Michigan

[wishtofish]

We got lucky the last few days. Everything melted. It gave a change to shovel out the hay in the bottom of the coop & rake it all into the compost area. Was able to get to Tractor Supply the 31 & bought a few squares of their shaved pine wood bedding. Fed & watered the hens today.... Spread out a full bag of the bedding...... Happy Hens!

 

[KrisRose]

Quote:
I love a clean coop!!
Wishtofish-Welcome to BYC

!!!

 

[justcelia]

Hello everyone!
I guess chickens don't like coffee...

Maggie thought she could come inside the house yeaterday. She hopped over the metal bottom of the screen door but didn't realize the "open" area was glass!

She ran back to the coop so i went out to check on her. She came up and was interested in my coffee cup so I let her have a sip. "Yuck" she said!

I love these girls! I can't wait to get a couple more in the SPRING!

We found some 3X3.5' plywood panels on Craigs List. They were broken down crates used to ship automotive crank shafts. Reinforced with 1x3" furring strips.
(plenty more if you are in the Warren, 15 mile and Van Dyke area)
Gonna make a GREAT coop for the girls!

Celia
2 Brahama hens and a Yorkie

 

[Mom 2em All]

Well.
I went out to check on the chickens feet twice today. Earlier, both hens were huddled under the heat lamp as if they were frozen. Bag balm/vaseline doesnt freeze- but does it make them colder?

Now I just went out, and they are standing in the straw outside- feet look greasy, maybe a little better but definitely not much. They wont let me get close enough to actually be able to tell. They run like I am going to kill them.
And they make me miss Carmen (my oldest hen who passed away a bit ago).

She was personable. I could pick her up, interact with her, etc. She had to have a bite of whatever you were eating/carrying/holding- and always in your business. These girls are, well, they are chickens. And thats it. No connection at all like Carmen. (and they dont even lay eggs)
I asked my daughter about ordering hatching eggs of some Isa Browns or Golden Comets (I think thats what she was) and she said, "absolutely not!" and I think I agree. There was only one Carmen.

So, I think what I will be after will be some silkies. A couple splash- or potential to be splash chicks/pullets. Same thing I was looking for last year- and like my avatar shows. However, I will be looking for them with a little more intensity. If I have to hatch them out, I will, but I really dont want to. The problem with hatching them is that then i have to find someone to take the roos and extras. That is a pain.
I think I just really miss Carmen who b*$%^ched me out if I was late coming out to them, and who always ran up to see what goodies I had- and made it worth getting bundled up to go outside to check on them. Something my flock is really lacking now- because even the ducks who thought I was Mom when they were little, run away when I get out there.

 

[gallinamama]

Quote:
I love a clean coop!!
Wishtofish-Welcome to BYC

!!!

So do I! I did the same and towards the end I did what another member said on their post. Just throw a big pile of straw or hay in there and the ladies will do the decorating for you... so I did... In the coop and the run... just made big piles... The next day it was all fixed up.. I could not of done a better job... plus it gave the girls something to do...

 

[gallinamama]

What feed do you give your chickens to lay harder shell and darker yolks? just wondering if I am feeding them well enough. I feed them the crumbles and leftovers, some scratch and lay out some grit and calcium... whatchacallit...haha. Is that good? or am I doing something wrong... they lay eggs ok.. , here lately not as many but I figure it is the winter since I do not have electricity out there. They have slowed up and started to lay in another spot ( under the nests.. in the corner) since I got a new rooster from my neighbor...is that normal?

 

[Olive Hill]

Celia -- That is hilarious! And great find on that lumber. We reuse a lot of pallets around here. Good stuff.

M2M -- If it's any help we've had a number of ISA Browns who were quite friendly and personable. One in particular used to "help" when we were working on projects outside. On building / construction type projects she'd "hand" my husband nails. She'd stick her head in the box, pick one up, and then sit it next to him... again and again. Worried me at first when I saw her with one in her beak but then when I saw what she was doing... I was impressed! LOL! Also had an ISA Brown Roo, Sebastian, who was a very personable guy. He used to go sledding with my kids. Would sit right on their lap and go down the hill and then run back up beside them and do it all again. Carmen will always be Carmen and she can't be replaced, but I do think the ISAs can tend towards being that pet-like chicken all on their own.

gallina -- Dark yolks are a result of a diet rich in greens. You can give them loose greens during the winter. Mine eat grass/alfalfa hay when the grass is buried under snow, but you can use anything -- spinach, lettuce, broccoli, kale, collards, etc. For hard shells they just need sufficient calcium, which, it sounds like you've got covered. A winter slow-down is normal, but diet can play a part in how long that slow down lasts. Chickens require at least 16% protein. Which is why that is what layer feed is usually formulated at, because that feed is meant to be fed exclusively. If you're feeding treats on the side however, the overall protein in their diet is probably being reduced. If you're going to feed scratch, leftovers, etc, it may not be a bad idea to boost the CP concentration in their feed to 18 or 20%.

 

[RIRJen]

Quote:
OUCH! That doesn't sound too good. I don't think it would be because of the meds, because that was an antibiotic. I would just keep cleaning it up with warm water and if you want to you can smear a little neosporin (regular, not the pain relief kind) on there. It says on the tube "not for eyes" but I've been using it forever on any of my rabbits who get a little sticky in the eye.

 

[SillyChicken]

Our bunny Spaz had a ton of babies within the last 24 hrs.... so cute, all are dk brwn/black except 2 are pink as can be. Looks like there could be 10 or 12 of them!

So glad for that brief thaw, got to clean up the chicken yard a little it was getting a bit gross. While cleaning the coop, I discovered the heat lamp bulb glass broke at the base, but was still lit, so I took it out of the coop. Last thing I want is a fire! The chicks are all huddled in a pile but they'll survive ok.

Hope everyone has a great start to the new year!!

 

[RIRJen]

Hi! Happy New Year to everyone! I spent my new years eve in Wisconsin at an all-breed rabbit show. My daughter and I took top honors...I still can't believe this happened...here's the pictures!
Hannah won Best in Show Youth with her home-grown English spot doe "Runaway's Moose Tracks"

I won Best in Show Open with my home-grown Belgian Hare doe "LLR's Winners Circle" (she got named after the show lol)

I also won Best Opposite sex of breed with my English lop doe "LLR's Biruta" in both shows!

I know it's not chicken related but I really wanted to share! What a great way to start the new year!