Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Opa]

Putting down any bird or animal is never easy. Even an old rooster like myself, you has taken over 200 deer, shot countless duck, peasants, turkeys, and dove, finds the task objectionable. However, so times it is the only option. Probably the least messy and humane method would be a cervical dislocation.

Assuming you don't have great hand strength I would recommend using the "cheat" method. Hold the bird upsided down by the feet and in a few moments it will lose consciousness. While still holding the feet place bird on ground with a board across its neck.Stand on both ends. Pull upward until you feel neck separate.

 

[taprock]

Not much time to really chat so here are the highlights.

My crippled toed pheasant seems to be holding his own.
My one chick is a frizzled buff showgirl! Adorable.
I think I found a home for two roosters.
Our pup is doing good, even getting friendly with the chickens. The four little Cochins are the only ones being friendly with him.
I have 8 broody hens. I have 5 penned up now in cages but I hope they get over it soon. I've had broken eggs all over the place.
Still trying to get the garden in and fighting bugs.
Busy, busy.

 

[gaitngirl]

I'm not squeamish but I really hate doing this. The guy who cuts my hay came out and cut my field today even though they predicted rain. It was already a steady drizzle before he finished the field (he came while I was at work) and now it's thundering and lightning. Between that and my poor little blue marans pullet, I'm afraid to wonder if this week can get any worse . . .

 

[yorkchick]

I'm just not having a good week.  I got my grain barrels secured and then forgot to close up my brooder tractor last night.  I lost all the eggs and I'm not sure how many hens.  The thing about coons is that they keep you on your toes, with immediate feedback.  I had a white silkie rooster that was being picked on so I put him in the pen with my chukar 1" x 2" wire.  Its a large pen and I have never had a problem with it, the silkie evidently slept too close to the wire and a coon pulled it 1/2 way through and ate it.  So, no more chickens in there at night.  I haven't had loses like this in a couple of years, I must be getting sloppy.  And I was thinking about putting 1" x 2" wire on my new hoop run,not going to happen now, I'll stick with the 1/2" hardware cloth.
  Welcome Kat and the other newbies , aren't chickens great!

 

Grrrr, you know I feel your pain! I'm sorry for your losses. "Immediate feedback"--yes, that is too true. And if you don't learn they are only too happy to repeat the lesson. I myself am wearing the dunce cap currently.

 

[RaZ]

Grrrr, you know I feel your pain! I'm sorry for your losses. "Immediate feedback"--yes, that is too true. And if you don't learn they are only too happy to repeat the lesson. I myself am wearing the dunce cap currently.

And by sharing, you have helped another avoid that same dunce cap.

 

[Opa]

Today I received an email asking my opinion on broody hens that quit after only a few days of sitting on eggs. Were they worth keeping or should he exercise Harlan's method of chicken management? I replied that they weren't worth keeping. That I had a beautiful blue laced red wyandotte that yesterday had quit her nest after almost 3 wks and since this had happened before she would be heading for freezer camp.

Imagine my surprise when today, while in the rainbow flock's run, Hope calls out "hey there's a chick in here". I had given the hen only one egg to sit on and she at successfully hatched it. We had to hurriedly construct an enclosure for the once doomed hen and her new charge.

The downside to the hatch is that it is a cockerel and with the 3 others I have from last weeks incubator hatch it is just not needed. However, I don't want to discourage the hen's motherly instincts so I will allow her to raise it and decide the cockerels fate at a later date.

Anyone wanting a free Welsummer cockerel should contact me prior to Chickenstock.

 

[gaitngirl]

Opa,
I'm just adding a few hatchery Welsummer pullets ~ I wish I had room for your young Wellie. I ended up with a couple Marans cockerels as well, and have to decide if I'm keeping 1 or 2 of them. However many I keep, I hope they take their lessons from my current roo who is polite enough these days to not start crowing until around 6 a.m., lol. I had a barred rock roo last year that crowed day and night. Nonstop. He was rehomed!

 

[Opa]

Last night's rain sure made me appreciate having a roof over my head. It is a rare thing for the sound of a storm to wake me, yet lhe sound of the rain beating on the roof certainly did. I'm also glad that my property is high enough that I don't have any standing water. I'm sure that many folks sump pumps are working overtime. The news just showed many areas that are experiencing flooding. Fortunately Michigan only received lots of rain and not the high winds that hit other states. I'm hoping we are done with the rain for a little while. At least until I can get the lawn mowed. I know that I will have sweep but when it gets to baling length even sweeping is a hassle.

 

[preciouskitty]

Good morning..
Well, this rain is certainly something..my green bean seeds have literally bursted thru the ground & grown over 2" in less than 48 hours. Of course, so has my grass AND weeds.. Speaking of weeds. I have this evil prickly weed that showed up about 2 years ago and will grow over 4 FEET if you let it. Truly invasive...my question (wish I had taken a pic yesterday, & it was too dark this morn as I left for work); anyone have a good NON-CHEMICAL idea of how to get rid of it? I have noted this year when clearing an area for aspargus & red potatoes that the root system seems vining vs. tap-root....any help greatly appreciated. Now that I have the "kids" no chemicals whatsoever in the yard, so I need to creative with this weed Thanks!

 

[preciouskitty]

Quote:
So true..because of such shared sad stories I have read over the months I was "lurking" (both here & under the "Predators...." thread), I literally wouldn't let my babies out of their coop into their pen while at work until we dug a 12" deep by 12" wide trench & laid hardware cloth..I know that the odds of something digging during the day are slim..but...I am kind of attached to the ladies & gents now!