Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[taprock]

Birdman, we tried pheasants last year. Golden and Melanastic ?? We had a horrible time they were so wild and we couldn't tame them. We also had a stray Ringneck hatch. We purchased eggs up here from a local guy, but that is the opposite end of the state for you. They are beautiful birds and I still wish we could have some.

After the three inches of rain the other day my coop is so damp and disgusting. Unfortunately it won't get cleaned today and has to wait until tomorrow. I wanted to clean yesterday but ended up cleaning rugs and furniture instead. I also have to make some decisions on where my Seramas are going to stay for the winter. I really don't want them in the house but even with a small heater, if we end up with a winter like last year they will end up in when it gets -20 again. I really don't want to be moving them in last minute and not be prepared.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Has anyone ever seem a rooster like this? Mocha was a EE bantam rooster. He died last year and I was hoping there are others like him out there

 

[1muttsfan]

One of the charms of EE's is their widely variable, individual and sometimes exotic colors, especially the roosters. He was a pretty little guy.

 

[ericaruth19]

Good morning from some of the ladies!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

"taprock:I also have to make some decisions on where my Seramas are going to stay ..... I really don't want to be moving them in last minute and not be prepared. "

If you are able, get a rabbit hutch with a slide out tray or if you do make a little aviary make it easily accessable- the 1/4 " hardware cloth would actually be best, at least on the bottom portion if you use chips. They eat/ shred newspaper and cardboard gets dirty in a day. If you make one you can also use rolled screen to keep the dust down. I am picturing a run style with perches and nest box? The manna pro poultry conditioner mixed with scratch would keep the smell down. You would have spring chicks sooner!

(I had my d'uccles inside in a spare room last winter. Used a dog crate.....disgustingly messy no matter how hard i tried. But i loved having them near. I had a whole winter and a long cold spring to think of how i *should* have done it!!!!!)

 

[Stacykins]

Two more cockerels fell to an owl last night. It found a gap in the netting to exploit. That is one hungry owl! It is now reinforced.

 

[chickflick]

I'm so lucky that I have two huge garages. The one attached to the house is heated. I have a brooder in there, where the sick or broody hens go. Two apartments! I had the bantams in the garage all last winter. Made a "run" with the portable pet fencing. Worked great! I hear it's going to be another horribly cold winter, so I'll be setting up their apartment before it gets too bad.

 

[SillyChicken]

I am officially at war. Yesterday I dispatched a large coon that was caught in a dog proof trap but evidently he has kinfolk hanging around. While gathering eggs tonight I found one Welsummer chick lying headless in the bottom of the cage and a second chick missing. So now I've several conibear traps set and one baited with the carcass.. Since they have demonstrated their preference for poultry I hope they come back for a second helping.

I think we all are in some way.... nice to see you here again. How's granny, hope and your friend doing these days?

 

[SillyChicken]

we'll I may have caught a small fox on the camera the other night... but they haven't been back. I took out the turkey carcass and put a live rooster in the small cage that came with the trap. He has food and water and I moved the trap under some bushes to protect the bird. Re set up the camera and lets hope it does the trick.

 

[RaZ]

Anyone like fish?