Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

I have Rose-breasted grosbeaks today, first ones I've seen this year

 

[chickflick]

I've seen a lot of cowbirds and grosbeaks here. I saw a brown thrasher, too. No hummers. Maybe I'll get the hummer feeder out after the rain. I love hearing all the bird songs!
And then we have the chickens egg song! A caught a hen in a bold face lie yesterday. The hen, Mable, was sitting in a nest box. While I was outside doing my chores, she came out doing the egg song. Clucking loudly and proudly. I thanked her for her egg and went in the coop to collect her egg. It was a blue egg, not the brown she lays. She took credit for another's egg! I chastised her and told her she should be ashamed of herself! Glad the neighbors are too far to hear me. I had quite the discussion with her....lol Oh, ain't lockdown fabulous??
Have a good day all. Stay home. Stay safe.

 

[aart]

I had an Oriole yesterday....and I don't even feed the wild birds anymore.

 

[RaZ]

I found a hummingbird nest on the ground today. It looked like it had just been started so there weren't any eggs in it. She will have to start another one.

Made from dog hair, lichen, and long strands of grass.

 

[Newby81]

After reading about all of the Orioles on here, I decided to try to attract them. I have never tried this before, so I figured why not? I stopped by the dollar store Tuesday and bought the orange plate and bowl. Today we seen our first bird. My kids are excited that it worked. Thank you all for the idea to try.

 

[bigmrg74]

After reading about all of the Orioles on here, I decided to try to attract them. I have never tried this before, so I figured why not? I stopped by the dollar store Tuesday and bought the orange plate and bowl. Today we seen our first bird. My kids are excited that it worked. Thank you all for the idea to try.

Cheap entertainment for the lockdown.

 

[RaZ]

I saw a scarlet tanager for the first time in my life.

Edited to remove duplicate photos.

 

[backwards hat]

We are in SW MI and we're looking for a new home for our RIR Rooster named Pepperoni. He is 14 months old and has good instincts. He has the potential to be a great rooster if someone is willing to take the time & effort to teach him.

He is protective of the hens, brings food to them, and makes sure everyone is safely back in the coop after being let out (we free range only if someone is out with the chickens due to predators.) He will even gently eat food out of my hand.

However, being a young rooster, his first spring has seen an increase in hormones and we just don’t quite know what to do with him as we have never had a rooster before. He has been mating aggressively with the hens since March. He has tried to go after me and my kids a few times, especially when giving the hens treats or trying to fix any injuries they have. My hens are missing feathers, a few have bloody spots, and I just don’t have the means to separate him. I don’t have the time and experience to work with him.

I’ve spent hours on the Backyard Chickens website trying to figure out what to do because we have hand raised him and have fond memories of him as a little guy. However, for every suggestion I read there’s something that contradicts it, causing even more confusion.

Needless to say, this decision has been very hard to make but the kids and I have decided that it would be best for the hens and for us if we could find someone willing to work with him to make him a great rooster and provide him with a flock that he could be beneficial to.

 

[Folly's place]

I'm sorry, it's hard to let go sometimes.
Being first time chicken owners, and having a same age flock, can be a problem for the cockerel to learn proper behavior, and for you to recognize issues early on. And, RIRs have a reputation, often well deserved!
Next spring you will have hens, not pullets, and more experience, and try to raise some cockerels so you can choose a good guy, who's had some humility pounded into him by the big girls!
Some breeds have a higher % of nice roosters, although individuals of any breed can be naughty, or nice. Salmon Favorelles are beautiful and tend to be good boys, for example.
Mary

 

[aart]

I just don’t have the means to separate him.

Good time to get a wire crate, to at least give the girls a break for most the day.

best for the hens and for us if we could find someone willing to work with him to make him a great rooster and provide him with a flock that he could be beneficial to.

Good Luck. Not many people want a cock/erel...
....there are tons of 'extra boys' already circulating.
I have 3 here just hatched that will go into the freezer in a few months.
You can try to put ads up at local feed stores, craigslist, FB poultry groups, etc.
Not much chance someone will be "willing to work with him" so best not to specify that if you really want him gone. One of the hardest parts about chickeneering.