Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Folly's place]

Hi Rachel, I only have three SS hens right now, and love them. I've never had CS. My SS cockerels have either been sweet or human aggressive, 50% of each! I think your cockerel is not going to turn out well, and planning for spring will be a good idea. My SS have come from MMcM or Cackle hatcheries rather than breeders, as I'm not planning to show any birds ever. The Cackle birds did grow larger than the MMcM chicks; some were breed standard size, and very nice birds. Kathy here has good ideas about breeders; check with her if you are interested in SQ types. If you get straight run chicks in spring, you can evaluate the cockerels and keep the best one or two next year. Mary

 

[1muttsfan]

Sand Hill Preservation has really nice Speckled Sussex

 

[rachelsflock]

That sounds like what I'll probably do. I'm not so much into show quality markings as I am the deep body, but I'll take any breeder recommendations anyone has. The coronation Sussex cockerel I have is HUGE, wide, and slow, but he slowly attacks you from time to time and eventually I'm going to get tired of it and invite him to the table. It's not exactly threatening because he's so big he can't really jump more than about 6" and he stops and thinks about everything before he does it (okay, so maybe he's totally vapid), but it's getting kind of old, and I don't want that passed on. We'll see how many more shoe attacks it takes. Probably not many, then I'll probably be in the market for some birds-unless I just give up and stick to ducks, which is a whole other possibility.

Thanks Mary!

 

[1muttsfan]

I have not had an aggressive SS yet, although they are extremely social - sometimes annoyingly so, my only current hen is literally underfoot all the time.

 

[wannahomestead]

Well sad day today. I just checked and my 2 eggs under my broody were ice cold, and she never went back on them today. She is no in fact roosting with the rest of the flock.

I broke them both open and definitely little developed chickies inside . They were due to hatch tomorrow.

I put the picture in a spoiler just because it could be upsetting to some.

This is my first loss on a hatch. Definitely a bummer, but that's how these things go sometimes.

On a more positive note, the ducklings are continuing to thrive and so far seem to be doing quite well.

 

[aart]

Bummer...they may have died already and she may have known that,
and with no live hatchlings under her she went back to roost.
Wonder what she would do if she heard the ducklings peeping?

 

[iamfivewire]

 

[SunshineMary]

A question for fellow goose- and duck-raisers: Do you worm your waterfowl every fall and spring? Our vet suggests we do because we have a large pond that is visited by herons, cranes, pheasant, and wild turkeys, which our flock also swims in. Our goose, Abigail, was showing signs consistent with gapeworm, but the fecal sample was negative for all worms. But our vet still advised worming anyway and prescribed Panacur. I hate to do it but our vet is pretty knowledgeable, so I probably will. Just wondering what others are doing.

 

[SunshineMary]

Well sad day today. I just checked and my 2 eggs under my broody were ice cold, and she never went back on them today. She is no in fact roosting with the rest of the flock. 

I broke them both open and definitely little developed chickies inside . They were due to hatch tomorrow. 

Sorry for your loss.

 

[bigmrg74]

Got my winter table done for the coop today. I have found that its much easier to have the food and waterer up off the floor of a coop in the winter as the girls are much less likely to kick up straw and whatnot into the waterer that way. Plus it saves on floor space. Plus with the bottom rails there, it should give somebody a spot to be able to put some distance between them and whoever it is that is on her case.



One of the buffs checking it out today. and the bottom of the legs are spray painted to keep them from rotting out later. alternated red and blue for a total of 4 coats for that.