Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[drumstick diva]

Chicken Rustler "what big eyes you have."

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Chicken Rustler "what big eyes you have."

 

[Wrightsx4]

Hi Everyone!  I'm from Lakeview and just joined BYC.  We relocated from Houston and bought a farm last March.  We put in a garden and bought a small herd of Angora goats.  In the Spring we will be adding some chickens.  We're thinking about RIR, Barred Rock or Buff Orpington for layers.  I would also like to raise meat chickens.  I was wondering if anyone has experience raising heritage chickens for meat and if they are any good or if we should go with the Cornish Cross.  We're beginners so any advice is welcome.  It's great to see such a large community from MI. 

Regards,,
Farmer 123

Hi!!! I just got started in June with my chickens so I can only vouch for the heritage breeds egg laying and personality. Tons of both. Growing them to an age where they'd have a good amount of meat takes considerably longer that a Cornish X (again, I have no experience with meat birds, but I know they're butchered at 8 weeks old or there abouts - no eggs from them.) If you want eggs and personality make sure to get at least a few heritage breeds to keep around. The ones you mentioned are all wonderful!
There are lots of members on this thread with decades more knowledge so hopefully one of them will give you answers from their experiences.
WELCOME!!!

 

[taprock]

Mine was a rollercoaster. First, I got a call to have an interview with our local petsmart. Then, when I was locking up all my birds, a few capuchine pigeons were still out. One of them was a very nice beautiful bird that was still growing. Well, I tried catching it and he started flying around. he then missed a tree branch and fell. As I walked to pick him up, a cat ran to it and killed it right in front of me. Everybody better have their cats locked up cause I am not to happy with them.

That is horrible! I am not a cat fan, mostly because when we bought our first home 4 strays had taken it over. Even after they were gone it was a never ending battle with strays.

Mine was spent in two (2) different dentist's offices getting an emergency root canal.
Talk about putting your money where your mouth is.

Do not envy your day or bill. I had two done earlier in the year.

We're thinking about RIR, Barred Rock or Buff Orpington for layers. I would also like to raise meat chickens. I was wondering if anyone has experience raising heritage chickens for meat and if they are any good or if we should go with the Cornish Cross. We're beginners so any advice is welcome.

I have my breeding stock for next year. I know you plan on about 12 weeks maybe a bit more. However if you are wanting big birds it doesn't happen with heritage. Looking at my birds this year at 12 weeks they may have been 4-5 #. I'm trying it because the flavor is supposed to be better.

 

[RonEstrada]

I'm starting a group in Oxford called "Oxford Homesteaders." On Facebook search for "Oxford Michigan Homesteaders." Our first order of business is legalizing chicken keeping for all residents, regardless of propery size. I've already got some help on the Planning Commission. The next step is to attend a Zoning Board meeting on October 10th. The more people I can get there, the bigger impact we'll have. Please contact any Oxford folks you know who want to push this effort. Thanks and God bless!

 

[1muttsfan]

Some heritage birds are better at one thing or another - for example, better layers, or better carcass quality. Of the breeds I have kept, Delawares really stand out at both - having originally been developed as meat birds, they grow nice and big, and the hens are really good layers. They also have good personalities. The best ones I have had were from Sandhill Preservation, some from other sources did not measure up either in size or in egg laying.

Dual-purpose birds take about 18 weeks to mature to a decent carcass size, as opposed to about 8 weeks for meat crosses. And the carcass will not be as meaty or as large. However they do have a different, stronger flavor, particularly the dark meat, and taste good. If you are looking for a quick-growing meat bird, the crosses are the way to go. If you want some egg layers and to be able to eat the extra roos, dual-purpose birds are a good way to go, but don't expect the same kind of carcass you will get from a meaty.

 

[snowflake]

Hi Everyone! I'm from Lakeview and just joined BYC. We relocated from Houston and bought a farm last March. We put in a garden and bought a small herd of Angora goats. In the Spring we will be adding some chickens. We're thinking about RIR, Barred Rock or Buff Orpington for layers. I would also like to raise meat chickens. I was wondering if anyone has experience raising heritage chickens for meat and if they are any good or if we should go with the Cornish Cross. We're beginners so any advice is welcome. It's great to see such a large community from MI.

