Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[wannahomestead]

The two new duckies are doing well. they're inside with me in the brooder. We all fell asleep in the chair last night for a while.

I'm feeling a little sad with the onset of the cold weather. I have 22 total chickens currently, and 4 ducks (not counting new ducklings). My chicken run and coop is a bit crowded at this point, which means I am likely facing the need to start thinning the flock for winter. I've been trying to develop a "short list" so to speak, and only one chicken so far is on that list. I really don't want to do the thinning.

 

[Folly's place]

I too had more birds than planned for the winter, and took fourteen to the local auction a couple of weeks ago. Most moved to new flocks, and some of the extra cockerels will be dinner, and that's all right with me. I didn't need more chickens in the freezer right now! When you hatch chicks, there will always be extras for the freezer, and that's a good thing. I've still got more birds than ever before (48!) but there's enough space, so it's okay. Sort of. Lots of eggs, too. Mary

 

[meltel]

Blue green is bruising......as long as she's acting fine, I wouldn't worry too much.
The swelling you might want to keep an eye on.

is it above or below the vent. My breeders bird dropped dead on me 4 hours after looking fine. we did a necropsy and she was green around the vent-some sort of sepsis-either eggs burst inside her which we didn't see or gastrointestinal perforation (but she hadn't been injured like yours either). Keep a close eye on her if you see any lethargy, diarrhea or color change in her overall. Good luck and sorry your bird is hurt

 

[wannahomestead]

 

[1muttsfan]

Cute

 

[lovechicks1293]

 

[aart]

The two new duckies are doing well. they're inside with me in the brooder. We all fell asleep in the chair last night for a while.

I'm feeling a little sad with the onset of the cold weather. I have 22 total chickens currently, and 4 ducks (not counting new ducklings). My chicken run and coop is a bit crowded at this point, which means I am likely facing the need to start thinning the flock for winter. I've been trying to develop a "short list" so to speak, and only one chicken so far is on that list. I really don't want to do the thinning.

Why not leave the ducklings with the hen?

I too need to thin the flock yer more before frigid weather arrives.....had planned it all along, but different this year as I want to sell some 18mo, but they are molting...and I do still need to ID the ones that I want to go. Got lucky in that 5 cockerels went away in June to a newbie trying out free ranging and meat harvest, and had a couple die. I've got 3 more to sell and a couple older hens to harvest yet.

 

[wannahomestead]

Why not leave the ducklings with the hen?

I too need to thin the flock yer more before frigid weather arrives.....had planned it all along, but different this year as I want to sell some 18mo, but they are molting...and I do still need to ID the ones that I want to go. Got lucky in that 5 cockerels went away in June to a newbie trying out free ranging and meat harvest, and had a couple die. I've got 3 more to sell and a couple older hens to harvest yet.

She is still sitting on some eggs, we ended up with a staggered hatch here.

 

[rachelsflock]

Hey guys,
This is a couple of months off, but does anyone in southeast MI still keep a docile breeding flock of Sussex-any color? After dinking around in a couple of different breeds I've finally decided those are what I'd like to raise-meaty, nice and squatty, lays very well, and mild mannered. The problem is, I only have access to eggs from a pair of coronation sussex, and I got a cockerel. The problem is, come to find out the cock that my cockerel came from was a little aggressive, and my cockerel every once in a while is too (as in, he gets in sparring matches with my shoes from time to time). If this behavior keeps up or is directed in any way at my kids I'm not sure he's going to be around come spring, but then I'm back in roosterless territory with no where to go for more stock unless I want to go try a hatchery. Anyone keep these?

 

[aart]

Quote: Ahh....hope you can get them all back together with broody mama.