Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[HollyDuckFarmer]

@lbrykowski2011

Can't hurt to check. I really don't know, this is my first time to the fair with this! And I've got no furnace, no firewood, no running water. Til 11 anyway! Got bean soup on the stove and all shall be fine. Good day y'all.

 

[taprock]

In all my busyness and reading everyone's posts, I forgot to post what the response was back from the vet about my sick or faking sick hen:
The video was great. I loved your Boxer. It appears that she has mucus in her trachea (wind pipe). That is the reason she rattles or wheezes when she breaths. That is also the reason for the cough (clearing her throat). She coughs it up and swallows it. Some chickens do this in response to weather changes. It typically goes away in 5 to 7 days. There is no need for treatment. The most critical part is that she continues to eat, drink and is active.
So now I know it was really the weather causing her noise and I feel much better about it. However, she doesn't get to spend the winter in the basement because of it. As soon as it hits 30 degrees she's getting booted!

Raz -

I think I'll go make some oatmeal for the flock. I was given several pounds of over a year old oatmeal. I'm not sure how much to fix for 70+ birds!

 

[snowflake]

DH was out this AM when he came in he said the thermostat on his truck said -17 gave the chickens some garlic laced oatmeal, was afraid when I put it on the ground it would freeze before they could eat it.

water was still liquid just a little ice around the edges

stay warm

 

[chickflick]

My dogs went out this morning and were lifting their little paws. Milo came running back in. Otis, who loves to be out no matter the weather, was lifting his paws also. Then he came limping back in. I think they were out less than two minutes!! My neighbor has an outdoor cat becuz he sprays in the house. She got some fencing and put in basement with a litter box, food and water. That's where he's staying. Netting over the top. If it gets nicer out, I'll let him out, but last few days, I kept him inside. It's just wicked out there. No animal should be outside!!

My hands just about froze when I went out to check out the chickens. Have to go to Lansing to babysit. Irish Rd is closed cuz of tanker that fell off expressway, so I'll have to take time and go on a roundabout way.

Keep warm, folks. It's wickedly cold out. Nothing is worth getting frostbite. Stay in.

 

[MIchickens]

Shewww.....with this cold I'm glad I canceled my order of chicks for the fist week in February and decided to wait until April. If this weather keeps up, I don't think the chicks would survive the trip!

I have decided to buy locally from Crazy Chicken Ranch (out of Capac, MI) in April. She was a very nice person and I would rather buy locally from an independent business owner than the big chick distributor's. She has a website if some of you folks are around that area. I called her and she said she would start selling chicks in April.

 

[minniefarm]

I'm BAAAACK! I've been AOL for quite some time. New job and busy busy busy. Our girls are doing well. We've had some minor bouts of frostbite and I am very concerned about the super cold. The sun is very bright so I opened the coop as I have on other super sunny days. We have big double doors that swing open. The chickens like to lay and bask in the sun. This morning before we opened the doors, they actually had some frost on their backs! That has me sorta freaked out. I fed some oatmeal and we are considering adding some heat. With the frost on their backs, does that mean we need more ventilation?

 

[boris159]

I also read a lot, but forget to post, and appreciate the chatter and banter on this thread. Out of the various boards I watch (and rarely post on) this is the kindest I've found.
-16 here, 2 frozen pipes and 1 drain (Old Old farmhouse on a hill). All OK now.
All 23 hens fine (DW says NO to rosters), no black-tinged combs or wattles, no ice in water pan tho indicator light on homemade heater hasn't been off for 2 days (37 Watt heating element from hair curler).
1st winter feeding of wheat sprouts tomorrow, started a pan of wheatgrass this AM--about a week till mature enough to feed
SUNSHINE!! Everything is better in sunshine.

 

[Amy PT]

I think I've read that any frost in the coop is a sign of more ventilation needed.
Our 15 watt light bulb in the cookie tin heater isn't keeping the water from icing over this week. Too cold!

 

[aart]

Frost anywhere inside coop is sign of humidity.....frost on chickens feathers let's you know just how insulated *they* are tho...lol.

 

[jlynnet]

I've got the chickens locked up. Yesterday I had the outside doors open, but they never went out. This weekend heat wave will be greatly welcomed, except for the big snowfall that's predicted. My kids are are home from school and I suspect they'll get a couple more on Monday and Tuesday.
I've got Tolbunt Polish 4 week olds if anyone is interested.