Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[ChicwannaB]

I think I got pseudo skunked.

One had been lurking around, and I even saw it on the deck one morning before I let the dogs out (yea, they waited to potty that morn). So last night I finally caught the darn thing in a livetrap. Looks like a this years skunk, kinda small. Anyway, even though he did not turn tail and spray, there was a skunky odor in the air, probably because it was afraid from being trapped. Putting a bullet between the eyes and WHEW, yea, it couldn't hold it in anymore. I used a set of gloves to remove and dispose of the critter. Nothing skunk touched my skin or cloths.

Now, I smell skunky on myself. I have that set of cloths in the washer. But I still smell skunk. Not the worst smell ever, but not one I want to bring with me around other people.

shall we now call you Skunkykins??

 

[RaZ]

shall we now call you Skunkykins??

Stinkykins??

 

[snowflake]

loved all the pics from Fall CS,,,

sorry about the skunk effect try vinegar in the wash might help, I think the smell gets into your sinus and takes awhile to leave.

congrats on the lovely eggs. some times when they start laying they seem unaware what is going on, should hit the nest box soo,....unless of course they decide to make their own next then everyone seems to want to add to it till you Or a passing opossum finds it

WELCOME Boris,

ventilation is a problem never quite sure how much is enough,



think I will hang on to this image for awhile,, not ready for the white stuff

 

[1muttsfan]

For ventilation, if you see stuff blowing around (dust, shavings, cobwebs) then it is too much; if you have moisture condensing in the coop, or the bedding seems very damp, it is too little. Put upper ventilation on the wall away from the perches, to avoid cold air spilling over the birds as they sleep. Leaving small gaps around the bottom of doors - or at least not sealing them tighlty - allows colder, drier air in at floor level, away from roosting birds.

 

[taprock]

DH and I have decided to move the 2 new chicks out to the original coop in about a week (in time for the new chicks to go into the brooder) and use a light for supplemental heat since it's been chilly at night. We still have all the pine shavings (deep litter) in that coop from the big girls. Should I clean all of that out and put in new shavings? Can I leave them in there since they've been in there for 2.5months and will start breaking down to provide extra heat? Can I spread the old shavings from the other chickens in the run where the new chicks will be? Should I just put the shavings in the garden as compost? Put the 'old' shavings in the new coop???? I'm just concerned about controlling disease, and don't know what to do with those shavings....

I toss my old bedding out in a pile a ways away from the coop. The youngster usually aren't adventurous to make it that far only the older chickens.

I looked ridiculous today with laundry. I'm still hanging things on the line, although today I would like to have used the drier but it is vented into the garage and DS's deer is hanging so it needs to stay cool. So in 20 mph wind I hung up the laundry. Now it is 30+ with gusts. I was taking it down with my clothes blowing out of the basket and basket itself blowing away. So DS saw me and came to help. I ended up sitting on the clean clothes and basket. He would take the clothes down - while they were wrapping around his head and then bring them to me to fold and sit on.

They are however super soft from being beat around.

 

[Herducks]

I have chicks pipping today!! They are two days late, but here they come!! They are swedish flower hens!

A lady down the street has some hens for sale. How long after they are seperated from the rooster before eggs are infertile? There are different breeds of roosters in with them now. They are americauna and I want to hatch some but only after they have been with just the americauna roo long enough to ensure I will not get mixed chicks.

 

[ChicwannaB]

I am so tickled that Karen Dee will be in my area in a few days and is going to stop in...

Made a special effort to rake and scoop alot from the barnyard so we can set and talk "chicken" and other things. While out there working one of the Brahmas came out of the coop with a good sized mouse!! You go girl!!!

 

[Scifisarah]

Anyone near Rockford/Grand Rapids want some bantam cochin chicks? At this point, I'm willing to give them to any BYC member for free as long as all six are taken. I was impulsive when our rooster died and incubated some of his eggs, but I really don't have room for these guys. I believe 4 are hens and 2 are going to be roosters but they are a bit young to know for certain. We are leaving for Wisconsin Wednesday night so I really need to relocate them by then!

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/grd/3284691257.html

 

[1muttsfan]

Most breeders separate hens and roosters for 3 weeks to ensure that the eggs are no longer fertile

 

[Amy PT]

Anyone near Rockford/Grand Rapids want some bantam cochin chicks? At this point, I'm willing to give them to any BYC member for free as long as all six are taken. I was impulsive when our rooster died and incubated some of his eggs, but I really don't have room for these guys. I believe 4 are hens and 2 are going to be roosters but they are a bit young to know for certain. We are leaving for Wisconsin Wednesday night so I really need to relocate them by then!

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/grd/3284691257.html

OH! I am so tempted. I decided that we're getting 2 cochins in the Spring. These are adorable, and I am really close, but.... must. wait. until. Spring.