Michigan

[RBahmer]

Good Morning All! The chickies are doing good this morning and have settled in thier new home (on my diningroom table lol) very well. I'm just itching to candle the shipped eggs to see how many are developing but I'm making myself wait until tomorrow.
Is anyone else on here planning on going to the Alma show next month? (Spring FowlFest) It would be nice to meet some of the names on here and put some faces with them!

I planned on it but circumstances have changed that. But, you already know me anyway LOL

 

[sarah92480]

M.Sue sorry to hear about your hen. Its worse when you don't have an answer and its unexpected.

Now that its not whine-less wednesday...
I am heading out the door to take my daughter to Providence Hospital. She is scheduled for a colonoscopy this morning. Have NO idea where I am going or how long it takes to get there..or the condition of Southfield Freeway..
We should be back by noon. She cant wait to eat food. Couldnt have anything but broth all day yesterday. And apple juice. Makes for a crabby sixteen year old. Day before yesterday, they said no fruits or vegetables. Well, she is vegetarian for the most part so that made meals pretty much nothing, as well.

Everyone have a good day. It feels like winter has returned.

I dont know the story behind why she is getting this procedure done, but good luck with that, hope everything goes well. And yes, doesnt it stink that's cold out again? I mean, I guess it's typical for us this time of year...I dont know about you guys but I sure got spoiled w/the warm weather we had for a bit!

Yep, it's going to be a good day. A very simple test can tell you immediately whether you coming day is going to be good or not. Place the tips of two fingers just below your wrist of the opposite hand. If there isn't a pulse then your day isn't going to be very good. However, if there is then the hard part is taken care of and everything else you can handle.

Love your attitude every morning. I wish I was a morning person because I'd probably enjoy it more!! But I do agree...we dont have it so bad, and a lot of us are blessed with families, jobs, etc that some people dont have. Sometimes it's better to think happy thoughts!! Well, most of the time

Sarah, if you cover part or all of your run for winter the hens will go outside and the poo will mostly be outside. if you then have poop boards, I cover mine with bedding from the floor then clean them off every 3 days or so. roll the dirty bedding up toss in old feed bag. cleans up fast. and floor stays cleaner. on the floor I use 1or2 bales of pine shavings then I through down maybe1/2 a bale of hay, they mix it all up good and the more they are outside. the cleaner it stays inside. I also keep my food and water outside. less mess inside and hens have to go out to eat so they are staying out most of the day. no smelly coop in the spring cause it all stayed dry.

Thank you for that advice, that is helpful. However Im not sure how big your coop is? That seems like a lot to me but I'm new to this. Mine is 5'x3'. And what about in the summer, you probably dont need as much right? And I understand the poop board but I can't picture it; can you describe, or direct me to a link to a picture where I can see one? That sounds good to me though, having a smell-good coop. I plan on having the food outside also, and they will be free ranging most evenings and weekends.

Anyone use one of these grills (Akorn) ? It's a cheaper version of the green egg grill. We picked it up yesterday and tried it last night.. It doesn't even get hot on the outside! The walls are insulated, it has a heavy cast iron grill vs a wire grate. It's pretty cool!

I saw one of those at the store the other day, but I've never used one. Our friend's father has the green egg and it does seem to be pretty cool. He slow cooked some ribs in there all day one time and they turned out perfect. I told my BF we should get one but we already have 3 grills lol.

 

[1muttsfan]

She wasn't even a year yet...almost. Would it cause her to just keel over & croak?

There are so many reasons - a post mortem can be very helpful, even if distasteful.


I have half my run covered with white plastic panels that I got from Lowes, they really do prefer to spend time outside but not when it is windy. 3X5 is a pretty small coop to keep them happy when shut in if it went on for days in bad weather, so having an outside area that is protected from the weather would help a lot.

I find that if I put straw in the nest boxes my girls pick through it for oats and kick it (and all the eggs) out. So they get shavings only.

I am brooding my chicks this year on pelleted pine horse bedding, it is so much less dusty and smelly than shavings. I was worried that they would eat it, but that has not been a problem.

 

[SillyChicken]

Can anyone tell me what color this little lion head is? It's a creamy white with lt grey ears, nose, tail... sable point? idk! Anyone looking for a lion head w/pedigrees? I have two that are creamy white, this one, a blue and 2 black. They'll be ready in about a month.

 

[sarah92480]

I have half my run covered with white plastic panels that I got from Lowes, they really do prefer to spend time outside but not when it is windy. 3X5 is a pretty small coop to keep them happy when shut in if it went on for days in bad weather, so having an outside area that is protected from the weather would help a lot.

I find that if I put straw in the nest boxes my girls pick through it for oats and kick it (and all the eggs) out. So they get shavings only.

I am brooding my chicks this year on pelleted pine horse bedding, it is so much less dusty and smelly than shavings. I was worried that they would eat it, but that has not been a problem.

The area where the coop is is sheltered pretty good from the wind but is open except for the fence in front of it (see earlier pictures). They will be in the coop or in that "yard" during the day as well as their "backyard" around the side of the shed, and then let out for evenings and weekends. I haven't thought of how to alter the fencing for winter yet, but that is a good idea. Maybe I can just put something in front of the fence to keep out more draft, but I dont think I'll even need to really. We'll see how it goes! Thanks for the tips, I really appreciate it. I love learning all the new stuff about chickens!

 

[RBahmer]

Hello Olive

 

[Bianca67]

TOO FUNNY!

I am really tempted to take another sample back to have Bader check it. I don't know. I just didn't feel like the girl who did it was competent on what is acceptable or not for a chicken... I JUST KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG! She was still losing weight before she went broody. I think I had said that though... that she was still to skinny after her babies hatched and she started coming out of the broody coop. Skeeter is completely opposite. She's put the weight back on already. Leila hasn't. So... worms in general.

On another note... Check out this ad...

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/2920135893.html

This is one messed up ad..

So Sorry Sue.

Here is a pic....Warning...A Little Graphic for those that are squeamish.

Love your post.

Welcome to chicken world. Where you worry about everything all the time.

Beautiful birds Elliemae.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/image/view/id/5013610/album/6177731/sort/display_order
Ok, I think I got it. Here is a pic of the FCBM roo. His comb looks kinda funny because the woman that I got him from just left him out to fend for himself this winter....coyote bait basically.....comb , wattles and feet were frostbitten.....his wattles and feet made a full recovery, but lost half of his comb.
Oh stink....now why did that show up like that and not just a pic? Ugh! Back to the drawing board. I just hate it when the computer outsmarts me.

 

[sarah92480]

Well I guess it's my turn to "whine"...my cell phone is a piece of crap. It never rang once last night, but when I went to break just now I looked and it says 6 missed calls & a voicemail from last night. Apparently my mom & my brother tried to call me because my dad is in the hospital in TC because he had chest pains last night. Apparently he is ok but they want to do some tests and stuff. Say a prayer that everything is fine!

 

[sarah92480]

I havent actually even talked to my mom yet, that is what my brother texted me...and I guess he might have to have some sort of surgery too...no news yet.

 

[Bianca67]

Sarah, so sorry your phone failed you. Will say a prayer that your Dad will be okay.