Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[greenmimama]

Ah yes, we cross our NZ's with our Flemish Giants too, we get some nice colors that way.

Well we found what took our hen, as my DH found a HUGE raccoon on our front porch raiding our cat food, So now to decide what to do about it, poison, a 22? a cage? I'm not sure but he made me plenty mad that he slaughtered my hen like he did.

Anyways, we spent yesterday building a dining room table, my DH took the day off of work and today we sand and stain, great day to do inside chores, it is so cold already and the rain makes it feel even colder.

I would like to bake, but I don't even have enough eggs to bake with. I am consistently getting 2 brown eggs a day from my 4 hens that are IB and RIR, but my 2 EE and a SLW are giving me nothing at all, haven't laid an egg in a week, I know because we have them separated, it's a little disheartening to feed and care for 7 hens and only get 2 eggs/day.

Question

My 45 chicks are looking really good though, I was thinking of putting them in the big girls coop today, I have it blocked off so they can't be picked on by the big girls, but I am still nervous that it will be too cold for them, They are almost 6 weeks old, it's not like they are coddled now, they are in the garage with down to one heat lamp raised up pretty far, so they can sit under heat, but it isn't too hot, and when I go out to them they aren't all huddled under the heat lamp, would this be a good time to move them? at night I am guessing, or does it matter since they are going into there own space away from the big girls.

 

[greenmimama]

Oh PS thanks for answering my questions, I have learned an awful lot from this site by just using the search tool, but some things are more specific to MI climates and I need you opinions.

 

[Stacykins]

Ah yes, we cross our NZ's with our Flemish Giants too, we get some nice colors that way.

Well we found what took our hen, as my DH found a HUGE raccoon on our front porch raiding our cat food, So now to decide what to do about it, poison, a 22? a cage? I'm not sure but he made me plenty mad that he slaughtered my hen like he did.

I'd suggest a .22, nail him in the head if you can. If you don't think you can get him while he is on the porch, a live trap helps. Bait it with something irresistible and very smelly, such as sardines in oil (doesn't take much, you can refrigerate or freeze most of the can). Then, if he takes the bait, you can take care of him in the livetrap with a .22. Please don't 'relocate' him. It only dumps a problem animal on somebody else. Plus, this close to winter, he likely wouldn't be able to figure out new food/water sources before the cold sets in, so he'd likely starve anyway.

 

[chicken grandma]

Ah well, I figured you were just ignoring me since I had on several occassions in the last weeks said hello/asked you question directly on both this thread and the other, and you never responded. Good to know you just missed it. Maybe I will put it in neon colors next time.

Wow, That happened more than once? Maybe just p.m. me because I am obviously skimming thing too fast! I do try to stay out of conversations that I have no experience in though. Like hatching eggs or wry neck. I don't know a thing about some of these topics so I just read and learn!

Back at ya, Missy!

 

[chicken grandma]

Been farting around online here today, and i made a member page! Didn't know there was such a thing! But here it is, it's an encyclopedia of health related things i have found on here.

I haven't gotten to the disease part, i have notes in a notebook for those links but i ran out of time today

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/fuzzys-notes

Fuzzy, this is GREAT. You have posted some really good dosing charts and other information that I have been meaning to photo copy. Does this mean that they are all in one place now?

 

[chicken grandma]

But as for the refusing to go into the coop tonight, is he in danger of freezing to death?

I hope your rooster found a spot for the night! I don't think he will freeze to death but I think in Michigan, they usually get eaten by a predator if they are outside overnight.

Sillychicken - glad the rock passed.

GreenMimama - I think as long as your 6 week olds have a way to be under some heat if they need it and are protected from the larger hens they should be o.k.? I would not leave them without heat yet overnight. Good luck! Sounds like you have done pretty well with them!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Here's my take on coops.
Build at minimum, twice as big as you think you need or want. (or as big as you are allowed to)

Build tall enough that you can stand up in to work/clean, it shouldn't be back breaking work!! (plus the building may end up being used for something else some day...when you build a bigger coop)

Definitely these two! Mine is tall, i couldn't imagine having to stoop! I am big on "space" too.

The NH seemed pretty shakey and needed a little help getting out (shrink wrapped) but hopefully is improving. If nothing else in his incubator hatches (we're not holding our breath on that since our hatch rate is about 4%) they'll probably get put in the brooder sometime tomorrow afternoon.

I was told that this happened after you open the incubator, it dries out the membrane. I had one pipp internal, but died in there unable to pip externally and breathe.

Just popping in for a quick second to ask a question: I just went outside, and to my surprise my rooster was on my front porch! He doesn't want to go into his coop, apparently. I'm worried that it is too cold for him to be out like this, however, he is very aggressive, and there is no way I'm going to be able to get him into the coop without being attacked. He's actually becoming a problem, because he chased the meter reader lady out of our yard the other day because she got too close to the hens. Anyway, this is the first time he has ever refused to go into the coop? Has anyone else experienced this before and if so, what did you do?

This is classic territorial behavior, he is doing it because he is guarding his area. Unless there are pests in the coop, sometimes that will make birds unwilling to go in.

As to the aggressive behavior, there are techniques on her, you can search it. I had some luck with a pet lap roo, but not the roosters that went rogue on me. Most folks have better luck with the untame ones though.?
Even after we reached an understanding i still had to be careful of him, though. The new rooster i have now so far has not made a move

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Fuzzy, this is GREAT. You have posted some really good dosing charts and other information that I have been meaning to photo copy. Does this mean that they are all in one place now?

Not yet. I am still working on this. If you know what page those charts are on...........lol. I talk a lot and i am still going through my posts and my notes.

I have the link at the bottom of my posts, too, in case anyone needs quick access

 

[fuzzybutt love]

almost forgot..............

My two blondes, one is coming in the palest blonde and white,
the other is a pale buff/gold/ ? I still think these have the dilute
gene but i have to wait for the blondes back feathers to come in.



These two are millie-ish looking, the front one looks like a blue
millie in person



Even though his fuzz is brown and black, looks like i have a silver
and black plucky jr here! ?



Cocoa jr

She is so naughty and smart. She will bounce
out and "get" me.

 

[greenmimama]

I'd suggest a .22, nail him in the head if you can. If you don't think you can get him while he is on the porch, a live trap helps. Bait it with something irresistible and very smelly, such as sardines in oil (doesn't take much, you can refrigerate or freeze most of the can). Then, if he takes the bait, you can take care of him in the livetrap with a .22. Please don't 'relocate' him. It only dumps a problem animal on somebody else. Plus, this close to winter, he likely wouldn't be able to figure out new food/water sources before the cold sets in, so he'd likely starve anyway.

Thanks, We will see what we can do, and I agree, I wouldn't relocate him, that's just mean, to the people that would live around him again