Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Sally PB]

Handsome lads = your sons.

"Lad" is an term for a boy. English/Scottish, maybe, but you'll hear it over here in the US too.

 

[1muttsfan]

Yes, I meant your boys.

All chicks here are hens until they crow.

 

[Dreamzchaser]

Yes, I meant your boys.

All chicks here are hens until they crow.

I know that I should be sleeping but tooo much thinking. I now realized you meant my boys as my sons and I got worried over nothing thinking it was about the chickens.
Anyways, I had been sitting just watching them eat, drink and just lazy around as well as sleeping. I looked out the back door and I don't think I will be able to see them out there alone and I will not be able to watch them sleep. Hope this feeling goes away. I am so into the little critters.

 

[1muttsfan]

Well, when they get bigger they will poop more. A lot more. And as they grow they start producing a lot of dust, smell and mess. I think you will find it to be in some ways a relief to get them out of the house.

 

[aart]

Well, when they get bigger they will poop more. A lot more. And as they grow they start producing a lot of dust, smell and mess. I think you will find it to be in some ways a relief to get them out of the house.

Ditto Dat!

Might not 'get' that until the second batch of chicks tho.

 

[chickflick]

Your Phoebe sounds like a chick in my first batch of chicks. Zsa Zsa was something else. Bossing everyone around. Picking on the other chicks. Zsa Zsa turned out to be Rocky, the rooster. But, I picked up a rescue last fall. I swear she's a rooster except she lays a egg every day! She came and just took over the flock. She picks on all the chickens. One chicken looked like I had a rooster. Her back had lost so many feathers. But, she also jumps on the roost as soon as I enter to clean to be picked up and hugged and carried around. She also likes to jump on my back as I'm cleaning. The other rescue likes to be hugged too. Must of been "pets" So, good luck on Phoebe, hope she stays a she.

 

[Sally PB]

Might not 'get' that until the second batch of chicks tho

I didn't know how MUCH dust they made until I cleaned up after they moved out. Wow!

This year's batch will be out in the mudroom, instead of the living room. I'm not getting them until June, so it'll be warm enough out there with a brooder plate. Better all around; I can interact with them more, as the dog will be in the living room and I won't have to shut her in her crate.

 

[aart]

Should be getting some chicks in the next few weeks.
Am torn about putting them outside right off the bat,
or taking the half day it takes to set up the brooder(after clearing the space).
Want to take a good look at them and get them all banded,
which is much easier for my creaky body to do in the brooder.

 

[Sally PB]

Want to take a good look at them and get them all banded,
which is much easier for my creaky body to do in the brooder.

So if that's worth the half day's labor... there's your answer.

 

[Folly's place]

Mine start in the garage, separated from the flock, for the two weeks it takes for their Marek's disease vaccine to take effect. Don't have Marek's here, but if it arrives, the vaccinated hatchery chicks will be better off.
Ours are coming in mid-April, not so far away!
Hoping for a broody hen or two by then...
Mary