Michigan

[Mom 2em All]

Good Morning All,

I have four Black Jersey Giant chicks- oops, five. I moved four into their brooder, one hatched last night and I have two more eggs talking. Being about 28 hours so far behind the other hatchers I wont hold my breath for them- maybe I will be surprised when I come home from work, who knows.

Yesterday evening I let my hens out to walk about the yard. They are always convinced I have hidden food somewhere and they need to search and make sure they arent missing any. After it turned dark, I intended to go out and shut their gate...was working on setting up the brooder, husband didn't realize I still had the chicken gate open. He let out the dogs. I discovered this when I heard a hen screaming and I started yelling "the chickens are out! And running..." That *&% wiener dog again- only this time she went in through the pophole and had my biggest girl (giant cochin) pinned in the corner, removing mouthfuls of feathers and biting her. And she was screaming loud enough to wake the dead.

I rushed her into the house- a puncture under her wing and missing feathers seems to be the damage. She screamed in the house, the entire time I held her. I stopped the bleeding and returned her to her roost. Did a head count all the other chickens appear to be okay.

I really do not like the dog.

 

[Opa]

M2em, congratulations on the new chicks

 

[couponymous]

Hi, this is my first post. I've been one of those so-called "lurkers". I received an email from Nifty-Chicken, so, I thought I had better post something before I get kicked out of BYC completely.

I am located in Maryland. Harford County to be more exact. I current;y do not own any chickens but would like to within the next year or so. I joined BYC so I could get a feel for what it might be like to raise a small flock and all that goes into it. So bear with me folks as my post count will probably stay low for a while since I am working part-time and going to nursing school full time. That leaves little time for fun stuff like this.

Justen

 

[A2SciTeach]

Welcome Justen. No school for me today, I take off for Ash Wednesday, get tired of students telling me I have "dirt on my forehead".

M2M, my mini dachshund got hold of one of my cochins last summer but was unable to get any chicken meat - his mouth is too small so he ended up with a mouthful of butt feathers, he was hanging on like crazy, all 4 paws off the ground as she was running, flying and hopping to shake him off.

 

[Whatshisface]

Note to self - Hot dogs and chicken don't mix. Those stories are too funny. I have a Chiwahwah that doesn't care about the chickens at all, probably because they are all bigger than her. ---Welcome Justen----. Good Morning all. Ya know A2SciTeach, I also work in A2.

 

[Mom 2em All]

Welcome Justen- you are more than welcome to hang out here in Michigan, however just so you know there is a Maryland thread also that you can post to- you may have neighbors you didnt know about

-

My chick hatch is going bad. Total of five, two hatching now about 36 hours behind the others- and one dead chick this morning in the brooder. Thats sad- however expected...and I had one that would not be quiet. you know how they peep when they are alone, cold, hungry, whatever...well, it had hatchbuddies, I showed it the food, the water, and had it under the heat lamp...still wouldnt be quiet. I told my hubby that something is wrong with that chick. Sure enough, dead just now. WAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Why are they dying? I forgot the stress of hatching out chicks.

The weiner dog has its days numbered. She kills everything she gets a chance to kill. Everything. She isnt housebroken and she barks all day long. In fact, her bad habits way outway any good habits. The sole thing keeping her around is that my daughter loves her dearly. Everyone- spouse, mother, etc- has told me, "She will get over it". Also, "you keep her so Tiff(my daughter) won't cry- but how many tears are you going to cry over this dog?" (that was told when she got into the bedroom where I had kittens I was fostering and killed two of them). When she squeezed into the brooder summer before last? or last summer- and killed nine of my chicks within seconds, I was ready to put her down.

I understand that she is doing what they were bred for- killing- however, it really is a match that doesnt fit my lifestyle-
and I have been unable to housetrain her, train her to do or not do anything- which is great stress to me. I take ownership serious, and my pets arent like purchases where you can exchange them or dispose of them when they arent what you wanted-but she is really wearing out her welcome with me. She is five years old. I figure she will live to be twenty- thats how it goes, the smaller they are, the older they live- right? Thats a whole lot of picking up poop off the top of my shoes and from next to my bed every day.

 

[shelleyb1969]

Good morning everyone!

Welcome Justen!

Having my first cup and boy does it taste exceptionally good this morning.

Probably because everyone (mainly my 4 year old) are still asleep, so I've got some "Mommy time" right now.

My first hatch of this year went into lockdown yesterday! I'm finally trying out my Top Hatch incubator that I got from Vicki2x2 last year. I've heard it's awesome for hatching, and so far, the temp and humidity have not fluctuated AT ALL!

Hopefully things continue to go this easy and I have a bator full of fuzzy butts to wake up to on Friday morning.

I'm going to have some DelawareXChantecler and DelawareXRosecomb RIR crosses, so I can't wait to see what those look like as chicks. Of course, they're all for sale if anyone is interested.

They should make excellent layers, and should be pretty good for meat, too.

 

[iluvcks]

Good morning Everyone.

Welcome Justen. This place is additictive so be careful. LOL

I want to get some more babies. I have been talking to zephyrcreek she has a couple SLW and maybe GLW I can buy after Feb 24th. I want my babies to be the same age so I can just have one brooder. So I am looking for 3 Australorps and 2 White Orphingtons. Zephyrcreek told me that someone by the name of Miss Rhandi at Dollhouse Farms have Australorps but I can't seem to find her. I know they are small orders. But I am also getting Blue cochins and Light Brahams from oooopsie daisy. and already have 10 girls. My total I am hoping will be 25. Any way I really appreciate any help. If I can't get the timing down I think I will have to order them. Everyone says thats not as good though. Oh and I ONLY want girls and under a week old. The fuzzier the better. Thank you.

 

[shelleyb1969]

Iluvcks...if you find pullets from someone that are less than a week old, then they more than likely came from a hatchery anyway. I may be wrong, and someone please let me know if I am, but I don't know of anyone in Michigan that can sex at hatch the breeds you are wanting (Australorp and Orpington). Most folks sell them as straight run at that age. Good luck and I sure hope you find what you're looking for...there's nothing cuter than a basketful of fuzzy butts!

 

[shelleyb1969]

Quote:
Good morning!
She's either trying to "hide" because she's getting ready to lay an egg, or she's about to go broody.