Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Opa]

Removing spurs that are exceptionally long does present a little bit more of a challenge but it is one that you can conquer. Since you can't use the hot potato method, nor get the guillotine type nail trimmer over the spur you will need to resort to sawing them off. A hack saw works but is cumbersome. Dremel makes an excellent inexpensive saw blade that will make short work of trimming.

Just as when cutting a dog's nails too short, the cut spur will bleed quite profusely, so you must have a plan in place before starting. One method is to use a styptic powder like "Blood Stop". Another method would be cauterizing with a red hot piece of metal.

I strongly advise that to protect both you and the rooster, that he should be restrained. An ACE bandage can be wrapped around the bird or better yet while holding the bird's wings against its body slip him into a shirt sleeve or a pant leg.

 

[kimmie6067]

This is my first coop, and it's not pretty that's for sure! Still the most functional though. It started off with the rabbit nesting area (upper half behind the door) and all the rest was wire; during the first summer it became obvious that there needed to be more protection from the wind and the sun; so the top 2/3 got boarded off. There is another perch that you can't see in the top level, where they can go to sit and there is a small gap along the nest box to allow light and air (fenced off for safety) The bottom third is chicken wire. The windows allow for a nice place to sun on those cold days when they are closed. I think little awnings over the windows to make for more shade would be even better, and would help on the days the rain gets blowed all to heck. And i'd never use chicken wire again, hardware cloth is what is needed.

Here you can see that i used lattice to fence the front part of the camper, for decorative and to give me a way to separate/ corral the birds. The rest of the fence around the bottom of the camper is sadly, chicken wire.



I also have a little flower garden around the tree, fenced off from the birds. It provides visual interest, and if anyone's peckish the others use it to put a visual boundry between them And if anyone gives chase it's round and round until they tire of it, LOL. I dont' like corners, i have big flower pots placed in front of them with just enough room to squeeze behind so they can get away if there's conflict. Otherwise there's a chance of literally being cornered when attacked! The whole shebang is set into a nook of the woods, and is shade most of the day except for when the trees lose their leaves. I imported aged manure and dirt for the flowers as the whole place is just sand. Hose the flowers, hose the sand! Woe to the worms that make the crossing out of the flowers into the run, the chickens have a blast hunting them out and they also pick at whatever plant decides to brave it's leaves through the fence wire.


spring last year. One bench was inside the fence to sit with the birds, one bench was outside for visitors so they could watch them or just look at the flowers or whatever. I had roses in the big pot. You can't see the big fence, but it is as high as the corner poles and is galvanized wire. Fencing the tree into the run was pretty, but if i had the chance i'd trade it for a roofed run that would be predator safe, and use a large bush for the visual interest! Or a mini tree of some sort. Top left by the camper the corner has scrub brush too, that i kept. Birds like to use it for cover. I think allowing for scrub brush, or some kind of sturdy bushes/ plants that they won't eat in the run is a good idea too. Space is good, but my birds seem to enjoy the nooks and crannies better than a big square.


Another idea that sprang from practicality: Using rabbit cages as nest boxes. Works 2 ways; i can build a nest onto the one side out of straw, and i set them on a shelf with a perch in front. (Though i think a little sloped roof over to keep wanna be perchers from pooping on the top would be prudent) They are just the right size for nests, and if/ when anyone goes broody i can lock the door from the others. They also function as sick bay at times. (but i would like the larger cages in the future, I especially liked the ones that hillbilly hen's husband was building) I also have a large dog kennel that i set up in the camper when needed for the large birds for these purposes.


(pic for the heck of it)
My pet rooster, was a ham. Looked after the ladies , here he was singing a little squeaky song for my little hen, who was laying her first egg. Was sweet to see.

Fuzzy thank you so much for the tour of you coops it was very entertaining and informative. Loved the last pic of the roo singing to his hen how sweet is that?

 

[Maah]

Well, I feel bad. I had won some olive egger hatching eggs here on BYC last month. We had agreed that she'd mail them out the Tuesday after Easter (so April 2nd). Well, that date came & went. She said the eggs got damaged, so we rescheduled, that day came & went, and rescheduled again... came & went again. Still no eggs. I had only inquired once right after Easter, up until today. I don't want to be a harpy, and I'm generally a patient person. Plus, "beggars can't be choosers"... and I did not pay for the eggs so I really have no say in receiving them. I feel quite bad about sending her a message today. However, I sent one anyways. The thing is, I have silkie eggs that I've been holding and waiting for the olive eggs. Some of my silkie eggs are going on 2 weeks old now and their viability is diminishing. I've started pulling the oldest eggs out, and putting them in the fridge for eating. I figured I'd better send another message. I need to know if I should continue to wait, or just go ahead and set my silkie eggs. I only have the 1 incubator, so I can't do a staggered hatch.

