Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/02/michigan_farm_bureau_one_of_fe.html

 

[ladyrsanti]

Thank you to Our Roost & Ladyrsanti...

Our Roost... I think you & naglady are both instigators. LOL. I'm trying to hold off on incubating cuz once I start up I have trouble stopping & hubby rolls his eyes at me & I have brooder boxes full of chickie doodles at various ages throughout my house. But I don't "need" more, he'll say. HE HE

I should clarify. After re-reading my last post I see it sounded like the mink took out our whole flock, it didn't. The mink killed all 3 of our ducks (so yes those are all gone), and 5 of our hens, but it wasn't our whole flock of chickens. The little bugger just managed to take a few of our favorites in it's night of gluttony. We still have (I think) about 10 hens & 2 freeloading silkies (are they EVER going to start laying? Sheesh! LOL). The ladies are laying very well lately 6-10 eggs a day. I am happy to say that the mink did NOT get my EE/Brahma cross hen that I hatched out last summer. I'm still getting my beautiful green eggs from her. Phew. But still upsetting just the same.

If I get marans hatching eggs, (first I'll have to bat my eyes at DH while he's rolling his), but I'd need them sooner rather than later. Otherwise I'll be on the lookout for just a pullet this spring. I don't care about "show quality" in my hens. My goal is egg color. My customers like the multiple colors & so do I. So a marans with the darker the better egg color is what I'll be going for.

I've got 2 wheaten marans hens and a roo that are giving what appear to be fertile eggs (though I have never tried hatching them so I can't swear to it). They are not as dark as the FBCM eggs but much darker than typical brown eggs and mine are spotted - very pretty. Still, if anyone ever wants to try to hatch a few, let me know. I'm getting a half dozen of them a week-ish at the moment. The hens aren't show quality so I wouldn't charge an arm and a leg for them (as I paid

).

 

[NovaAman]

Can we go back to the "Die winter! DIE!" now?

I am so done with this. I can't wait till I can complain about how dangnabbit hot it is.

I love those gloves. I just did scarves fro the boys. Working on a multitonal purple for me this evening. I am using a thick plastic hook and thick and quick yarn. Hey.. I get discounts at work. I think it's lion brand and it is so very very soft and warm. By munchkins love theirs scarves.

My birds are enjoying the sunshine and the paths. I am sure they'd love it more if some of that foriegn green matter were to return.

 

[aart]

Got another 5-6 inches by noon today...got everything dug out and the driveway cleared with the tractor thrower, but have to wait until the county plows the shoulder before calling my plow guy to clear the wash at the top of the drive. Piles are too high for me to use the thrower anymore to clear the plow wash....so frustrating, first time in 15 years I've had to pay someone to get me untrapped.

Chooks are happy tho, I shoveled out part of the run and they are scratching in the snow pack and dust bathing under the coop.

 

[eatwhatyougrow]

Ive actually been trying to get in touch with some 4H folks locally here in Genesee county....with little luck.  If you daughter wants to show one at the fair with 4H, Ive got some Marans I'll be hatching....she can have a few.

your tsc in BR will have chick days in a week or two. They will have alot of your baseline birds they get them from townline and mt healthy. The should have some welsummers this year as well. I have like my barred rocks from there very gentle good birds. The reds are good as well.

 

[1muttsfan]

For a child starting in 4H, I would suggest a breed that has easier to handle, more docile chickens. Cochins make excellent show birds for beginners. The friendliest, most handlable chickens I have had were speckled Sussex and Basques.

 

[1muttsfan]

I just got an order of Pecans in from Hickabilly Housewife, she has them listed in the BST section. The pecans I got this year from the store were awful - shriveled and bitter (as well as expensive). These ones are heavenly, plump and sweet. We got 7# to split with some friends (she can get 7# into a prepaid box) and I am ordering 7# more to put in the freezer.

 

[NightOwl3]

I'm new to back yard chickens and live up by big rapids and was wondering what is a good chick to start with for eggs and meat and then I would love to get my daughter a bird to bring to the 4-h. Ever since I started talking about chickens she wants one for her self any ideas

Have you tried contacting your local 4-H chapter or the fair office? I'm not sure if this is the same for all counties, but ours - the meat chickens must all be the same breed (cornish cross) and maybe even all from the same breeder (but I am not clear on that part yet, we are first year too) For the showmanship portion, you can bring whatever breed you want.

I don't care about "show quality" in my hens. My goal is egg color. My customers like the multiple colors & so do I. So a marans with the darker the better egg color is what I'll be going for.

How discouraging that you lost your favorites ;( I love the look of the Marans eggs too, but not planning to attempt them in our first year. Better to try those once we have a little more experience. I am like you, would love to have a colorful egg variety too.

 

[taprock]

Posey is doing better, she can stand normally for a short time, walk with a limp and is getting to be a bit of an explorer.

 

[mattsinger]

any idea why my orp has her outer toes bending backward? is this normal?