Michigan

[SillyChicken]

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Sorry about your bird...

Chin up, it'll get better!

 

[SillyChicken]

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Me either Opa...


So, I know it's spring when the motorcycles emerge from their hibernation!

 

[Chickmate]

Hello Michiganders! I'm in SE MI (Clay Twp.) just across the river from Canada. I had a fantastic coop built last summer (insulated and wired) and spent the fall painting and getting ready for my chicks this spring. Yesterday I picked up 13 Americaunas, 5 Isa Reds and 5 Barred Rocks. They are so cute at this age (a llittle over a week old). I have them in the coop in a cattle tough with heating light. I turned the ceramic heater on last night around 9:00 p.m. and when I went out to check on them at about midnight it was 82 degrees in the coop! They look like they are doing great. I think I can already pick out a couple of roos. They seem to have an attitude and keep jumping up at the chicken wire I have over the top of the trough. I have been taking my 3 Chinese Cresteds in with me every time I check on the chicks in the hopes that they will become protective of them instead of seeing them as dinner. I'm so excited to finally have them after waiting so long! My coop is built like Ft. Knox, so I'm hoping I don't have predator problems. Lots of raccoons in my yard eating the bird seed but the dogs chase them off. The girl I bought them from cautioned me against trying to keep different breeds together because she said they would pick on each other and I'd end up having to separate them. Sounds like a lot of you keep them together with no problems, right? I only have one run that is 14 x 25 and the coop is 10 x 14 with 12 nest boxes. I would still like to add a few Black Copper Marans to the flock when I can find them. Please give advice on keeping them all together, or will I need to build another coop? How about adding a few ducks? I have a huge pond a few feet from the coop and wouldn't mind ducks to enjoy also. Thanks for any advice! WooHoo!!!!!

 

[chickflick]

If you are planning on breeding certain breeds, then you need to separate them, but otherwise, all my different breeds are happily living together.

 

[Farmer Andy]

Chickmate, there are people on here with far more chicken experience than me, but I have many different breeds together and have never had any problems. I do have a process I go thru when I introduce new birds. I normally put the new birds in a wire dog crate out in my animal area when my other birds are free ranging. I then move the crate into the chickens run in the late afternoon. Once the other girls are roosting for the night I open the dog crate and they normally go right in the coop with no problems. When I purchased my first chicks the guy told me I shouldn't mix standard size with banties just because of the size difference and th smaller ones may get picked on. I like having a couple of many different breeds. I think I would get bored if I only had one breed to look at. You should post some pics of your coop so we can all enjoy. Good Luck

 

[wishtofish]

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I have several different types of chicken. They were all pullets purchased within a few weeks of each other. I don't know if that helps them to get along better. Remember that chickens develop a "Pecking Order". They with peck at each others feathers and such. You have to be sure they are getting enough protein & that they have things to do or they will start pecking at each other. Having plenty of room in the coop helps when they are locked in for the night. I throw in some scratch, fresh grass clippings, etc to keep them busy.

I see that others have chickens & ducks or geese... I don't know if they house them together. My neighbor has raised poultry for 40+ years on there farm. He says chickens prefer being in a dry setting while waterfowl like getting wet.... So I guess that I would find a way to house them in different settings.....

 

[Chickmate]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I will send pictures of my coop as soon as I get my camera fixed. Does anyone know a good source for Black Copper Marans or does anyone have chicks for sale in my area? I'd like to get about a half dozen or so. Thanks again for the advice!

 

[chickflick]

I have some banties mixed in with the standard and small size chickens also. No problems. In fact the two banties rule the roost!

 

[Mom 2em All]

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Just

for you. Im sorry. I hope and pray you dont have to deal with anything else for a long time. Stay strong. Your daughter is depending on that.

 

[Mish]

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Try brkuk, he's in SE Mi and has great birds.

Also I have bantams, standards and a pair of ducks that do fine together. They are all less than 2 months different in age and were raised in 2 groups (1. bantams were hatched first week in April & 2. ducks and standard size chicks in mid May). The fast-growing ducklings protected "their" chicks from bullying from the older Bantams until the Standards outgrew them. Ducks are MUCH messier by the way.