On a good note though... my broody hen is doing WONDERFULLY! Her eggs are due to start hatching this weekend. I set 8 silkie eggs under her (plus our leghorn decided to set 2 of her own eggs without permission. LOL. She was our smallest hen & was squeezing through the little hole to lay her eggs with the broody. We fixed the breach, but left the 2 eggs... not sure how they'll do with different due dates.). So the broody is sitting on 10 eggs total. I candled a few of them on Sunday, and they looked great. We'll see.

 

[kimmie6067]

Hi and thanks for your comments!

I actually do have ventilation all the way across the front and back of the coop. Here are some pictures:






I also have access to the bottom of the run, if you look in this pic, you can see the 4 wing nuts that you remove to take off the panel and get in there. Both front panels are removable.




Thanks again for looking!

Love the tractor the only thing I am worried about is that it don't sit flaton the ground, when my chickens were young I had a hen escape out of my tractor from the bottom I couldn't believe she could get out of it. She finally grew some so she couldn't do it anymore but that's what I didn't like about mine. but if the ground isn't perfectly flat there is a gape. But love the tractor design and looks nice to.

Oh and Welcome to the group!!! Perry

 

[kimmie6067]

's
Wait....... You mean you are suppose to wear shoes at home? Dang! My parents must have been raised in a barn.... I guess the kids and I need to start to wear shoes outside.

These days everybody is so paranoid of germs that nobody can go barefooted or for that matter touch anything unless it's a controller or a keyboard which has more germs then dirt, hahaha. I go barefooted outside here but remember not to again when I step on sand burr/goat head/Texas tack sometimes more then one. They have gotten worst around here. I was raised in California and always was barefooted only thing there was it was HOT on the feet we would try and find the shady spots to run to,

But most kids these day won't even go outside they don't know what they are missing.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Quote: Originally Posted by taprock sharp dog nail clippers, or rose pruners! I have what DH says are hoof trimmers for goats, but look like rose pruners to me! At any rate yes, they'll bleed if you go too far. Personally I like the quick snip better than the idea of waving a buzzing tool anywhere near the birds; mine spook at unfamiliar noises. I have also used a hacksaw on long spurs. (Pet rooster, very patient but not typical i'm sure) Spurs are joined at the bone, so it is EXTREMELY painful to twist them off. And they'll still grow back. But saw would be almost impossible here. Get the tool for the dremmel? Get some tree branch trimmers? Something with a curved blade for sure. For the spur i'd go to where the end starts to taper and get slimmer, draw an imaginary line and go 1/4 an inch towards the narrower part. Or use an old timer's advice i got on spur trimming that i'm not sure i believe, but if you do it please tell so we know if it's true!
He said to trim a bit longer than where you wanted it to be, then when it started bleeding to trim a bit more and it'd stop bleeding?????? He said that's how he'd done it for years. Me, i played it safe.

I second the use of a pant leg (stretchy will probably get you further) and going a bit at a time, a week between trims should be sufficient. Claws i'd play safe, trim the clearish looking parts and let them scratch them shorter before deciding. ( probably where the taper is here too)
If your rooster is patient, a metal tool file is a good thing to soften the edges of the spur after you trim. Or your handy dremmel. ?

 

[iamfivewire]

Just jumpin in to say Hi to some other "mittens" - My D.W. & I are new to the site & new to raising chickens. Hope that we can make it to the chickenstock & meet, share chicken stories, etc . . . . sounds like it'll be a fun time.. . . .

 

[Keltara]

Hi Everyone. Just wanted to introduce myself to the Michigan thread. I'm Kelly and a Michigander myself. I didn't realize this was here for Michigan. I have 6 Buff Orpington Hens, 2 of the most adorable little girls, and a couple outdoor cats. I live on SE MI, in a very small town. I have a passion for photography and love to share life on our piece of God beautiful world through my blog, Our Country Chronicles.

Our chickens have all kinds of adventures with my kids from sledding: Click on any of the photos to see more picture of that event!​

To Swimming:




To Laying magical eggs!!
​

We love our precious Henny Penny's very much and look forward to connecting to other Chicken Keepers in MI! Please feel free to visit my blog and make yourself at home. All are welcome!

 

[iamfivewire]

wow - cool ! i never knew chickens went in the pool. i hope ours do cool things like that when they get older. so far, a couple of our chicks seem curious, but still very skiddish .

 

[Keltara]

wow - cool ! i never knew chickens went in the pool. i hope ours do cool things like that when they get older. so far, a couple of our chicks seem curious, but still very skiddish .

The more you handle them, the friendlier they'll be! Hold them and talk to them often while they are babies and on up.