Michigan

[Frizzledhen]

Hello Valerie. I am just down the road from Eaton Rapids in Springport. Getting chicks in the fall is very doable. They will need a heat lamp until they feather out around 8 weeks of age and then the most important thing is a draft free coop. I keep bantams along with standard chickens in my barn all winter. The bantams did quite well but a couple of the standards with large single combs did get a little frost bite.
Anyway, welcome to BYC and the wonderful world of chickens.

 

[MrsChickendad]

Wow, your cops are tough! Altho I did get a speeding ticket in Lennon for 31 in a 25 zone. Twice.

I do recall having been through C'ville, but regrettably no specifics pop to mind. Lennon did have a dog that slept in the middle of the road several years back.

 

[vicki2x2]

Quote:
Hi Valerie,

I am so jealous!! I want a big red barn!!! Welcome to the area.

 

[Opa]

Welcome BillRobbins and MrsChickendad. You will find that this site is a great source of information and you will find it also can be a wonderful place to share a tragedy and receive caring and compassionate posts to help you deal with the event. I am so very glad I found this site and I'm sure you will be too

 

[chicka_chicka_boom_boom]

Thanks for the welcome, Cathy and Gayle!

Here are the few shots that I have of our future barn. We go again next Wednesday to do the property inspection, so I will be able to get some more pictures and details about the condition of the barn. It is about 50 yards from the house, with a blacktop driveway that goes right up to the main level. Inside, there is a little structure that might be a good start for a chicken coop, but I didn't get any pictures of it yet. The lower level opens out into the coral, which is just a vinyl split rail fence right now. Inside the lower level, there are stalls and lots of debris that will have ro be removed before we can figure it all out. It's also inhabited by several nests of barn swallows right now... you go in and there are birds flying all around. I think this used to be a pig farm at one point.

BARN FROM THE DRIVE:

BARN DOOR AT DRIVEWAY (yes it needs to be cleaned out a little):

BARN FROM THE SIDE:

We will have 6 acres. Behind our property is another almost 30 acres that are also for sale, but out of our price range. They are filled with strawberries (rented out) now.

BACKYARD (you can see the neighbors on one side):

I think we're going to like it here, and hopefully chickens will be too.

I am still deciding which types of chickens to get. My intent is to eventually sell fresh eggs and supplement our income. With 2 small children, I'm hoping to find chickens that will be gentle enough for them to help with the care, and even consider them as family pets (or at least not be terrified of them). DH is also pretty scared of chickens, so I don't want to have everyone scared to go in the barn. I really want to get a variety, and love the idea of different colors of eggs, but am most concerned about temperment. Anyway, I want to end up with a bunch of chickens in different colors and maybe even some bantams. I have to confess that the more I read, the more confused I get about what to get. I'm kind of an "all or nothing" person, so I'm ready to jump right in and get 50 chickens and get our egg business going. Do people buy bantam eggs? How small are they? I guess my priorities are: egg production (but not mean), gentle, and pretty to look at. Also, if we get up to 25-50 chickens, will we still be able to get to know them personally? Should we start out with a few and just keep adding more?

I would love to let them run loose on the property, but am not sure how practical that is, and don't want them to get run over on our busy street. Our yard is set back a little from the road, so maybe that won't be a problem. If you let them just run loose during the day (as adults, of course), do they ruin your lawn? DH is so excited to have a big lawn, and won't be happy if it gets ruined by chickens. How far will they roam from the barn? I hope to become fast friends with that one neighbor, but if that's not possible, I'll have to find a way to keep them out of his yard.

Well, I think that's enough questions for now. Are there local sources for assorted baby chicks, or should I order by mail? I was looking at the "All Pullet Rainbow Pack" from Meyer Hatchery, and maybe some bantams from them too.

Sorry to be write a novel. I value your expert opinions, so please guide me! I can't wait to get started!

 

[vicki2x2]

Hi Valerie,

I have seen that barn!! Ok, memory stinks, so I have no idea where it actually is, but I know I have seen it!! I have a thing for barns, lol.

One of my 4-H kids ordered a rainbow pullet pack and were very happy with them. That was from Cackle last spring. We did order from Meyer this year, but not the pullet pack. You could probably find what you want in started pullets around the area by watching BYC, going to a swap meet or two, asking around, etc. I am not sure if hatchery's sell chicks that late in the year or not. We have always ordered in the early spring for 4-H birds.

Nice meeting you neighbor!

 

[Gloria]

Hello Everyone, Davison checking in here! lol Glad you started this thread, Great idea!
I'm the daughter of a cattle truck driver. I grew up with 12 horses and a Jack..., cows, a pig with 13 baby's, geese and of course a collie. My Aunt had chickens, rabbits and pigs.

My DH and I finally bought our first house 11 yrs ago. One day he was talking to a friend and was telling him he would like to have some chickens someday. Later that night we found 3 white leghorns in a cage in the middle of our driveway! lol

So that's how I got started with chickens.

I had to learn fast what to do with them. It wasn't hard though, they found a place to sleep by there selfs. On a shelf in the top of our garage. It was so cute. We could have set the clock by them. 5 o'clock every afternoon they were in bed in the garage.

Now I've added 2 EE's last year and 4 RIR's this year. My daughter who is 18 and now out in the world on her own, used to say I don' t want to live on a farm. And I would have to tell her "Well, guess what, I think you pretty much do now!".

So that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

[Frizzledhen]

Hey Valerie. What a great place. The possibilties are out of this world. I am so jealous. My advice on how many chickens is..........DON'T get too many all at once. You need to build your egg sales before producing a zillion eggs. And no matter how many chickens we already have, we always want more. Some nice egg producers are RIR, Delaware, Buff Orps and Ameraucanas for colored eggs. All are dual purpose birds and pretty docile. The extra roos make for great eating.
Free ranging is great if you can control predators. Generally chickens will not damage the yard unless they find an especially great place to take dust baths.
I love my banties! I have cochins and they are the sweetest chicks going. I do not sell banty eggs but rather use them for my own consumption. The banty cochin eggs are a pretty good size and I use 2 in place of 1 regular egg.
Hatcheries are a good place for production birds as that is what they breed them for. If you are looking for exhibition birds you will do much better going to a breeder. Gee, I am all excited for you and the adventure you have ahead of you. Word of advice from one who knows, when chickens become work and are no longer fun, you have too many chickens. The best of luck with your new farm.
Gayle

 

[CATRAY44]

I know that Stevens Poultry farm http://www.freewebs.com/yzwreckin have beautiful healthy chicks... There have unsexed (at the time) Americana and sexed Mille Fluer D'Uccles. The birds are beautiful and tested for disease. Very clean and healthy environment. The owners are also very patient and helpful (in this newbies opinion. Located in Camden, Mi.

Your barn and land are beautiful!!

 

[miss_jayne]

Quote:
woah, i go to church at Otisville Assembly! i just got some chickens last night in Otisville! it takes me about 10 minutes to get there! we are so close! how cool!!! our kids go to lakeville. one going to high school and junior high next year. one will be at columbiaville el.

it was a drive by chicken gift!