Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[aart]

Of course I won't mention the time when the string broke...

Yeah, I have one of those latches on a yard gate, the string/wire never really worked well even when it didn't break. Luckily I can reach around.
I would never put one of those where it couldn't be reached by hand.

I use screen door springs on all my coop and run doors for 'auto-closing'.

 

[aart]

The Sparta Celtic Festival will be this Saturday, Aug.14th in Sparta. There is a Michigan (Grand valley State U grads!) band called Crossbow playing. They. Are. GOOD. DH and I will be there, for sure.

The Michigan Irish Music Festival in Muskegon was canceled back in May, perhaps a little prematurely. Though bands come from Europe to play, so I can see why they did it. However, there is going to be a smaller festival on September 18th. We're going to that too. We love these two festivals, and want to support them.

If anyone is going, let me know; I'd love to meet people and and say hi.

Wear your masks!

 

[Frankiegirl]

So I took the fence down that gave the littles their own space yesterday. Everything seemed fine and seems fine…However

I got an additional feeder for the littles so there would be 2 separate stations for all the girls to have breakfast lunch and dinner. Wouldn’t you know it…the bigs went right for the new feeder! So, the littles got iced out this morning from their breakfast with the bigs hogged both feeders. I hope that doesnt continue….I know they all have to figure it out, but cmon ladies…the littles need to eat too!!

 

[Folly's place]

So add a third feeder, out of sight if possible. Things will all work out, they will eat in groups, senior down to lower status youngsters.
Flock dynamics!
Mary

 

[1muttsfan]

I have old-fashioned hook and eye latches. Excepting foul play, no way to get locked in.

 

[riss]

Foster kittens are doing great. They eat very well and starting to be very social and playing with each other. They go to the bathroom all on their own! These ones seem to be a lot easier then my original 3 were but still love each and everyone one of them

 

[Dreamzchaser]

Hey you all! I am glad you all had a good laugh. I still cannot believe it. @aart there was a little light coming from the window, so that helped a lot. @Mfranks They will chase the last plate. I did that to make sure the little ones get some and did not work. So they have to get faster and moving. If I put the little ones plate first they will follow me to see where I am dropping the second one. That helps a little. Sometimes I just stand in between and do not let them get to the plate for the little ones. But for the most part, I let them figure it out and if I can, I give something to the little ones when the others are busy and before they come running. It is like they had been starving always. They have to have what you have in your hands at that very moment.
Found a small frog by the run fence and I called them all and got a stick and when they were close, I threw that thing and they fought for it. I have no clue who won because I left. Did not wanted to see it.
I have a few questions, They are doing more than one egg a day and the spare one is soft shell and they are eating them. When I got the out this morning there was a poop full of egg white, no yolk. They drop them in front of my kitchen door. Is it a matter of getting to a regular laying point or would this be a thing that will always happen?
There is a cat and have no clue who it belongs to that keeps pooping by my fron house and has been checking out the girls. I cannot shot it. I am afraid of poison that may get to my girls. What can I do beside putting a fence which I cannot do yet, to get this cat off my property? I know what to do with a dog. It is all baout chocolate. They love it but it will kill them. But not for a cat. Any advise? I know it sounds harsh because it might be someone's pet but my chickens are not just my pets, they provide me with eggs and meat if I need to. They are my emotional support animals, and accepted by the APA,

Hub told me today that I need to move them back because they have the front of the kicthen door area too dirty. I am always hosing it during the day but I got me a 2 hour nap and he had to hose it and guess did not like it and began a bunch of complaining. The run is not finished in one corner and they will cross over to the temp run anyways. I am planning to be at Unity Fest 11-14 in Muskegon (yes, will be wearing a mask, a hat and long sleeves shirt because I do not like the sun) and I will have to leave them in their coop most of the day time. It is killing me. I was not able last year and it is my freedom but now with the chickens, I am contemplating of loosing the 100 bucks and stay with the chickens. I am at a crossroads here.

 

[Dreamzchaser]

That is a fantastic story!!! That made me laugh. At least you know you did a good job people proofing your coop from the inside! Note to self….never go into the coop without your phone.

I would had not matter. Hub cell has no service in teh hourse anyways, The wind blew the door as I was just putting the plates on the floor. I am changing that soon to a deadbolt. I can lock/unlock from inside and use a key from teh outside. Unlesscoons know how to grab a key and put it in and turn...

 

[Dreamzchaser]

Impressed you could do this in the dark!

So you have one of the auto lock latches, eh?
Change that sucker out asap.

Yes, Sir!! I am thinking of a deadbolt. I have to change a few in the house and can use one of the old ones there,lol

BTW, I have 2 of those suckers. Front door and side door too. I also place the ramp and a ladder against it every night because the door had no frame yet, so I try to make sure nothing can pry it open. nor me from the inside,

I can do a lot in the dark. Not pitch dark but I walk around the house with all the lights off and I know where everything is at. Also when it gets dark right in front of the coop, there is a pole with a light that comes on and turns off a day light in the mornings. The company only charges me 3 bucks a month for that.

 

[1muttsfan]

I would hope that you can always find some way of discouraging stray pets without resorting to poisoning them.