Ill pick them up some hay.

 

[Opa]

Those wanting quail might want to check Craigslist. I found this one for Bobwhite http://battlecreek.craigslist.org/grd/3587972416.html and this one for coturnix quail http://lansing.craigslist.org/grd/3582560458.html