Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[preciouskitty]

Good morning everyone.
Once again, I'm over a week behind in posts..367...which I hope to get to later.
But, at the moment I really need advice/help.

Yesterday while the birds were out free ranging, I noticed a couple girls really ganging up on one of my PRs. Flared necks, bumpy chest, that turned into full out blood letting. Bring bird(s) in, clean, blue cote. Did this 3 times, then brought picked on girl in for good. She paced and paced til I took her back to the coop at bed time. Stayed in run to watch dynamics, little bit of fighting, but no blood & she pretty much went to a nest box & curled up & went to sleep.

This morning, she still is being beat on. I think it's more than a pecking order re-establishment cuz EVERYONE is beating on her. And the rooster isn't stepping in to keep the peace. Her one eye is actually almost swollen shut.

I simply don't know what to do; or why this is all of a sudden happening. She is one of the original 12 I got 2 years ago, to the day, today. No new birds have been introduced ...

I definitely don't feel I can leave her in the run cooped up while I'm at work tomorrow, but really don't have anywhere to put her other than throwing her in a large dog crate for the day..

Thoughts?

 

[ToniTalley]

Good morning everyone.
Once again, I'm over a week behind in posts..367...which I hope to get to later.
But, at the moment I really need advice/help.

Yesterday while the birds were out free ranging, I noticed a couple girls really ganging up on one of my PRs. Flared necks, bumpy chest, that turned into full out blood letting. Bring bird(s) in, clean, blue cote. Did this 3 times, then brought picked on girl in for good. She paced and paced til I took her back to the coop at bed time. Stayed in run to watch dynamics, little bit of fighting, but no blood & she pretty much went to a nest box & curled up & went to sleep.

This morning, she still is being beat on. I think it's more than a pecking order re-establishment cuz EVERYONE is beating on her. And the rooster isn't stepping in to keep the peace. Her one eye is actually almost swollen shut.

I simply don't know what to do; or why this is all of a sudden happening. She is one of the original 12 I got 2 years ago, to the day, today. No new birds have been introduced ...

I definitely don't feel I can leave her in the run cooped up while I'm at work tomorrow, but really don't have anywhere to put her other than throwing her in a large dog crate for the day..

Thoughts?

This happened to our neighbor. We gave them our old small coop for her, and they keep it right next to the big coop. They keep the hens separated unless they open the coops up and they (the people) are outside with the chickens to watch them. We haven't seen them yet this spring, so not sure it the squabbling is still happening.

 

[1muttsfan]

All these years I've been cursing the abundant box elders I have (because of the accompanying bugs) only to find out you can tap them for syrup.

That was my thought.

 

[snowflake]

This happened to our neighbor. We gave them our old small coop for her, and they keep it right next to the big coop. They keep the hens separated unless they open the coops up and they (the people) are outside with the chickens to watch them. We haven't seen them yet this spring, so not sure it the squabbling is still happening.

It could be she is sick, some times they will try to force a flock mate out if it is sick time will tell

Anyone have a non-pdf link on *why* brooding ducklings in the house without heat is bad?? I know why but my sister insists she don't need it for the babies she picked up earlier this week from tsc. Her bf family is telling her this likely. Just because you can do a thing don't mean u should. I feel it is abusive and i can't believe it is my own sister. Anyway i can't find proof of the harm done by this, just millions of articles stating the 90 degrees needed.
Help?????????????

don't know anything about ducklings but I do know if someone has convinced her they are experts it is hard , if not impossible to change there mind.

my x son-in-law thought he knew all about chickens cause they had them when he was little, his brother is the same, they have lost a lot of birds cause of issues they could have fixed if they would listen or go on line and read,BUT

I think we missed spring and summer, winter is on its way.......it is sooo cold....sorry wasn't going to complain about that any more

 

[BentoMinion]

hey they poop a lot!

I have raised them about 4 years now, i have done the fermented feed thing with them, I have done the in chicken tractor thing, I have kept some till they lay eggs and used a roo for breeding, I have processed my own, and had amish do them. I usually feed them unlimited for the first 2-3 weeks and then go to 12 on 12 off they are usually ready starting about 6 weeks-8 weeks some strains of cornish cross will grow faster than others. how many are you doing? will you process your self? have you done that before? If I have 20+ I take them to an amish near me, I drop them in the morning pick up in the afternoon. and 6-8 weeks goes quick...so be ready feel free to pm if you have any specific questions....

@eatwhatyougrow Nope! Never raised meat birds before. We have hatched before and I know the smell. :-/ I wanted a batch to process before I go camping Memorial Day Weekend. Otherwise I would have waited a bit and housed them in the shed/coop. I am tempted to move them out there once they have feathers and just make sure the lamp is secure. They are in a freezer box right now and I see a few are starting to get feathers.

We read about the 12 on and 12 off. We had planned on that. Good to know that works well. As to how many... 25. Processing myself? No. That is more work than I want to do. Well, more like I am not positive I could kill humanely and then quickly butcher before my autistic child escaped my SO. When we took care of Stew last year, my dad came out and took care of him. We (I was learning) skinned him to get that part done faster. No plucking. I found a place in Holland who will process them. Although I know we have an Amish couple at the Muskegon Farmer's Market who sells chicken. I may ask them about butchering.

I am still reading on the fermented feed. Tips?

 

[aart]

They are in a freezer box right now ......
......

How appropriate!!!

 

[BentoMinion]

lol I know! Right? I have the other half to the box for the next (hopeful) batch.

 

[tdhenson86]

Quote:
Thank you!

 

[flufssilkies]

I wondering where's the best place to get hatching eggs?

 

[Stacykins]

I wondering where's the best place to get hatching eggs?

Depends on what kind of hatching eggs you want!