Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Opa]

Slept in this morning. Didn't stir until 5:30. I wonder if not laying down until 1:30 had anything to do with it. Hope is off to her son's house in a few moments to start her day of taking care of the twin babies and helping Roy unpack all of their belongings. They just moved into their new home and getting everything put away is as much hassle as packing it was.

Just listened to the weather forecast and it sounds as if it is going to be a hot sticky day. Still we can't complain too much. Anything we have is still much better than what the folks along the gulf coast are experiencing.

 

[Brethren49619]

I have been patiently (HA) sitting here checking the tracking status of the chicks that I have been waiting for for more than 6 weeks. Last time I checked last night about 11pm, and it said the same thing as the rest of the day.

This morning I check on it again first thing. The status has been updated. It says "7:03pm - Missent"

This doesn't sound good. Look up the code/definition. The post office sent it to the wrong place. Now to find out where they are.

There's a big sinking, sick feeling in the pit of my stomach right now.

 

[taprock]

. So any how I am not blaming any one for giving me sick birds. not the case...Meriks can float in the air from another farm. and there are several within a short distance...... just saying that if I had bought vaccinated birds.

Vet told me they must be vaccinated in the first 24 hours or they will have already been exposed. Also that not all birds develop it but that it can take up to 3 years to develop. So if they haven't been vaccinated, where and when they were exposed is totally up in the air.
Literally!

Father is in center of pic, son in the background. These other 2 or 3 young roosters coming up will robably be the same flashy golden duckwing.

He looks like our head rooster! Except Mr. Fuzzy Pants looks really ratty now since he is molting.

There's a big sinking, sick feeling in the pit of my stomach right now.

Oh I hope you find them.

Your right about the weather opa, however I wish we could have just a little of their rain. We have leaves down all over but I tend to think its drought not fall that is affecting them.

 

[SillyChicken]

That's what my sister was thinking when she tried to treat her. I hope that's the case, rather than a contagion.

Though it may not be the most pleasant task, you could open the bird up to see if egg binding was the case. Or, there is someplace you can send it to be tested for disease. I'm sorry I don't know where you send them.. I think you can google it if someone here doesn't know. Sorry you lost her.

 

[SillyChicken]

Greenmimomma, you'll want to use a red bulb for the chicks. When ever you use a heat lamp, make sure to secure it in many different locations so it cannot fall or be knocked around. They are dangerous and many coops/chickens are lost every year due to fire by their use. However, they are necessary for the little ones. The red light reduces pecking amongst the chicks.

When you get them home, put them in the brooder box right away under the light. You should help each one find the water by dipping their beaks in to it. May only take once for them to "get it". Inspect each chick as you put them in the brooder. Look for straight legs and well aligned beaks. Check their bottoms for pasty butt. You'll know it when you see it! Pasty butt will prevent them from eliminating properly. If they have it, clean it off with warm water and watch that chick to make sure it doesn't return.

If you have any issues with the chicks, sick, dead or dying (sometimes they just fail to thrive) contact the hatchery right away and let them know.

We put ours on paper toweling for the first week or so, then put them over shavings. The toweling helps keep them from eating the shavings and getting splay legs from slipping on the floor (shavings move out from under them easier).

if you notice any lethargy in the chicks you can pick up some vitamins to add in their water. And check the height of the heat lamp. You can tell if they're too cold or too hot by their movements as a group. and they can get noisy if they're uncomfortable.

Congrats on your new chicks!

 

[SillyChicken]

Vet told me they must be vaccinated in the first 24 hours or they will have already been exposed. Also that not all birds develop it but that it can take up to 3 years to develop. So if they haven't been vaccinated, where and when they were exposed is totally up in the air.
Literally!

He looks like our head rooster! Except Mr. Fuzzy Pants looks really ratty now since he is molting.
Oh I hope you find them.

Your right about the weather opa, however I wish we could have just a little of their rain. We have leaves down all over but I tend to think its drought not fall that is affecting them.

I believe we are supposed to get rain starting saturday through the rest of the weekend..... what would this weekend be without rain anyway!


Breth.... sure hope they find your chicks!

 

[greenmimama]

Greenmimomma, you'll want to use a red bulb for the chicks. It reduces pecking amongst the chicks. When you get them home, put them in the brooder box right away under the light. You should help each one find the water by dipping their beaks in to it. May only take once for them to "get it". Inspect each chick as you put them in the brooder. Look for straight legs and well aligned beaks. Check their bottoms for pasty butt. You'll know it when you see it! Pasty butt will prevent them from eliminating properly. If they have it, clean it off with warm water and watch that chick to make sure it doesn't return.

If you have any issues with the chicks, sick, dead or dying (sometimes they just fail to thrive) contact the hatchery right away and let them know.

For very young chicks, we put ours on paper toweling for the first week or so, then put them over shavings. The toweling helps keep them from eating the shavings and getting splay legs from slipping on the floor (shavings move out from under them easier).

if you notice any lethargy in the chicks you can pick up some vitamins to add in their water. And check the height of the heat lamp. You can tell if they're too cold or too hot by their movements as a group. and they can get noisy if they're uncomfortable.

Congrats on your new chicks!

Thanks I really appreciate all of this good info, I do have a red brooder lamp, but I need to pick up a couple more, Chicken grandma has been schooling me in what I need.
I will use all of this info to help make this as seamless as possible

 

[gladahmae]

I have been patiently (HA) sitting here checking the tracking status of the chicks that I have been waiting for for more than 6 weeks. Last time I checked last night about 11pm, and it said the same thing as the rest of the day.

This morning I check on it again first thing. The status has been updated. It says "7:03pm - Missent"

This doesn't sound good. Look up the code/definition. The post office sent it to the wrong place. Now to find out where they are.

There's a big sinking, sick feeling in the pit of my stomach right now.

Oooooooh goodness! I hope they aren't traveling FAR! If they were in the 2-day delivery range, I think they might be OK. Our chicks took 3 or 4 days to get to us, and they were all alive and peeping upon delivery. Sounds like it's time for us all to cross our crossables for you again!

Are you planning on sticking them under your broody?

 

[RaZ]

How much to youpay for layer? I buy mine from a farmer in Lapeer County and I think I pay 11.50 for 50 bs.

That is less than I paid. I was just happy to find feed closer to home. I think the price at Chap's was comparable to the TSC. I bought other stuff and didn't pay that much attention to the individual prices.

I do like their crumble feed. It is a nice size tiny pellet and not so powdery. The hens seem to like it better than the big pellets and it's not too big for the banty.

 

[Brethren49619]

Good news! PO in Grand Rapids called and they have them. They will be sending them up here today and I should be able to pick them up sometime just after noon! BIG SIGH. When the person called, he said they all looked good, and I could hear them in the background! Will post pictures later.

And yes, going under my broody girl tonight. Also have an incubator set up in case she doesn't accept them for some reason.