Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[gladahmae]

Well we just walked through the field, checking under all the shrubs and trees for a little white chicken, and then walked through the edge of the woods looking for feathers. The fence is completely undisturbed, no holes, and all of the other chicks/chickens in that run are fine. Why, when we lose chickens to predators does it ALWAYS have to be my kids' chickens???

We did find the body of one of the silkie chicks a few yards from the run, dead of course. I'm thinking that she was protecting her chicks and getting them under her wings and the picked up. Chicks are only 5 days old, so really tiny and are hard to see on the ground in tall grass/cover. We will be putting the netting up over the run when DH and our oldest get done hauling firewood, and he's already talking about cooping everyone up when we're going to be gone for the day as we were yesterday (left at 630am, came home at 830 to change into pants and get sweatshirts and go to the fireworks) and the dogs aren't out.

DH said to start looking for replacements within about a 2 hour drive, so I'm off to check craigslist. If anyone has any while silkie hens or marans chicks within a 2 hour drive of the Traverse City area, shoot me a pm.

 

[ladyrsanti]

It's madness I tell you! Hope everyone sorts out everything.

Over here, I have Miss Souffle to deal with (the same Souffle of BYC calendar "fame"). Adding chickens to my flock this spring has stressed her to the breaking point. Everyone else is fine with the additions but she is just raising bloody heck in the coop. She's great to me and the kids, a real sweet hen, a little bossy when it comes to talking (she'll talk right over you). But still, good to humans and fellow chickens, not good to new chickens. I tried kicking her out every day and letting her back in at night for several days and that didn't work. Then I tried isolating her completely from the flock for several days and that didn't work either. Maybe I did it wrong? Anyone have any advice? I put her in a crate in the milk house where she had no contact with the others. She seemed content, would talk to me when I went through or came to check on her, laid an egg every day. But when I let her out finally, she went right back to terrorizing the new additions - didn't skip a beat except for a peck or two from her sisters for being gone. So now I'm back to kicking her out every day but that won't work while I'm gone for a week on vacation. I fear for the farm sitter having to deal with her "issues". I'm at wit's end with this one. She spends all day chasing the young ones and pulling out their feathers. It's stressing everyone. All I can think of is to re-home her or put her in a stew.

So.... anyone want a year old barred rock hen? She's a good layer

 

[preciouskitty]

It's madness I tell you!  Hope everyone sorts out everything. 

Over here, I have Miss Souffle to deal with (the same Souffle of BYC calendar "fame").  Adding chickens to my flock this spring has stressed her to the breaking point.  Everyone else is fine with the additions but she is just raising bloody heck in the coop.  She's great to me and the kids, a real sweet hen, a little bossy when it comes to talking (she'll talk right over you).  But still, good to humans and fellow chickens, not good to new chickens.   I tried kicking her out every day and letting her back in at night for several days and that didn't work.  Then I tried isolating her completely from the flock for several days and that didn't work either.   Maybe I did it wrong?   Anyone have any advice?  I put her in a crate in the milk house where she had no contact with the others.  She seemed content, would talk to me when I went through or came to check on her, laid an egg every day.  But when I let her out finally, she went right back to terrorizing the new additions - didn't skip a beat except for a peck or two from her sisters for being gone.  So now I'm back to kicking her out every day but that won't work while I'm gone for a week on vacation.  I fear for the farm sitter having to deal with her "issues".   I'm at wit's end with this one.  She spends all day chasing the young ones and pulling out their feathers.  It's stressing everyone.  All I can think of is to re-home her or put her in a stew.

So.... anyone want a year old barred rock hen?  She's a good layer

Ah. Chicken math.

I'd consider taking her; except at the moment I have 2 FBCMs that still have a week to go in quarantine. Then I would have to have Miss Soufflé in quarantine for 3 weeks....

Guess that wouldn't be a major issue other than I prob couldn't take her foe a week & a half or so since I don't have the ability to have 2 quarantines going at once

PM me if ya really want / need to re- home....:/

 

[ladyrsanti]

I may be in touch.

 

[Lisa and girls]

It's madness I tell you!  Hope everyone sorts out everything. 

Over here, I have Miss Souffle to deal with (the same Souffle of BYC calendar "fame").  Adding chickens to my flock this spring has stressed her to the breaking point.  Everyone else is fine with the additions but she is just raising bloody heck in the coop.  She's great to me and the kids, a real sweet hen, a little bossy when it comes to talking (she'll talk right over you).  But still, good to humans and fellow chickens, not good to new chickens.   I tried kicking her out every day and letting her back in at night for several days and that didn't work.  Then I tried isolating her completely from the flock for several days and that didn't work either.   Maybe I did it wrong?   Anyone have any advice?  I put her in a crate in the milk house where she had no contact with the others.  She seemed content, would talk to me when I went through or came to check on her, laid an egg every day.  But when I let her out finally, she went right back to terrorizing the new additions - didn't skip a beat except for a peck or two from her sisters for being gone.  So now I'm back to kicking her out every day but that won't work while I'm gone for a week on vacation.  I fear for the farm sitter having to deal with her "issues".   I'm at wit's end with this one.  She spends all day chasing the young ones and pulling out their feathers.  It's stressing everyone.  All I can think of is to re-home her or put her in a stew.

So.... anyone want a year old barred rock hen?  She's a good layer

I had that same problem with one of my Isa browns. It's like she went mad or something. She just spent all day attacking everyone. Tried all the same things you did. She met her ultimate demise but for the best for the flock it had to happen. Everyone is pretty peaceful now for the most part. My other isa is just grumpy all the time but not like this one was.

 

[chickflick]

Only you, Sam, only you! You are a sweet-heart! lol

Busy getting ready... thanks for the link, Sam

 

[GrandRapidsGirl]

Waiting for a call from the post office. Fertile sizzle eggs arriving today. One more hen went broody yesterday. So, that's three broody butts to put 12 eggs under. Wish me luck!

 

[GrandRapidsGirl]

Is anyone interested in this Silver Spangled Hamburg hen? She just started laying and is a great forager. She just isn't quite the lover that my silkies and sizzles are (of course.) She is not at all mean just cautious. $15 if you want her.

 

[Lisa and girls]

Busy week. Got all my decks painted. Whew is that a chore but so worth it. Wish I would have taken before and after photos now cause its such a transformation. As much as I paint I am always shocked how much a little paint does. Now to get the garden under control this weekend. Anyone else's tomato plants go completely nuts this year??? I only buy heirlooms but these guys are almost 3 ft high and producing already! Chickens line up at the garden fence cause they know if I find something delicious and slimy they get it. It's pretty funny to see them all lined up and waiting.

 

[Lisa and girls]

Is anyone interested in this Silver Spangled Hamburg hen? She just started laying and is a great forager. She just isn't quite the lover that my silkies and sizzles are (of course.) She is not at all mean just cautious. $15 if you want her.

She is a beautiful girl...