Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[snowflake]

looks rather henish to me, what do the tail feathers look like?


Big, congrats on the first eggs,

I use a natural spay, works pretty good, maybe you need some barn swallows. and bats. eat a fair amt. of mosquitoes.

 

[snowflake]

Nice!!,, I agree about the fire works, they were all around us for about 3hrs.

I need some advice. I let my peeps & quacks out of their run this morning. Sliding door open so I can hear them clucking away. I heard loud not normal clucking so I went to do a head count, came up with only 8 in the yard so I went searching for #9. Thankfully I found her but she was obviously limping. I checked her over no blood, cuts, missing feathers, but her I guess knee felt a bit warm. She is able to move her toes so I dont think paralysis. Do I soak her in an Epsom salt bath? What temp should the water be?

Don't know but maybe put her in a quiet place for a couple days and keep an eye on her. they are pretty resilient

Has anyone ever had chicks shipped to the Holland post office? I tried calling them today, but couldn't get a live person on the phone. I'm having chicks come in next week, and I thought I should give them a heads up. Should I go in and let them know?

Aart had a good suggestion. go in person or leave a note (and cookie) for your carrier. cold pop on a hot day is nice too

 

[OldMissionChick]

Nice!!,, I agree about the fire works, they were all around us for about 3hrs.

Don't know  but maybe put her in a quiet place for a couple days and keep an eye on her. they are pretty resilient
Aart had a good suggestion. go in person or leave a note (and cookie) for your carrier.   cold pop on a hot day is nice  too

I had to go out of town so none of them were able to free range. When I got home to let them out for a late snack (which I probably will regret when I have to put them back in their run shortly). But Cheetah seemed to be a bit better, just a slight limp. She is moving her toes & bearing weight on that leg. Should I try another Epsom salt bath tomorrow? If so how much salt for a couple gallons of water?

 

[Brennigan]

I got my first eggs yesterday! Two in the same nesting box! One is almost jumbo sized, the other one is smaller. Hazel had to be one of the first layers, I don't know who gave us the other one. Woo hoo! So today i'll go to TSC for some layer crumbles.

CONGRATS TO ALL THE NEW LAYERS! WAHOOO!

This is my second favorite part aside from getting new chicks!

I want the whole world to know that we live in the greatest state of all! MICHIGAN,water wonder land! Water so clean you drink it from the stream. I am a Michigan man! In this beautiful state we have it all. So tell how you feel about this great state???? Have a great Michigan day! Nice pictures

I'm heading up the UP (Pictured Rocks) for the first time later this month! I'm excited! I've always lived by the lakeshore, and despite the cold winters, I never want to leave!

Quote:
Agreed! My aunt told me to use peppermint oil to keep them away? Also, a bounce sheet in your pocket! I haven't tried them, but I am going to!

 

[BigHope888]

WooHoo!!!

My 3 older pullets all laid last week for the first time.....couple more months for 5 the younger ones.
Feeding 'flock raiser' to everyone with oyster shell on the side is so much easier....think about it.

Congrats to your new pullets, and all the other new layers here too! I like your colors. I have done some thinking and decided to supplement with calcium for the next few days at least, or maybe even until they finish their old bag of chick starter. Crushed eggshells work, right? I really hope so because that's what I've been doing, but I will switch to layer crumbles-my girls are all the same age.

On the subject of supplementing, does anyone else do this? I've read that after you boil your eggs, save that water! Let it cool down and then go water your tomato plants with it. It contains calcium from the eggshells (if this really works) and is a handy free fertilizer. Same with boiled vegetables. Thoughts?

 

[1muttsfan]

Homemade mosquito repellants

http://wellnessmama.com/2565/homemade-bug-spray/

 

[BigHope888]

Annnnnd, I just had my first breakfast of backyard eggs! Didn't even use salt/pepper; I wanted to taste the eggs themselves and I'm glad I did. "How does it taste?" Like you'd think an egg should taste. Hard to describe, but delicious, and you know it when you're chewing it. Definitely a difference from store bought.

 

[Folly's place]

Home grown is best! On eggshells as a calcium source; It's not enough, you need oyster shell out there in a separate dish. Egg shell are metabolized too fast for egg shell production, which tends to happen early in the morning in the hen. Oyster shell dissolves slower, so is available then. This came from a state poultry expert, so unlikely to be fantasy information. Mary

 

[BigHope888]

Thank you, Mary! Oyster shell it is.

On to my next two chicken related problems: Hazel hasn't left the nest box all morning. She took a few pecks toward me, though I managed to get an egg out from under her. I don't know if it was hers or another girl's. She just started laying, could she be broody already? Or is she having an issue? Naturally I went to the garage to get the scratch bag-so i could attempt to lure her with treats-out from the metal garbage can that keeps their food and discovered the can was crawling with tiny beige (probably) mites. EWWWWWW! The bag of DE was right next to me, so I liberally dusted the top of the can but they're all over the sides. Well, this was supposed to be a day of baking but I need to address all this. Help!?!?!?!

 

[aart]

Thank you, Mary! Oyster shell it is.

On to my next two chicken related problems: Hazel hasn't left the nest box all morning. She took a few pecks toward me, though I managed to get an egg out from under her. I don't know if it was hers or another girl's. She just started laying, could she be broody already? Or is she having an issue? Naturally I went to the garage to get the scratch bag-so i could attempt to lure her with treats-out from the metal garbage can that keeps their food and discovered the can was crawling with tiny beige (probably) mites. EWWWWWW! The bag of DE was right next to me, so I liberally dusted the top of the can but they're all over the sides. Well, this was supposed to be a day of baking but I need to address all this. Help!?!?!?!

I've just learned about grain mites https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/981212/grain-mites

Wipe down the outside of the can with a mild bleach solution.
Be liberal with the DE, in the grain, in the can, on top of the can, on the ground around the can.
They're actually pretty fragile.....and you'll be watching for dust to move for weeks.

ETA: Oh and leave the new layer on the nest, she's still figuring things out.