Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RIRJen]

Theron, your link to the BST page for chickenstock isn't working...anyoen give me a hand with a working link? Thanks!

 

[SillyChicken]

Our cross beak's condition is getting worse. Poor Daisy's got one nostril that is misaligned and I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out if this chick is getting adequate oxygen. Silly me, I should have just observed the way it hops and jumps and keeps up with Annabelle.

I'm starting to get worried, though, that Daisy might be a fellow. We can't keep roosters, and I'm certain it's difficult to find a good home for a cross beak rooster. Send pullet vibes this way, please.

Amy, my experience with crossed beak a bird is that they don't often get enough food into their bodies to live long. I had one that kept crossing as she grew... I even trimmed it to try to help, no luck.. She eventually died over winter because she just couldn't scoop up enough food/water. Slow starvation is crewl and if I ever got another crossed beak bird, I would cull it right away. Some people have had them survive longer than mine. But, esp with it being a roo, you don't want a bird like that breeding and passing along bad genes.

 

[SillyChicken]

The Sumatra hen's eggs are hatching!! One thing I enjoy most having chickens, is watching a hen with her chicks! Can't wait for her to get up off the nest and start shuttling her chicks around the yard. I also slipped the other 2 ordered chicks under her so the hatching was great timing! They'll be accepted into the flock without question now!
Yesterday, my Sumatra roo and tom turkey were going at it again. This time the turkey nailed him and got him flat on his back. Turkey then stood over him and tried stabbing his head, the roo would move his head from one side, then to the other trying to avoid it. I jumped out the back door and scooped up the roo, brought him in and checked him over. I think I need to get them both someone to pick on that's their own size! Silly Boys and spring time! I'm hoping one of the chocolate turkey chicks is a Tom to keep the other one busy.
Hope everyone thaws out after this cold weekend! We didn't get as much done as we needed too.. but its just to easy to get used to the warm weather, but forever to get used to the cold. We opted to stay in, plus, mothers day had us traveling a bit.

 

[taprock]

It wasn't the greatest weekend and not looking to be a fun week ahead. Sick hen, have to put our dog down and DH has surgery. So feeling a bit low I did what all good chicken addicts do.... put eggs in the incubator and ordered chicks.

My only excuse is not only will chicks make missing the dog easier for me but also for my son.

Now that the dreaded s word is gone I hope to plant some garden today.

 

[minniefarm]

Brrr It's too darn cold for May! I looked out this morning and my apple trees which were beautiful just a day ago are badly wilted now. I hope the sun warms them up and we don't get the frost damage that I fear. Meanwile the chickens are happy and laying. This morning they decided that staying in the coop for a while longer was a good idea. Yesterday I had them out in a garden that I will clearing soon. They did their best to help me with that project.

My office is so cold that I have a space heater running. I don't like this one bit.

 

[gladahmae]

So sorry to hear about your doggy tap.

Lots of frost here this morning. My apple tree and crab apple weren't blossomed out yet, so I'm hoping I still have a shot at some this year.....and maybe some fruit from the crap apple (no, that's not a typo

). I put tarps over my peonys and hydrangeas last night, so hopefully they didn't get damaged. My tulips and daffodils, which I considered cutting and bringing indoors, are also not looking so good. I should have just made myself a few big boquets and enjoyed them for another week or so. Now I'll just end up cutting them all off and throwing them away minus the getting to enjoy them part.

Calling the hatchery about my dead and missing chicks this morning. Hoping for replacements for the layers instead of just a refund....

 

[SillyChicken]

RIR - chicken stock link

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/737133/michigan-chickenstock-2013-buy-sell-trade

Tap, sorry you had such a rough weekend.

 

[ZooKey]

Hello Michiganders…
I’m new to keeping hens but I’m loving it already. I live in Casco Michigan and due to our crazy weather patterns I may try to call on some of you locals here for help until I get my feet wet. My Buff Orph’s are about 6 weeks old and I have my first question. First off I know I’m getting a late start but I had to play politics with the other 2/3’s of my family for approval on the entire project. Anyway my chicks have pretty much gotten their wing feathers plus a few back and tail feathers are coming in right now. My question is this, when can I start taking them outside for short periods of time? What kind of temperature am I looking for and how long can I take them out? I'm not finished with their run yet but I’ve made a small 6’x6’ pen for them that I can easily set up in shade or sun.

 

[NovaAman]

Tap...

 

[1muttsfan]

Taprock, so sorry to hear about your dog, it is always hard to say goodbye - please pass on my condolences to your family. And hope your husband's surgery went well!

Zookey, welcome to BYC and the Michigan thread. Your chicks can go outside for short periods now if it is warm out, you can usually tell if they feel too cold - they will complain and peep and huddle together. They will need to be kept in a warm area the rest of the time until they are fully feathered out, around 6 weeks of age, at which point they can go outside into the coop for good.