Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[lovechicks1293]

Hi everyone. I'm brand new and cannot wait to get my first coop up and running this spring! I am a bit nervous though as I've never raised chickens before. Do you all have any advice or would recommend a place I could go to learn more? I'm in the metro Detroit area.

hello and

!!! i am just the same as you are, I'm not getting chicks until this spring and I've never owned chickens before either! (well, if you count the blind and partially deaf banty hen we had when i was a baby...lol) the best place you cant find anything about chickens is here! there are coop designs, all different kinds of breeds, and more! it's a chicken lovers paradise! look around, you've come to the right place.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi everyone. I'm brand new and cannot wait to get my first coop up and running this spring! I am a bit nervous though as I've never raised chickens before. Do you all have any advice or would recommend a place I could go to learn more? I'm in the metro Detroit area.

Hi and welcome to BYC and the Michigan thread

Follow this link to the Learning Center, there is a section there called Getting Started Raising Chickens
https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

 

[zndzant]

Welcome! This is my first time with chickens too. My best advice would be to keep in mind that the coop will take 3 times as long to build as you planned. Ask me how I know this. Lol

 

[bobhoke]

Welcome.

This site provides periodic effective experiences and observations.

I started in 2014 with 6 4 month old bantam cochin hens. We now have three left and 42 new hens and 8 roosters / cockerels awaiting winter eviction.

There are several theories, concepts and opinions here so be aware of that. I have no advice outside of have fun learning and be weary of marketing when taking advice.

Most contributors here seem to mean well.

 

[aart]

Welcome.

This site provides periodic effective experiences and observations.

I started in 2014 with 6 4 month old bantam cochin hens. We now have three left and 42 new hens and 8 roosters / cockerels awaiting winter eviction.

There are several theories, concepts and opinions here so be aware of that. I have no advice outside of have fun learning and be weary of marketing when taking advice.

Most contributors here seem to mean well.

I too get weary of marketing.

 

[bobhoke]

Well its officially one year since moving here to Wexford County from NC. We have several mutt chickens now. Barnevelder birds are a useless breed for us. The hens were horrible mothers and laid thin shelled eggs while all other hens who had the same diet had strong shells. Must have poor genes - will cull all but one soon. The "B" roosters worked out well when it came to parenting and managing the flock.

We made a mistake this year and ordered 20 partridge cochins from a hatchery. Henless (motherless) chicks are useless to our farm because they couldnt and still havent learned the daily game plan. These birds did not learn from the other adults. They are skinny so no meat and they are yet to lay an egg which should be here in mid November. I assume they will be broody often and perhaps good mothers by next spring.

We had several black jersey giants. They are an average sized bird (full grown/disappointing). They lay well and 50% of them were good mothers. The rest were negligent mothers that disowned their chicks before their chicks feathered out. I compare all mother skills to that of our bantam cochins which are phenomenal. Bantam cochins are the easiest chicken calendar and math to follow I've experienced to date. They are like clock work.

The best egg layers are the Ameraucana hands down (large and yummy) and the best meat birds (huge @ 16 weeks on non gmo scratch and insects) are the freedom rangers. The rangers are also the most pleasant - very friendly and gentle. Rangers will be the only chicken we buy next year. They run so funny - wobble wobble. If you allow a cochin chick to grow up with a predominant freedom ranger clutch the cochin will adopt the ranger's demeanor and habits. They'll even wobble slightly. Try it - fun. Even though they dont appear obsrvant and vigilant, they could at least least the flocks way of life unlike the partridge cochins.

We also integrated three peking ducks this summer. They are messy, loud and now frozen. We'll buy 10 more of those next year. Easy to heard, eat tons of bugs and weeds, and are easy to cull. Funny poultry. Perhaps eggs next year.

Well now all we have to endure is this winter that's coming. We built a 18 x 22 x 12 kick *** metal roof wind tight fortress / coop that has summer and winter runs. The winter run has a sloped green house roof. I'll post photos after deer season. Next years plan is to integrate two feeder pigs, 10 embden geese, 5 bronze turkeys, 10 jumbo peking, maintain our current layers (+ or - 40), and 25-30 freedom rangers. We'll donate a large % of our eggs to veteran homes and food pantries. Good luck!

 

[wannahomestead]

 

[linz16]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the tips! Would anyone recommend a place to buy well-made chicken coops? I'm not very handy...

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! your best bet for a nice coop is to get a garden shed (maybe from craig's list?) and modify it into a nice coop, with a covered run added. The little 'dog house' type premade coops are too small, too flimsy, and generally pretty useless. A garden shed will always be useful, and can look nice out in the yard. Are you limited by zoning where you live? Make sure you are aware of any rules before getting into poultry, so there aren't issues with the neighbors, or your township. Then for a coop, predator protection and ventilation are most important! How many chickens do you plan to have? I started with five bantams, and now have 48 birds in my flock. It's called 'chicken math' at work. Mary

 

[iamfivewire]

@linz16
We purchased some of the Keter Manor 4x6 plastic/resin sheds (they make other sizes too). Could prob fit 6~7 chickens inside (a few more if bantam size) .

https://www.menards.com/main/search.html?search=Keter+manor