Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[riss]

We are thinking about getting ducks again and getting them with our chicks in the early spring time and curious if they can be in the same brooder or coop together. I know ducks are messy

 

[aart]

curious if they can be in the same brooder or coop together. I know ducks are messy

From all I've read, best to keep them separate....because of the wet duck mess.

 

[chickflick]

Northwoods, I LOVE your xmas tree! And the village and train just make it "old time xmas"

 

[Sally PB]

Happy Solstice!

The sun is shining!

 

[Huston's Happy Hens]

I have a frizzle bantam bobtail cochin that I hatched this year..she's not quite 5 months old. She is with her flock and it's obvious that she is not holding her own temp wise...yesterday I was out there and she was standing in the coop in the ONLY little ray of sunshine! I've brought her into the garage and she's huddled under a brooder plate. I'm looking at a flat panel heater for her OR a sweeter heater... Heatplates are cheaper....Looking for input - I've raised BIG birds before - orpingtons and haven't had a situation like this before - suggestions? THANKS

 

[Folly's place]

If she's away from the flock for any amount of time, reintroducing her will be hard! Maybe use a heat plate, or that brooder plate out there.
Our bantams are fine all winter, and some of them roost in a drafty area, don't ask me why...
Pictures of your coop might help, if there could be problems with it.
Do you have multiple feeders and two waterers out there? Is she getting everything she needs to eat and drink?
Mary

 

[1muttsfan]

I would think any healthy bird with good feathering should be fine, it's not that cold out yet. There is likely some other issue. My bantams have always been as cold hardy as the big birds.

 

[aart]

healthy bird with good feathering should be fine

Yes, but .....

frizzle

...not good feathering.

 

[1muttsfan]

True. But I have had bantam frizzle cochins and they did fine up here.

 

[Huston's Happy Hens]

If she's away from the flock for any amount of time, reintroducing her will be hard! Maybe use a heat plate, or that brooder plate out there.
Our bantams are fine all winter, and some of them roost in a drafty area, don't ask me why...
Pictures of your coop might help, if there could be problems with it.
Do you have multiple feeders and two waterers out there? Is she getting everything she needs to eat and drink?
Mary

Hi Mary - yes, we have othr banties and they are fine also - I believe it is bc of her frizzle - I have multiple feeders/waterers for them and they free range in the yard - I make sure that the feeder and waterer are low enough - and I have seen her eat/drink in both. I am getting a heat plate today and I'll put her back there tonight with the plate. My coop btw is one of the cedar ones that a few people here in MI sell - I'll still take a pic..