Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[chickflick]

Sorry you are ill! That must have been scary. Hope you continue to gain strength and feel better

 

[DimondaleBergs]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes and great tips!

We ended up going with 5 of the red pullets (potential breeds: Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire Red, Isa Brown, and Buff Orpington), 5 Pullets (potential breeds: Isa Brown, Rhode Island Red, Black Sex Link, and Barred Rock), and 2 Black Sex Links. We got them from TSC, and so far they are doing great! A bunch of little poopers for sure though! lol I'm making a bigger area for them today. We got the small water station and feeding station for now. But dang if those little turds don't flip their bedding into the watering station the second I clean it out! lol
I have pictures but I don't think I'm "allowed" to post them yet cause I'm still a newbie. lol
We are super excited to see what they all turn into as they grow. My two oldest children who no longer live at home, have come over 2 times just to see them since we've gotten them. lol

Okay...so my question of the day is this (and I can hear you all laughing already, but it's a legit question!

): Several of the chicks have poo stuck to their little behinds..and I mean..a good size gob..lol Do I need to do something for them?

Or will they take care of it. lol I don't want them to have problems going.

Thanks again.. and you can stop laughing now

 

[DimondaleBergs]

Oh...and here's my second question of the day: Is there any way of determining which breeds the chicks are at this age (4-5 days old)? Or is it a wait and see type thing? LOL I'm NOT a patient person! lol

 

[minniefarm]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes and great tips!

We ended up going with 5 of the red pullets (potential breeds: Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire Red, Isa Brown, and Buff Orpington), 5 Pullets (potential breeds: Isa Brown, Rhode Island Red, Black Sex Link, and Barred Rock), and 2 Black Sex Links. We got them from TSC, and so far they are doing great! A bunch of little poopers for sure though! lol I'm making a bigger area for them today. We got the small water station and feeding station for now. But dang if those little turds don't flip their bedding into the watering station the second I clean it out! lol
I have pictures but I don't think I'm "allowed" to post them yet cause I'm still a newbie. lol
We are super excited to see what they all turn into as they grow. My two oldest children who no longer live at home, have come over 2 times just to see them since we've gotten them. lol

Okay...so my question of the day is this (and I can hear you all laughing already, but it's a legit question!

): Several of the chicks have poo stuck to their little behinds..and I mean..a good size gob..lol Do I need to do something for them?

Or will they take care of it. lol I don't want them to have problems going.

Thanks again.. and you can stop laughing now

You need to clean their butts. If you don't, they will get blocked up and could die from it. do a search on pastie butt or poopie butt. I just read a decent thread about it this morning.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Quote:Originally Posted by gladahmae I'm not good at it, but here's genetics with pics of what each color is, so maybe you can suss it out http://www.edelras.nl/chickengenetics/mutations1.html

Quote:Originally Posted by kimmie6067
brining helps with the flavor and the juiciness . I couldn't eat one of mine, but i have eaten plenty of them that i didn't know.

Quote:Originally Posted by DimondaleBergs
Soak their little behinds in tepid water, like you would a human baby. Gently try to pry it off once it has softened. I could be wrong, but seems like i saw yogurt suggested for this also, so they don't get it again? (To eat, not bathe in )

 

[naglady]

Well I am back I was in the hospital sick with food poisoning or so they say. I never want to go through that again! I still am so sick and weak my husband is taking care of my chickens. I think I am going to live. Here's a pictue of an eggs we got wednesday the day I got sick. The one on the left was like at least three inches long, the one beside it was a large egg. I was huge.

Glad your going to live, thats scary, what do you think caused it, that is a huge egg..

Does brining have something to do with the age of the chicken? And no this does not offend me. I wish I could eat mine maybe later when I have had chickens for a while I could. The chicken sounds so yummy even tho I can't really eat much.

Kimmie

hi kimmie, yes brining old chicken is suppose to help break down the tissue so its not so tough. i usually brine for one to 4 days.. depending on my schedule, and if the garage is cold, i use a 5 gal bucket rinse chicken good, then put in bucket, put water up to top of chicken pour some salt on it, then i put ice on top of that and cover and set in garage.
I think it helps, I alway slow cook in the oven to cook old chickens. makes such a good broth and meat comes off the bone, works good for stews, chili, burritos, dumplings, etc.

definately need a good slow cook method, for old chicken, the first couple oldies i butchered and cooked , didnt turn out real well, took more research and learning about how to make a old bird taste good, and the brining and letting it set for a few days makes a difference, If and when you decide to butcher, and need some pointers feel free to ask on here, I am sure we can all give some pointers on how to cook a oldie..

I agree with fuzzybutt on flavor and juiciness

 

[Opa]

While the corporate printed poster on the bins of chicks say potential breeds, when TSC gets them from the hatchery it is usually just one breed and it will be indicated on a hand printed sign on the stock tank

 

[minniefarm]

Just made my own chick feeder out of a cottage cheese container and an aluminum pie plate! The lid keeps the whole thing a little elevated and the pie tin will keep the seed from spilling everywhere. I may have to flatten it out a bit at first so they can reach into it. I am thinking after a week they will be just fine. Next I'll try to make a waterer. Fun stuff on a cold Saturday afternoon.

 

[Farmerboy16]

I finally went and picked up my kid this morning.

I had put down a deposit for him a few weeks ago. I him!!! He is 6 weeks old, and still on bottle. I named him Laubach. He is 1/8 Nubian, and 7/8 Boer. He will be my breeding buck for my doe, and my neighbor want to use him for her does too, so win-win for us!

 

[minniefarm]

What a cutie! I would love a couple dwarfs. Hubby thinks not LOL