Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[tntchix]

I almost forgot. Here are the boys in their new digs for quarantine time.

They are staring at the dog. LOL

 

[tntchix]

Someone does not like the looks of someone else's history grade (as she stares at monitor).

 

[Brennigan]

Brennigan is it possible an egg got stuck? Is that yolk? Otherwise watch to see that your other two have no eye/ nose dishcharge, combs are full colored, and that everyone's poops are normal green with a white cap. No frothy ones; cecal poops of course will be the runny brownish which is normal. As to the grieving process, yes her friend is calling for her. They might need extra treats and encouragement for a while as they sometimesgo "off their feed". It will be realky hard to add as the other two are gonna terrorize any newb. It is because it is a small group, and they aren't free range. Not a bad thing at all but it makes them more territorial. My trick is to put food and water everywhere and to add buckets and whatever i have around to clutter the space and provide a foil against attack. This being your first add-on you must remember any adds can silently bring sickness too. And if yours picked anything up it will show itself now anyway, as they just lost a buddy. Watch, see if you have any sickness already, and either wait until spring or do any adding before the deep cold snap so if something crops up it will not be as severe.
(Novel) lol

Thank you, @fuzzybutt love for the reply. I thought it might've been yolk, but nothing was coming straight from her vent. I smelled it (ew), and it was fowl smelling. It looked a little light to be yolk, but honestly...

The coop did have a wet spot in it when I changed ALLLL the pine and wiped things down with vinegar and water, but even that spot didn't seem yolky. The other girls are nestled in their coop right now, and everything had been fine for ALL the birds. I'll keep an eye on them the next few days. I just know that two is such a low number. I have a lady willing to sell me two of her hens (a little older than mine) and hoping maybe the two flocks can join together? Its so nice this week (70!), and I want to integrate before its so cold out. **Do you think I should get rid of her eggs? She was SUCH a good, consistent layer, and her eggs look just like my buffs, I'm afraid I won't know the difference besides just tossing them all.

@Brennigan
So sorry for your loss

Thanks, @preciouskitty -- our first chicken loss! She was third in line of our favorites (of three chickens), and definitely the flock leader. I feel worse for her best friend that kept looking and screeching for her today!

 

[Brennigan]

Maah, you may have to venture out of Wayland, but, find a Barnes and Noble. They have a few mags that may interest youy and the cool part (if you are willing) is you can sit in one of the comfy chairs, sip some hot chocolate, and peruse many, many reads as your time permits. This way you may find one, or two, you like.

This is one of my favorite things to do! ESPECIALLY this time of year!

First Egg

First eggs are the best! And the cutest!

 

[Opa]

Weather sure can make some folks grumpy. Instead they should take joy in the fact that they are able to face another day. When they grumble about the rain coming down remind them that it is better than coming up because using an umbrella would be rather difficult.

Have a wonderful day, rain, wind, and all.

 

[aart]

LOL Opa....rainrise instead of rainfall would not be good!

The rain sounds wonderful thru the open windows bringing me warm, moist breezes...ahhhh.

Enjoying it fully because it will probably be the last day of the year to have the windows open.

 

[Amy PT]

@Brennigan , I'm sorry. I don't have answers about the yellow stuff, or the eggs, just sympathy for your loss.
When we started with chickens we bought 3 chicks. Our orpington ended up being a boy, and went to a farm. Then we had 2 hens until the next spring when we got 3 more chicks. If you liked the chick experience, why not hold off until the spring and go that route? Buying someone else's older hens means less egg laying time with them. Our eldest 2 are only 2 years old, and their production is already dropping off.

 

[Brennigan]

@Brennigan
, I'm sorry. I don't have answers about the yellow stuff, or the eggs, just sympathy for your loss.

When we started with chickens we bought 3 chicks.  Our orpington ended up being a boy, and went to a farm.  Then we had 2 hens until the next spring when we got 3 more chicks.  If you liked the chick experience, why not hold off until the spring and go that route?  Buying someone else's older hens means less egg laying time with them.  Our eldest 2 are only 2 years old, and their production is already dropping off.

Were they okay with just the two of them for three months? I LOVED having chicks, but felt two was a small number for them to survive socially (everywhere says they have to be in groups of three)! I have a lady that's willing to sell me two full-size, but integration sounds awful, and I'd rather have chicks again! I love my connection with my girls!

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

I would say she is a leghorn cross. Her body type and comb definitely aren't full leghorn. Not sure what she is crossed with though.

 

[RTFchickens]

Were they okay with just the two of them for three months? I LOVED having chicks, but felt two was a small number for them to survive socially (everywhere says they have to be in groups of three)! I have a lady that's willing to sell me two full-size, but integration sounds awful, and I'd rather have chicks again! I love my connection with my girls!

I have 18 month old isa brown I would sell, or some that are younger, but well grown out (about 3 months old) the younger girls are 1) buff orpington or 2) mutts. I have some of each...