Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[iamfivewire]

So Sorry Mary

 

[Opa]

Yesterday was pretty nice, today not so much. A 40 degree swing just makes winter even more unbearable.

 

[RaZ]

I did not know that EE chicks looked like chipmunks. I thought the "chipmunks" were Welsummers. As in these Wellies below...

^Far right looks like a male. No vee on his head or the eye liner mark.


^Girls in the back and to the left.


^Male on the right. ???

^Male in front, female in back. (Or so I've been led to believe)

 

[Peep-Chicken]

I did not know that EE chicks looked like chipmunks. I thought the "chipmunks" were Welsummers. As in these Wellies below... ^Far right looks like a male. No vee on his head or the eye liner mark. ^Girls in the back and to the left. ^Male on the right. ??? ^Male in front, female in back. (Or so I've been led to believe)

. I want chicks NOW.

 

[SillyChicken]

Hi everyone! I just wanted to introduce myself and see if I can get some advice on raising chickens. My Mom and I would like to raise a few to have our own eggs. We don't want a rooster as I have read that they are mean. I know that they help protect the flock, but I think with proper planning and safety measures we can do without. We're working on a portable enclosure/run that we can move around the yard(we have 5 acres and used to have horses)for daytime foraging. We haven't worked out the coop yet. Would like suggestions about size, orientation( for light, wind, sun, etc) what features you like in a coop. Planning on getting 8 chicks mid-April, Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, Wyandottes. Any suggestions for others? I would like to handle them a lot when they're young so that they are friendly. Tips about bedding, sand, scratch etc are also welcome. As far as feed goes, I'm glad to hear that Armada Grain has a favorable reputation among some of you as they are my local feed store. Looking forward to your replies.

Wendy

Hi ZndZant ... in defense of roosters, they're not all mean. Some just take their job of protecting their girls to a higher level. I have several roos that are the sweetest things. Allow me to pick them up, hold them etc. Never made a "bad move" toward us. Yes we've had a few youngsters that were assertive, they went to freezer camp. But, not having roos is certainly your choice.

Here's MY two cents about coops. Portable are great for summer time - winter, not so much especially if we have another winter like this one. You can't move them in the snow, the birds don't want to be out in the snow, and having a large enough coop you could take electrical to for lighting and water heaters etc. and room for them to move about.. is a huge plus. With the snow we've had, you would need a sturdy coop for snow load and room for 8 birds... about 4 sq ft per bird = 32 sq ft building ie a 4 x 8 foot at minimum. South facing, out of the wind, good ventilation. Make sure you build bigger than you think you want in case you end up with more birds... and so it's easier to clean out and stand up inside of. A 4 x 8 is barely big enough to move a shovel about easily.

I've tried sand in a brooder easy to clean, poops dry fast, but very dusty to sift through to clean. I've not tried sand in my coops (yet). I prefer wood shavings once the chicks learn what is food. easier to clean when frozen unlike straw that weaves it's self together and freezes solid. I have no comment on the amada grain as I've not tried it. I prefer pellets once they're old enough to eat adult food. Don't mix scratch or corn in the feed as they'll dump out the feed for the scratch/ corn and you'll waste a ton of food. Give that stuff as a treat separate from their food. another way to make birds friendly, hand feed mealy worms..... mine go nuts for them.... and if chickens have short memories you could have fooled me. I have hens still coming up looking for mealies and it's been a few months since I've given them any. (*note to self- pick up some mealies)

 

[snowflake]

Welcome Zant, this is a good place to be, lots of good advice the Chicken Stock is a fun picnic, lots of food and chicks and crafts for sale,
sounds like you could make a good home for your chicks, and remember all roosters are not mean, I have a Spanish Baszue,Chanticlair,Amaricauna and 2small Amaracaunas all fery friendly and handled by my 7yr old grand daughters. have had EE's also very nice, if a rooster gets mean he goes to freezer camp, to many good ones out there to mess with the mean ones

were abouts are you? may be some one close buy with chicks to sell
do check out the coop thread, lots of good ideas there

sorry for those of you that got so much snow, glad however that we didn't

 

[jlynnet]

Wow, those Jubilee Orpingtons are beautiful!!!  Where are  you located?

Just south of you. Out by cooks dairy farm.

 

[iamfivewire]

Our birds like the mealworms, but they love sunflower seeds . . . but their favourite is plain yogurt

 

[snowflake]

Yesterday was pretty nice, today not so much. A 40 degree swing just makes winter even more unbearable.

 

[aart]

Welcome Zant!

Wind didn't start here until after snow stopped\stayed above freezing until about 2.

The blue sky busting out sure lifted my spirits!

Fashioned a pseudo brooder 'plate' with a heating pad....working great so far.