Michigan

[A2SciTeach]

Yep, lots of feathers around here and few eggs. Dark and dreary this morning down here in the SE, leaves are getting smaller, flocks of geese flying overhead and Sandhill Cranes are gathering. Fall is rapidly approaching.

When I was in Gladwin area last week I saw a bumper crop of acorns. Usually means a harsh winter, I do believe.

Sorry M2M, no muscovies here. and Nancy, my Wyandottes were also late, one at 28 weeks and one at 30 weeks! But once they started, they've been very reliable layers of x-large eggs, well worth the wait.

 

[Huston's Happy Hens]

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San and A2: Thanks for the input! Can't wait for all our youngins to begin laying! If I take them out to 30 wks and according to Ellen they were born around 2/4, they should begin laying early Sept. Sam, our projection for the wellies is around early october...do you agree?
Gotta run and get ready for work - UGH - too nice a day to be workin INSIDE!
Hey, what's the cause of all the feathers? I thought it was because we had so many young ones!

 

[michickenwrangler]

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Hey you were up in my area!

I was in Prescott/West Branch area a few days ago and didn't see a lot of acorns and that's just north of Gladwin so maybe it'll just be localized?

Although my mother in Saline keeps griping about how hot it is down there and I'm enjoying my "normal summer weather" of 77 degrees.

Although it's supposed to get hot next week.

Back to the grind next Monday. I got a job teaching Spanish at the middle schools in the West Branch-Rose City district. I hope this job works out and the state keeps the foreign language requirement. I turn 30 in a few days and I'm at a point where I want to be at a job and stay. I'm tired of bouncing.

 

[Opa]

Huston's Happy Hens :

Hey, what's the cause of all the feathers?

Actually all of the loose feathers is quite normal. It's an annual molt and this time of year is much easier on the birds than if they molt later in the year. Sure does make a mess and some sorry looking birds though.​

 

[gallinamama]

GOOD AFTERNOON!, I HAVE A QUESTION... MY CHICKENS ARE 19 WEEKS.. NEXT TUESDAY THEY WILL BE 20 WEEKS OLD.. NONE ARE LAYING... I JUST WENT TO THE TRACTOR SUPPLY TODAY AND BOUGHT A BAG OF LAYENA CRUMBLES. IS THIS A GOOD FOOD FOR THEM? I ALSO GOT A SMALL BAG OF OYSTER SOMETHING OR OTHER... I READ ABOUT ON ONE OF THE POSTS HERE.

I ALSO FEED THEM A LOT OF TABLE SCRAPS, GRASS AND FRUIT. IS THIS A GOOD ENOUGH DIET FOR THE CHICKENS? SHOULD I BE JUST FEEDING THEM THE LAYENA OR CAN I FEED THEM PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING I WANT?.

LIKE I SAID THEY ARE ALMOST 20 WEEKS OLD AND STILL NO EGGS...THEY DON'T EVEN LOOK LIKE THEY ARE CLOSE. I DO FIND THAT THEY WANT THE SCRAPS MORE THAN THE FEED... ALTHOUGH THIS MORNING THEY DID DIVE INTO THE LAYENA. HOPEFULLY SOMETHING WILL GIVE....

I HAVE FEED AND WATER IN THE COOP, FEED AND WATER IN THE RUN. THEY ARE GETTING SO BIG BUT NO EGGS.. MAYBE I NEED A DOSE OF PATIENCE..

 

[gallinamama]

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WHERE IN THE GLADWIN AREA? WE JUST BOUGHT A COTTAGE ON SMALLWOOD LAKE... NEAR THE WOODENSHOE!!

 

[Huston's Happy Hens]

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Gallinamana, what breed(s) do you have?

 

[gallinamama]

HI HUSTON'S HAPPY HENS... I AM NOT REALLY SURE... THEY WERE HATCHED ON APRIL 12TH AT MY GRANDSON'S PRESHCOOL A WEEK LATER THE TEACHER WAS ASKING WHO COULD TAKE THEM HOME... I VOLUNTEERED...HERE ARE A FEW PICTURES:THESE PICTURES ARE ABOUT A MONTH OLD OR MORE.. THEY ARE MUCH BIGGER NOW.

 

[Huston's Happy Hens]

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I recognize Plymouth Barred Rocks, Cinnamon Queens (great layers) as well as Buff Orps and Black Austrolorps....I'd give them another month and the queens should be laying...maybe a bit longer for the other two - the other two that are white, w/black and brown on their wings are pretty and probably mutts. Is one of them a rooster?
BTW, you keep your water VERY VERY CLEAN! Must be your hens don't have dirty beaks like mine!

 

[19sarah90]

Hey y'all! I know, I know... I'm pathetic, only popping in every several months or so. I mean it this time though... I'm going to be more active here. I wish I could have made it to the chickenstock! I've got a lot of catching up to do now.

I've been nearly a whole year without chickens now and I'm not liking it! My brother wants a long-feathered bantam to show at our fair next year and I fell in love with the white rocks that I saw at the fair this year. We had mill quality white rocks many years ago and they were my favorite breed for laying and setting, and when I saw the huge show-quality rocks I couldn't help but fall in love all over again! I'm determined to start a flock! (what's really irritating is that I got rid of my layers last fall because they were getting into dad's garden... and then he didn't even start a garden this year!!!) Ah, well...