Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[gladahmae]

Trying to figure out what we want to do for out meat birds is driving me bonkers!! Our plan is to make our current run bigger, section it off, and make a tractor/shelter that we'll move once a week or so to a new section of the run. The tractor/shelter will just be for nighttime and they'll have access to the run during the day. We have 70 white broilers coming in just over a month, so I'd like to get materials assembled soon, so when it warms up we can get it put together.

We're debating between an 8x10 salatin-style pen (would probably make 2 of them since I would worry about over-heating/crowding a-wt the end) or a 10x13.5 cattle panel coop. Price-wise it's coming out about the same, or pretty close to the same. And that's with a metal roof on the salatin pens, and 4x4 lumber as the base for the hoop coop. We have a breeze all the time here, and when storms blow up, we get big gusts, so I would be a little concerned about things being blown away or wind damage. Any advice would be appreciated. I know that I *can* crowd them in a smaller pen, but would prefer not to make them into chicken-sardines.....ya know?

 

[minniefarm]

I snuck up on the chicks this morning to actually catch them sleeping. Just as I suspected, they are no longer sleeping under the ecoglow. They were down on the wood shavings and not huddled together either. The basement 50 dI'm degrees consistently. Now I am not sure when to put them outdoors. I guess just wait until they are fully feathered huh?

I am searching for guinea keets today. I'd like to pick up four. Anyone have some for sale?

 

[naglady]

ZOMMMMMMBIES!!!! No, I mean, that's us. We're all sick now. @_@ I have a sinus infection and an antibiotic that's given me a rash and my husband is passed out on the couch dripping snot.

Hoping you and your husband feel better.. sounds aweful..

Been away a few days... Busy time, I lost one of my chicks, not totally sure what happened but I found her in the brooder acting lathargic. I brought her in and she slept with me on the couch...ended up dying while I was holding her. . The other chicks are now out with the flock they are loving it. Today we finally started the hoop house! I will post some pics later this week when it is done

Sorry you lost one of your chicks..

Im new to chicken and live near battle creek. What kind of chicken should I buy?

Welcome to the group.. If your looking for egg layer,, In my experience i have isa brown and new hampshire red, they lay everyday.. and they are over 2 yrs old..
i just got some leghorn chicks.. they are suppose to be laying machines..

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Good morning Michigan folks, I hope you've all had a great weekend.

Well, hubby did the new accomodations for my broody australorp this weekend. It turned out very nice! I set the 8 silkie eggs under her that I had been collecting for the last week. She wasn't happy when I took her fake eggs away, but she seemed thrilled to take on the real ones. I showed them to her and she practially snatched them out of my hand and tucked them under her. She wanted them! LOL. Good girl.

I'm hoping to get my olive eggers this week, and pray the PO doesn't damage them.

My wonderful hubby also got the large brooder box out of my office this weekend! YAHOO! It smells so much better in here. The large brooder with the farm store chicks are now in our closed off front room. Not quite outside, but there's no heat out there either so we gave them their heat lamp back.

I still have 2 small brooder boxes in my office. One brooder with the three 5wk old silkie chicks, and the other with the 8 that just hatched this weekend. I'm sure the stink will build back up, but hopefully spring will actually get it in gear so we can push these kids out the door.

Have a good day yall!

Morning, sounds like you made your broody one happy mamma..

 

[naglady]

here is the little guy chilling with his peeps. I think they are kinda used to each other now.. been working on integrating for 3 days now..
still keeping a close watch. he cheeps non stop.. maybe he can learn how to relax like the girls.. is this normal for newborns.. because you think he would be passing out after 3 days.. like the others.. they still sleep alot.. i think he has insomnia..

 

[BobBry]

Im new to chicken and live near battle creek. What kind of chicken should I buy?

You should not buy a single chicken. They are flock birds. The kind you get should be deternined by what you want to get from them. Check out breed characteristics, think it over, make your choice. Look at the top of the BYC hme page to find different types of info. Good luck.
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[ladyrsanti]

2 1/2 weeks old. Crazy buggers. The BO/EE mixes are feathering out interestingly. Some are very buff and others are more grey/brown.



The same little buff brahma with the nose hole. It closed up and they seem to be doing well.
Probably the most determined bird in there, determined to fly out anyway.


We're calling this one Little Chip because it's Chip's only baby, our "oops" baby. We weren't going to
hatch any of Chip's eggs because, though she's my favorite EE, she lays a brown egg. That's how it
snuck in there too, thought it was a BR egg. Beautiful color though, same baby that's in my avatar.


I've been so sick that I've only really minded them enough to change water, food and bedding this last week. It was kind of a shock this morning when I went up there to spend some time with them, how much they've grown. Now if I could only spend some time BUILDING A COOP! Ugh.

 

[naglady]

adorable chicks


Heres a question, should i have pine shavings in with my chicks, i have paper down, and change in 2-3 x a day.. just wondering, i like to keep the smell down.

 

[Nigellas]

Thanks for all the suggestions for my crop-sick chick. She died over the weekend, but I do appreciate all of the advice I got.

 

[naglady]

Thanks for all the suggestions for my crop-sick chick. She died over the weekend, but I do appreciate all of the advice I got.

So sorry to hear..

 

[cuppycake]

Did you guys see that MHS rescued 190 color dyed chicks from someone selling them on the street corner in Detroit? Says they aren't available to be placed in homes yet but I thought I'd let you all know.