Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[chickwhispers]

There is so much going on the thread right now. I just want to say I hope everyone's birds make it through this nasty spell that's about to come through our area this week!

 

[Peep-Chicken]

I'm not reading about 400 posts. So I'm not in on the recent news.

The most recent chickens we got, the little seclusion pen they where in broke! A corner of the run has a hole somehow. Probably weather did something to it. It's a bit rusted too, I'm not even going to worry about till spring. (Happened the other day)

Everyone's getting along good. Although 3 are being rebels! 2 polish and the Sumatra, are always perched on top of the coop when it's dark. I put them back in the coop with no issue. Oh we'll, their easy to grab.

At least Bonnie has a friend now. The other Polish, goes in the coop and likes to sleep next to Bonnie.

Bonnie has a pin feather on her back! Happy dance! But one thing I'm not dancing for, is the saddle we ordered her still hasn't come! Arg!

 

[lbrykowski2011]

Wow, already have about 4 inches of snow and they said it's not even really started. Going out early to get some snowblowing done, will probably have to do a few rounds today. At least the cold hasn't hit yet. Maybe the animals will come out n play a lil if i do a path for them. They seem to venture a lil farther for some corn.

Everybody have fun in the snow for now, not looking forward to the coming days.

 

[Opa]

As I gaze into my crystal ball I see that we are in for a a little bit of snow and looking outside just confirmed it. I think that in an hour or so I will start snowblowing rather than wait for it to end. Hopefully the lesser amount will be easier to handle. I want to have everything as clear as possible before the bitterly cold temperatures arrive.

While worrying about how our birds are going to fair during this arctic invasion, remember to take lots of precautions yourself. With temperatures as low as predicted even a few minutes of unprotected skin being exposed can be damaging.

As you fret about freezing remember what is so often said about our weather, "if you don' like it just wait it will change". And from what the weather prognosticators are saying one week from today it will be 41 degrees. As you shovel and plow your mantra should be "April is coming".

Today would have been my father's 93rd birthday and even though he has been gone for almost 7 years, I expect this to be a difficult day for Granny. They were married for 63 years and she often comments about how difficult it is without him. One example of how her mood some times is was the tragic news story of an elderly couple in Detroit dying in a house fire. As we listened to the reporter interview the grieving son who stated he had just been with them a few hours earlier Granny commented that he can take solace that they got to go together.

 

[preciouskitty]

Very pretty out. Very silent & calm out. Hard to believe the winds are going to start howling & it's gonna be miserable. Just came in from moving this first round of snow off pen roof....easily 6"...,

And, while a pretty pic; note my very stuck car .. Been there since midnight...& truck is in the shop (went in last Monday, the day we got the car back...could've bought used car for what I've had to drop on repairs in the last 2 weeks....).

 

[LoveMyChicklets]

I am wondering if anyone may be interested in a Gold Sebright rooster? The Rooster is 9 months old and was purchased from TSC as a chick by my daughter. She started out with great intentions, to breed a trio of Sebrights, but has decided she can't handle the responsibility. I can't blame her, she's only 11 and doesn't like the winter chores. I can't keep the rooster myself since I have too many roos already. The rooster is gorgeous but I was told he wasn't quite SQ because of his comb. She was asking $10 for him but I honestly am just looking for a good home for him. I'm willing to pay her myself just so that we don't have to use the electricity to heat the water and light since his coop since it doesn't yet have the window. We live in Lapeer but I can also meet Monday - Fridays in Waterford since that is where I work. If you are intereested please send me a pm.

Thanks for looking!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Quote:Originally Posted by HollyDuckFarmer Are you doing the sugar+iodine poultice, then? I did it with great results before; i have a bumble girl too but i'm too scared of frostbite. The idea is that the sugar draws out the infection then the iodine gets pulled deeper into the tissue.

Quote:Originally Posted by Trefoil
The instructions I found here: http://www.hopkinslivestock.com/building_a_heated_roost.htm
Thanks!

This is not a good time in history to have chickens that don't live in your own yard I will still have to go driving to get to them; backup plan is to call a family member if i can't make it, but idk if i can trust them...
For my part in preperation I have re-mounded the snow banks around the bottom of the camper coop, going further up this time. It is warmer already , and it will take a lot of wind chill out of the equation. We have been getting snow and the bottom layer was sticking kind so my hope is that it freezes tonight firm and don't get blowed away. Even the rabbit hutch coop got a big bank mounded up around it, especially the area that was only protected by tarps. 3 foot high, 3 foot deep! No electric, i wish i had it there so i could drop a heat loop into the water But i did be able to get a big bag of corn and i have topped off both crumble dishes and dishes of corn so they can eat as much as possible to get their little bodies warm. I have the duramycin in the water too. Between the two days of it their combs are already redder and my diarrhea hen looks like she is doing better. Before she had terrible icicles on her bum fuzz. Grody!

Stay safe everyone, if you don't have them already some leather/ pleather gloves with the fuzzy insides are a good idea; watch your fingers with the water! For you folks that aren't already it is a good idea to take the whole water dish inside during the night and set it in the tub to thaw. That will keep you from having to get your fingers wet out there--- So worried right now about people and animals alike.

 

[RaZ]

Gary the hawk is back for more sparrow snacks. He was here a few days ago. There was about 2 months that I didn't see him.

If I was were closer, I would pull you out PK. Can you throw some scratch or corn under the drive wheels for traction?

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

@fuzzybutt love
No sugar, just iodine and clean clean clean straw. Not an easy job with ducks!

 

[Amerauchick17]

@fuzzybutt love
No sugar, just iodine and clean clean clean straw. Not an easy job with ducks!

Have you ever heard of those duck boot things? Google search Hen Holster and it's on the same website... Edited: Here's the link- http://www.hensaver.com/Birdy-Bootie.html
And a picture-