Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[chickflick]

My rabbits don't eat the rubber bowls. But, the place mats I have in the nesting boxes, that they like.

 

[BobBry]

My rabbits don't eat the rubber bowls. But, the place mats I have in the nesting boxes, that they like.

My rabbits don't eat the rubber bowls. But, the place mats I have in the nesting boxes, that they like.

Rabbits we had when I was a kid ate the wood on their cages.
We put the extra work and $ into the chicken cage /run and ran an underground electric service out to it. Then installed three outside outlets along the thirty feet of length. One eighty foot service , one circuit, one ground fault, # 12 wire, one circuit breaker. Rented a trencher that didn't do the job, but our shovels did. Fun job 2 years ago. well worthe the effort.

This year we are just using a heated bucket for watering the chickens. Works fine. Have blocks around to elevate birds to reach into the water. no problems yet. they (7 hens) drink about 3-5 inches a day. Very little fowling the water. Clean and replenish every other day.

Take care all.

 

[mrcush]

It's suppose to get down to 6 degrees tonight and one of my chickens is still half molt. Sure I be concerned? Should I put the heat lamp on? I have not used it since I've read up on it but that is pretty cold

 

[chickflick]

Depending on how naked she is, but I would be concerned. Hens seem to act skittish when they are molting and hide from the other hens, so she might not cozy up to the others. You have a warmer place to put her? I have a brooder in my heated garage that is perfect for such things! Breaking a broody hen right now in there.

 

[chickflick]

Bob, my rabbits don't eat on the cage too much. They are allowed to run around with the chickens in the run. I have branches that they can chew on. I have electricty in my chicken coop, so I have a heated dog dish in the run so the rabbits have unfrozen water at all times. The rabbits also can and do hang out in the chicken coop at times. Their hutch is in the chicken run.

 

[chickwhispers]

I know today first hand how it feels to lose so many at once unnecessarily. My 14 hens free range on our 2 1/2 acres with pond, and lots of trees and bushes to hide in. This afternoon two stray/neighbors dogs came on our property. We have never had any before. One was a German Shepard dragging his chain and the other a beagle. I was inside and happened to see them, but not soon enough. Since the weather has turned so cold the girls have been staying mostly in the coop. Their automatic door still opening to give them the opportunity to get out if they chose. At about 3 pm I went to let the cats out from the back porch for a little exercise and fresh air and saw the tracks in the snow, (which weren't there less than an hour before) then the dogs running in the drive. I chased them off then saw feathers, and more feathers then 2 hens on the ground. By the time I got to the coop there were 2 more, all were laying all within 15 feet of the coop/run. 1 more laying in the coop. Feathers all over the coop. Most of their feed spilled out and one waterer knocked over. The killed ones were all still warm. I think one passed as I picked her up. I spent the next 2 and half hours trying to find the rest. Of the ones that are left, all are injured, one was hiding and came back just at dark, and one is still missing. 2 probably won't make it more than a day or two, and the rest God help them. The girls used to follow me everywhere when I was outside. After this they won't let me get too close. But I have to to take care of their wounds. Then they get stressed more. I put a heat lamp in the coop tonight and left their morning light on for extra heat. I hope it's enough. I don't know how they will handle all their wounds and the extreme cold expected tonight. Aside from tending their wounds, trying to give them extra heat, feeding them higher protein feed when they will eat, etc. and keeping them inside the coop, I don't know what else I can do to help them survive. I have had a hen survive my "MIL" (DSO's mom"s) dog who thought she was retrieving, but that was in the summer. It's so cold, down to 6 tonight. I don't expect to see the missing one again either. All my fault, their run isn't completed, and I just thought I would be able to finish sooner, but I couldn't. (I didn't think that that size of dogs could fit in the automatic door, but DSO says yes.)
(I don't mean to carry on but I am just heartbroken and sick about it. Thanks.

 

[Farmerboy16]

Found this on Facebook- http://healthimpactnews.com/2013/n-y-times-admits-raw-milk-is-cure-for-allergies/

 

[Farmerboy16]

I am so sorry Chickenwhisper.

Do keep an eye on her. If she miscarried the first calf, they shouldn't have bred her back right away since she was too young for the first baby, and not fully mature herself. She should have been allowed to recover and mature a bit before being bred back. It's hard to tell from the pic, but she looks small, although she's very nice looking. I know you care greatly about your animals - I really hope she does well and has an easy time with the new calf!

I just got more info about her from the lady that I got her from; She was born March 9 2012, gave birth to a bull calf at May 8 2013, given the timetable, she should be about 7 months pregnant, so about 2 more months to go before the due date. that is fine with me, as she need a break from making milk. She was nursing a foster calf when I brought her.
Side picture of Pearl-

 

[SillyChicken]

I know today first hand how it feels to lose so many at once unnecessarily. My 14 hens free range on our 2 1/2 acres with pond, and lots of trees and bushes to hide in. This afternoon two stray/neighbors dogs came on our property. We have never had any before. One was a German Shepard dragging his chain and the other a beagle. I was inside and happened to see them, but not soon enough. Since the weather has turned so cold the girls have been staying mostly in the coop. Their automatic door still opening to give them the opportunity to get out if they chose. At about 3 pm I went to let the cats out from the back porch for a little exercise and fresh air and saw the tracks in the snow, (which weren't there less than an hour before) then the dogs running in the drive. I chased them off then saw feathers, and more feathers then 2 hens on the ground. By the time I got to the coop there were 2 more, all were laying all within 15 feet of the coop/run. 1 more laying in the coop. Feathers all over the coop. Most of their feed spilled out and one waterer knocked over. The killed ones were all still warm. I think one passed as I picked her up. I spent the next 2 and half hours trying to find the rest. Of the ones that are left, all are injured, one was hiding and came back just at dark, and one is still missing. 2 probably won't make it more than a day or two, and the rest God help them. The girls used to follow me everywhere when I was outside. After this they won't let me get too close. But I have to to take care of their wounds. Then they get stressed more. I put a heat lamp in the coop tonight and left their morning light on for extra heat. I hope it's enough. I don't know how they will handle all their wounds and the extreme cold expected tonight. Aside from tending their wounds, trying to give them extra heat, feeding them higher protein feed when they will eat, etc. and keeping them inside the coop, I don't know what else I can do to help them survive. I have had a hen survive my "MIL" (DSO's mom"s) dog who thought she was retrieving, but that was in the summer. It's so cold, down to 6 tonight. I don't expect to see the missing one again either. All my fault, their run isn't completed, and I just thought I would be able to finish sooner, but I couldn't. (I didn't think that that size of dogs could fit in the automatic door, but DSO says yes.)
(I don't mean to carry on but I am just heartbroken and sick about it. Thanks.

OH dear.. so sorry about your birds, I hope they pull through.

 

[1muttsfan]

So sorry, chickwhispers. It happens so quickly.