Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Wynette]

I didn't mean to imply. It was my non-answer answer. I just wanted to make sure your question was seen. They get lost so easily. Plus, I am interested as well. My flock of 12 was from a hatchery and I want the same as you, a lovely assortment of egg color. So far one of my three hatchery Easter Eggers is laying brown eggs and it's VERY disappointing. The other two have yet to lay so the jury is out on them. I really would like some Black Copper Marans next year but I've heard conflicting things. On one side, I hear that the hatchery version often times lays a normal light brown egg and on the other I've been warned that local breeders' birds are often infected with disease. Not sure how to proceed.

It's true that the hatchery Marans typically do not lay a very dark egg.

Not sure who these local breeders with diseased flocks are, and I certainly hope that no one has referred to my flocks in this regard - I practice very strict biosecurity (in fact, I just gifted a bird to a fellow BYC-er who wanted to see my flocks - I told him I do not allow anyone back to my pens for biosecurity reasons). Do your research, check the birds out before purchasing (I box sale birds up and folks are free to inspect them before taking them), know the signs/symptoms of disease, and QUARANTINE for a minimum of 3 weeks.

 

[Wynette]

my poor little cuckoo marans cockeral jumped over the fence and into the pen with the big girls today. Poor guy was hiding in the corner with his head and neck stickout out through the chainlink. I shooed the pullets away and put him back into his part of the run. He didn't appear to have any injuries, no blood anywhere, and was walking fine.


What do you all think of this egg? I can't decide if it's a quitter, or just in a very strange position (11 days into incubation)

To me, this looks further along than day 11. Was it shipped? The air cell is wonky, but that doens't mean it won't develop. I've hatched hundreds with wonky cells. Most definitely, somthing is going on in there!

 

[swampducks]

Oh yeah, under the fence like last time. It's a day time run the birds are usually inside the coop with the door closed before it gets dark. It's getting darker earlier and I failed to notice that, plus the blighters have always hit in the wee hours especially with my dogs hanging around all day. I suspect since they only got away with one bird and a couple of necks they won't wait two months to return this time. I did move one of the Duke traps down the trail into the woods. It's the one that was right next to the hole so I guess it needs to be better placed. The coons have never come into the yard itself to the main coop inside the dog fence. The one they hit is across the driveway.

Incidentally, the dog fence is electrified but it didn't keep the fox out last week when it took a splash Blue Andalusian roo. I'd rather deal with the fox than the coons.

Thats terrible!! Do you know how they got in?

Yes it would be a hen and maybe also a matching roo if DH hasn't decided to have it for dinner by then. I've got 3 BA hens, 6 Dominique, 3 Buckeye, now 3 Dark Cornish (had 5 till last night), 5 Golden Buff (Isa Browns), 2 Blue Lace Red Wyandottes, (one splash, one black, no actual blues) and black and splash BLRW roos, The BAs lay white eggs, everyone else lays brown, so far only the GBs are laying at all. I think that's 22 hens? I have to get rid of half of them, just can't decide what combination to keep. Some of the birds are 20 weeks, the others 13.

is your Blue Andalusian a hen sounds very tempsting

 

[Opa]

I used to use marshmallows for baiting coon traps but rain will wash them out and ants carry them away. I've found sardines to be a much more effective bait.

 

[swampducks]

On a good note, I've got 8 pints of dill pickles cooling on the counter!

And picked my first GIANT zucchini. All the others I've picked have been a much more manageable size.

 

[greenmimama]

So sorry about the coons, My 6yo is so worried about them getting our ladies.

We collected 2 eggs this morning and it was funny because I slept with the windows open last night and this morning I could hear what sounded like a chicken laying an egg My parents had chickens when I was in HS. So I know that sound.

So far we have collected 4 eggs since Sat. morn. and one funny one that wasn't right. The one girl is molting, do they not lay when they are molting?

One egg this morning was speckled brown, very pretty.

 

[greenmimama]

I used to use marshmallows for baiting coon traps but rain will wash them out and ants carry them away. I've found sardines to be a much more effective bait.

Is this a live trap you use? I am wondering about this, maybe trying to trap them before they get to my girls??

Once you get them trapped, do you just shoot them? See your avatar, I would guess yes LOL

 

[swampducks]

I can DO that. Or maybe some jack mackerel?

I used to use marshmallows for baiting coon traps but rain will wash them out and ants carry them away. I've found sardines to be a much more effective bait.

 

[greenmimama]

I've got four 3-month old probably-roosters that are looking for new homes from the Rockford area if anyone is in the market for more roosters.

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/grd/3225075082.html

Oh they are beautiful!! I just want hens though, Don't need a roo. LMK if you have any hens you could part with

Yes, it was for this week. If you are anywhere near Newaygo, they also have a small animal swap the second Saturday of the month thru October at the Family Farm & Home store parking lot.
That's possible too as I remember they advertised the same last year but I don't remember seeing them in the Newaygo store.
Ditto!

I just called the Newaygo store, they said they don't have any right now, but should get some end of Sept. maybe?? guess this gives me some time to find others first. Thanks for the heads up

 

[greenmimama]

the best way to get a good but small flock is to find some one on line (here is a good place to start) that has chicks to sell, some times people hatch eggs just cause they have a new incubator and want to try it out. a few years ago I had a lot of hens go broody and was giving chicks away..... If you want sexed chickens, or older hens you may have to pay $5 on up depending on breed. You could also go through a hatchery and go in with someone else so you can get the minimum at the lower shipping rate. Hatchery's have the advantage of offering vaccinations, Individuals often have better stock but not always? so hope this helped some,,,,,,come to chicken stock, meet the chicken nuts

So anyone local have chicks anywhere between 1 day and 6 months they want to sell, we are in Cedar Springs, and I am just looking for a nice variety of colors of chickens and eggs