Michigan

[ChicwannaB]

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Same here in Munger. Everything is growing so well from all the rain, but that means the weeds too.
Put in 5 flats of annuals alone, and I planted wave petunias in a step-like planter by the back door. Hubby did all the rest. Have a nice summer everyone.

 

[ChicwannaB]

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My front and back yards are separated by a fence and gate and the chickens free range the back yard only. I have moved all my hostas and anything I didn't want them to eat to the front yard. The fence is 5' high wire farm fence and I do occasionally have a chicken go through the fence, but never over it. They are able to fit through the squares right now, but when they get full sized I don't think they will. They would really rather go around something than fly over it. That said, they hop up on my deck which is probably 3' high with no problem. They don't sit on my fence because it's wire and too hard for them to balance on, but if it looks like something they can sit on they may try to do that. A picket fence wouldn't be too comfortable to sit on so they probably won't. It's worth a try, but that fence that RaZ found sounds great!!

I read you only need to clip one wing, it makes them off balance and therefore unable to fly. Leave the feathers near the tip so the bird still looks good. Trim only closest to the body and it's hidden buy the other feathers.

 

[1muttsfan]

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Hi saddina, welcome in advance to Michigan, quite a change from the desert (this year especially downstate with all the rain they have had)

Preening at the "sweet young things" reference...

 

[chickflick]

The light bodied chickens will possibly fly over the fence. I have a 6 ft fence around my run, and I had a rooster that flew over it all the time. Also, California Whites are very athlectic and flew over the six foot fence.
I have several that can clear my 4 ft chain link fence. EEs, California whites, buttercups and who else, I can't keep track of.
Good Luck with your chickens!

 

[ChicwannaB]

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U dont have any pics posted yet.......twiddling my thumbs.

 

[fifelakelooper]

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[fifelakelooper]

Today a man from Flint came and bought my 4 blue/black Orpingtons and 7 of the 12 English BBS Orps. I now own just the 5 I'm keeping plus 13 BBS Jerseys that I will reduce to 8 when they are older. I suspect (and so did the buyer) that 5 out of 7 of the English were roos...but he paid for them and I think will keep the best of the roos for breeding and selling downstate. I told him I'll sell up in N. Michigan and you can sell in South.

 

[saddina]

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Hi saddina, welcome in advance to Michigan, quite a change from the desert (this year especially downstate with all the rain they have had)

Preening at the "sweet young things" reference...

Yep, I moved mr saddi down here 10 years ago, and he's been hot everyday since, so I figure it's his turn to be comfortable, and i'll just get a fut coat out of it.

 

[Opa]

Just finished an incredible supper. A milk breath venison roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet glazed carrots, and bisquits. Now I'm kicking back with a fresh cup of coffee. Yes life is good. Now I'll just relax until dark and then go candle the eggs under the Vorwerk broody. Yesterday was the 21st day and as of 4pm there was no sign of pips. Hopefully when I candle them they will still be viable. The little hen has been so diligent about sitting I would hate for her to have sat in vain.

With all of the folks new to chicks and all the talk today about wing trimming I thought I might chime in with my opinion. I never trim wings until a bird becomes a problem with flying out on a regular basis. There are two schools of thought on wing trimming, one wing or both. The one wings advocates believe that it is better because the bird is off balance and won't be able to fly properly. I prefer the two wing method because with one trim wing keep them from flying up it also presents a problem with flying down. Even with leave the roost in the coop the wings come in to play. If they are out of balance they may land wrong and injure themselves.

Trimming wings is a pretty simple process but you need to examine the feathers before you cut. A growing feather contains a blood vessel and the shaft will appear to have a dark line running the length of it. As the feather matures the blood vessel retracts and eventually disappears completely. The shaft of a mature feather is translucent. Cutting a "blood feather" can result in a lot of blood loss that could prove fatal to your bird. If you should happen to cut one, immediately pull the rest of the feather out with a pair of needle nosed pliers and apply a syptic powder if bleeding continues.

With that warning issued the actually trimming is easy. The last ten feathers on a wing are the primary flight feathers. You will need to cut approximately 2/3 of the feather to be effective. You will not wind up with having a mutilated looking bird because when the wing is folded and against the birds body the coverlet feathers hides the primary feathers.

 

[RaZ]

OK, so my flock is here in the 'burbs, right in the middle of city folk. In the last couple of days, I have been asked (or told) the following: "Do roosters lay the brown eggs?"; "No, brown eggs are 'spoiled'"; "How do they lay them in those cartons?"; "Can chickens swim in your pond?"; "That's not a duck...ducks have green heads"; "You can't eat eggs from a "wild" chicken; and my favourite..."Why do they always lay 12 at a time?"

I kid you not, the neighbors have asked me these questions.