Regards,,
Farmer 123

you may want to try FreedomRangers, good meat birds can free range, cull at about 10 to 14 weeks, I have not done true heritage for meat, Jersy Giants may be a good one as they get very large, maybe 6mo. to a yr for full growth?


sorry about the cat incident,

Raz, dentists are so much fun,,, I was only there for a cleaning, $168,,,, and of course one of my old fillings is deteriorating and needs to be replaced and that will only be $188, BUT it is better then a root canal job, I am sure that is a LOT more$$$


got the run ready for snow, now I need to give the coop a good cleaning,

 

[snowflake]

some one put wood shavings or chips in the run, is that working out well? thought I might try that for the winter, they sure like scratching around in the wood chips,,, hope I can find a place still ope who sells by the yrd.

 

[BobBry]

Hi All,

I've been quite busy of late. We got the new roof on the barn/shed, made some adjustments in the chickens housing, added a much needed window to the barn, harvested and put up lots from the gardens, and in general lived. I.ve not posted, but have read a few posts lately. Have not had anything to say that I felt was worthy of your time reading, couldn't answer many questions and when I could , I was sure others had already and I would add nothing of value.

Well, now I have something you might find-------interesting. Yesterday afternoon, about three, I think, I was sitting on the picnic table on what I call the patio contemplating the waterproofing of the deck when a bird flew past my head and alighted on the table. I was somewhat startled, to say the least. Had not seen any hummers for awhile, and though I had become accustomed to their presence this was different. My initial thought was one of the chicks had gone nuttso and flown up there for some reason, but no that wasn't it. Too finished, if you can figure out what that means. It was behind a bucket of spoiled tomatoes, walked past that and hunkered down on a leather glove left by some careless worker. Well, I immediately identified the little one as a mourning dove. We sat there, eyes not three feet apart for a bit. Just looking at each other, not moving. I didn't know if IT had seen me or not. I was puzzled, never having had that happen before. Perhaps ten or fifteen seconds passed. I spoke. "Hi little guy." Not an acknowledgment of gender, as I had not made such an observation. " How's it goin, what ya doing here, don't you know I'm dangerous to you?" I got no response. I hadn't expected one. I'm not a fruitcake. Except that I talk to the animals, I'm sorta normal, sorta. I gave up on the young, very young dove and returned to cleaning the tray I was planing to use to help keep various things organized in the barn. I literally turned....and, with my back to the fledgling, adjusted the faucet on the house.....

Our mother hens (foster moms) had taken their chicks out to forage for the first time two days before. Though that provided some entertainment, nothing untoward occurred. They were out at time the visitor came.


My attention was demanded by a sudden raucous noise behind me. I spun around, (for me, quickly) And was astonished to see my new little friend held by the neck and being violently shaken, feathers flying in all directions and pitifully squawking, in the beak of Millie, our black australorp. The shaking did not last long, only a few seconds, and the dove was thrown, wings flailing wildly, uncoordinated, yards across the garden. Millie was striking a triumphant pose and squawking like a p.o. ed hen, doing an egg song combined with a ( take that, interloper) My words can not properly describe the ferocity of that cry.


I was sure the dove had been killed. Bry found it later, alive but maimed, so he dispatched it.


QUESTION: Do hens with young always behave like that? Is Millie the hen from hell? What gives?

 

[Scifisarah]

some one put wood shavings or chips in the run, is that working out well? thought I might try that for the winter, they sure like scratching around in the wood chips,,, hope I can find a place still ope who sells by the yrd.

I would avoid it personally, unless you are sure you can clear them out well in the spring. I used straw and it was a bit easier to clean up than wood chips and did not start breaking down into "muck". I try to avoid putting any sort of organic matter in my run and keep it as sand-based as possible. From my biologist background, it makes sense that organic matter = bacteria growth = sick chickens. But there are quite a few people that seem to like doing it.

If you do decide to get some, check out this place maybe: http://www.cnsawdust.com/ I have gotten very fine wood shavings bagged there for my smaller coop and they seemed nice.