Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Lyongirl]

If you look under the Forum tab you will find a section dedicated to ducks - here is the direct link. Ducks and chickens do not always do well when housed together, both because they have different housing requirements and because drakes can be dangerous to keep with hens.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/42/ducks

Stay away from Garden City. Really.

Hahaha I've driven through Garden City. I def. think that would be low on our places to buy a house . My husband so far is really interested in Novi and Northville but both of those seem to be lacking in horse properties.

 

[Lyongirl]

Someone suggested South Lyon to me. It looks like there are more houses on numerous acres of land. Anyone live there or know people who live there?

 

[tntchix]

Hahaha I've driven through Garden City. I def. think that would be low on our places to buy a house . My husband so far is really interested in Novi and Northville but both of those seem to be lacking in horse properties.

both nice places to live but you will pay a premium for land for sure. Nice schools

Someone suggested South Lyon to me. It looks like there are more houses on numerous acres of land. Anyone live there or know people who live there?

sis in law lives there not sure how laid back you want to get. It would definitely get you land though. not sure about schools

 

[RaZ]

Avoid Garden City for sure. I would leave in a heartbeat of I could. Bad government and bad school system.

Looks like I have a broody. I'm thinking of getting some fertile eggs for her. But then again with this medical stuff going on maybe I shouldn't.

Tomorrow is the heart cath procedure. I have to get up early just to be put to sleep.

 

[tntchix]

Avoid Garden City for sure. I would leave in a heartbeat of I could. Bad government and bad school system.

Looks like I have a broody. I'm thinking of getting some fertile eggs for her. But then again with this medical stuff going on maybe I shouldn't.

Tomorrow is the heart cath procedure. I have to get up early just to be put to sleep.

 

[uchytil]

Are their duck info pages here? I know the one forum thats rough to sort thru for specific info. Not sure how to find info pages for non-chickens. I use my phone, not a computer so that might make it more difficult.

Im looking for future use references on housing chickens and ducks together. Sq ft requirements for ducks? I'm sure they can share a run but should probably have separated shelters.

This year we're doing a lot of work on new fences/run and making use of an old barn for the chickens. Trying to figure out the layout knowing we'd like a few ducks in a couple yrs. (Indian Runners preferred, love them)

Thanks

There is a duck page and many dedicated websites. I would not house them together. My ducks have a doghouse style house that is closed at night. Not required but I have a small pond for them that gets cleaned weekly as they poop in the water. I get an egg a day from the hens. The drakes lead them around as I free range them daily. I have Khakis and Pekins. Ducks are super messy but I love the eggs better than chook eggs. If you choose to house them together I would not have any drakes or roosters, and don't forget the chickens will poop on the ducks at roost!

 

[Nigellas]

Hello everyone!

We raised chickens in Arizona but we just moved to Michigan a month ago. We are only renting right now and we intend to buy a house in a year when our lease is up. Are any of you located in the metro Detroit area? I just see suburban area everywhere and I'm worried I won't be able to find a house with enough land for raising animals. My husband works in Dearborn so we need to stay fairly close to there (no farther than Ann Arbor). We also have children so the schools need to be good as well. Any helpful tips???

I live in Ann Arbor and highly recommend it. Very chicken friendly and good schools.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! I work in Novi and live near Perry. It's a long drive, but having a small farm (50 acres) is worth it! Be very careful about zoning issues if you want critters, regardless of lot size. Mary

 

[misfitmorgan]

Are their duck info pages here? I know the one forum thats rough to sort thru for specific info. Not sure how to find info pages for non-chickens. I use my phone, not a computer so that might make it more difficult.

Im looking for future use references on housing chickens and ducks together. Sq ft requirements for ducks? I'm sure they can share a run but should probably have separated shelters.

This year we're doing a lot of work on new fences/run and making use of an old barn for the chickens. Trying to figure out the layout knowing we'd like a few ducks in a couple yrs. (Indian Runners preferred, love them)

Thanks

I house my ducks and chickens together for winter. I have several roosters and drakes together and the only problem i have had is my muscovy drake killed my borrowed pekin drake

But that would have happened anyhow even if i had ducks and chickens seperate. The ducks sleep on the coop floor out in the open(not under roost poles usually) and stay pretty clean given they live in a chicken coop but we do keep the coop quite dry even with ducks in there. The waterer sits in a 2 inch tall metal tub which keeps most of the water from them washing off the floor and bedding. We sometimes take them a 3 gallon pail so they can wash their heads, necks, wings and whenever it is reasonable we take them a big contractors tub with about 15 gallons of water in it so they can do an all over bath and play. Shortly the ducks will be going out to their pond and next winter they will get their own coop quarters. The worst behavior we have seen is the ducks sometimes eat chicken feathers....they pluck off the chickens

Nothing excessive just a chicken or duck feather here or there, no idea why.

 

[ChickenLady2014]

Avoid Garden City for sure. I would leave in a heartbeat of I could. Bad government and bad school system.

Looks like I have a broody. I'm thinking of getting some fertile eggs for her. But then again with this medical stuff going on maybe I shouldn't.

Tomorrow is the heart cath procedure.  I have to get up early just to be put to sleep.

Good luck with the heart cath tomorrow Raz. The one nice thing about broodies is that they do all the work. I keep hoping for my BO to go broody, but no luck so far.