Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Wrightsx4]

Well, here I come, late to the party as usual.  

I was reading the OLD "Michigan" thread and there are thousands of posts so I skipped to the end, and well nobody is introducing themselves anymore and making friends, cuz they are already old friends by now!  

I shall barge in anyway.  

I am in northern MI, smack dab between Burt and Mullett Lakes.  I got four girls new this spring, two have begun laying, still waiting with fingers X'd that the other two won't end up needing their names changed if you know what I mean.  Ethyl, Grace, Jaunita, and Lucy are Easter Eggers (2), Golden-laced Wyandotte, and ISA  Brown, respectively.  

Here is a little pic of them ignoring me:


I also have a lot of pigeons, have been keeping them for years but always wanted chickens.  So far I am enjoying them immensely, even if they seem to find me a little alarming.  I find a lot of good info here on BYC and hope to make some chicken-addled friends here.

Glad there is a Michiganders thread!  HI to everybody!  

-She

Hi shegeekster! I'm near Manistee so I think that you're a couple hours northeast of me - you're north of Gaylord and south of the bridge right?

 

[Wrightsx4]

Mine are 21 weeks tomorrow.  I have been told at any time it should start.  Once they look mature, they should act mature (lay eggs).  I have heard squatting at your feet or around the roo, scratching around in the nesting boxes.  I have read when their abdomen turns soft and when three fingers fit between their legs.

OR

when they are darn ready to!

I like that last part Mine started doing the squat about a week before they started laying- just when I reach toward them. Makes them easy to catch now.

 

[Stacykins]

I know this isn't chicken related. But my goats are a special part of my little hobby farm. I just lost my beloved bottle baby (seven months old) to bloat last night.

Last night she got frothy bloat. Rushed her to an emergency vet an hour away. She got tubed, her rumen cleaned out, medicated. Got her home. Checked on her continually through the night. She went into shock and collapsed on one of the checks, screaming in pain because the bloating returned with a vengeance. I did CPR on her, the instant she stopped breathing. But I still lost her.

Now I have to tell the breeder that Dulce de Leche is dead. She entrusted me with her precious baby, and I failed. I had her from fourteen days old, and she was my special little girl.

I know I have to go on, for Yoko and Suzie, George and Artie, my remaining goaties. But I am crushed. Destroyed. It feels like when she drew her last breath a piece of my soul was torn out. I know with farm animals, stuff happens. But it still really hurts. My herd is so small, they're all special to me (I have no favorites, my 'favorite' whoever I am giving attention to at the moment). Especially because my goats act more like silly dogs with hooves.

 

[NovaAman]

Ah, I am so sorry for your loss Stacy...

 

[Wrightsx4]

Aww stacykins that is so sad. Sorry for your loss.

 

[shegeekster]

Hi shegeekster.

I have no idea where those lakes are. I am in northern MI as well but I'm afraid if I said I was between Hubbard and Jewell Lakes no one would know where that was! So, I'll say I'm halfway between Alpena and Oscoda.

welcome to BYC

Hi Swampducks,
lol I guess for some reason I thought people might recognize the lakes before the town names! I know where Alpena is but is Oscoda also along the lakeshore? Maybe a better placement for me would be: right off I-75, about 30 mins. each north of Gaylord, east of Petoskey, and south of Cheboygan. Which will put you in Indian River!

Thanks for the welcome

 

[shegeekster]

I like that last part

Mine started doing the squat about a week before they started laying- just when I reach toward them. Makes them easy to catch now.

My mum told me they think you're the rooster coming up behind them when they do that

 

[shegeekster]

Hi shegeekster! I'm near Manistee so I think that you're a couple hours northeast of me - you're north of Gaylord and south of the bridge right?

That's right -- about 40 mins s. of the bridge and 30 mins n. of Gaylord right off 75. I am bad with state geography because I thought Manistee was in the UP! duh Hi back!

 

[chicken grandma]

Welcome Shegeekster!

Glad you found us!


Stacykins - You are incredibly brave! Your goats are so fortunate to spend their lives with you!
I am so sorry you lost one. I have a real hard time with that too! I know your goat was very lucky to have you as it's owner!

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi shegeekster, welcome to the Michigan thread

I an just north of you in St. Ignace, and Taprock is in the neighborhood too

Stacy, so sorry about your little doe.