Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Candy442]

Get them a big one and they'll climb right into the thing if you would let them do it.

Been moving the pen around the garden this morning. Picked the purple sweetcorn that didn't turn out so well, had kinda given up on it. got a lot of little ears out of it. Hoping to dry them out and us them as chickie treats for the winter, along with some sunflower heads as well.

Also saw the girls having a lot of fun with a mouse today before it started to rain. Mouse didn't like their game of Mouse football, I'm sure you all can figure out why. Last I saw of him, one of my Black Sex Links had his head off and was up by two touchdowns.

LOL, well the chickens take care of the mice in the polebarn better than the two outdoor cats we have! The other fun tag game ours often play is "who will get the frog leg hanging out of the beak". I love seeing the racing chicken train running around the yard.

 

[hockeyXmom]

Is anyone up? My girls need somewhere to sleep. My prior arrangements of a tote in the bathroom is no longer working. They are working togetherto knock the top off and jumping out. Right now they are outside in a play yard with a piece of wood over the top with chicken wire under that. I'm just worried they are going to get cold and need to bring them in or figure something out. Any suggestions? Their coop isn't finished yet.

 

[1muttsfan]

With the colder weather coming on they defininatly need better housing - in addition, your setup does not sound like it is predator proof. Are you working on a coop now? Can you put them in an outbuilding such as garage or shed to protect them from cold, rain and predators? The best time to start a coop is before you get chicks - by 6 weeks of age they belong outdoors.

 

[hockeyXmom]

With the colder weather coming on they defininatly need better housing - in addition, your setup does not sound like it is predator proof.  Are you working on a coop now?  Can you put them in an outbuilding such as garage or shed to protect them from cold, rain and predators?  The best time to start a coop is before you get chicks - by 6 weeks of age they belong outdoors.

We got these chicks kind of spur of the moment. Their coop is almost finished, we just had a funeral this past weekend that delayed things. We do have a garage we could put them in for night time that would keep them safe. They coop is 5x5x4 so even then they may need a little added warmth come winter.

 

[ToniTalley]

Don't have any sort of big box? I think the tote, on its side with straw or wood shavings in it, and in the garage, will be a nice cozy place for them to stay the nights in until your coop is done.

 

[1muttsfan]

That sounds perfect. Once they are grown and in a draft free but well ventilated coop they should not need any extra heat.

 

[hockeyXmom]

I do have quite a few boxes (we just moved to township out of the city so that's why we got the girls). As soon as my husband gets home we will set something up for them. Right now got to get my other 4 kids to bed. thank you all for the help

 

[taprock]

I ended up with four baby Seremas. My days were off and they started hatching before I moved them out of the corner of the coop. The second baby fell out of the nest while hatching and another hen pecked it in the head. It was bloody but survived and is doing fine now. I decided even if the hatch was still going on. They needed moved. I slid cardboard under the hen and nest and moved her to a cage. She didn't even growl at me. One baby looked weak last night so I have to brave her beak and check on it today.

 

[aart]

Taprock...that first pic should go in a caption contest.
At first I thought that was a tennis ball

 

[bigmrg74]

Was just out doing a chickie check with Miss Belle and we spotted Toruk again. scooped up Belle and quickly rounded up the girls into the coop to lock em in. Didn't have any complaints about it from the girls as they were all soon inside the coop without me needing Belle on the ground herding them in.