Michigan

[vicki2x2]

We have a few free ranging chickens and turkeys right now, which thanks to our LGD's is finally safe to do. It is so funny to see them come running anytime we walk outside, pull in the yard, etc. Even more funny to see other people's faces when they see them come running. I have had people over to look at our boston puppies and those turkeys are so curious and come running up to check out the party, like hey what is going on here? anyone got treats??? who are you?? the reactions range from laughing to running, it is quite hilarious!

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote:

The geese are the best, when they come running they spread their wings and flap for all they're worth. It's funny to watch people's reactions when they have a flock of 14 geese, each with its own 4 foot wing span, running, honking and flapping their way.

 

[RIRJen]

Quote:

The geese are the best, when they come running they spread their wings and flap for all they're worth. It's funny to watch people's reactions when they have a flock of 14 geese, each with its own 4 foot wing span, running, honking and flapping their way.

I'm not going to lie...I love it when the little sheltered city children run screaming LOL

 

[chickflick]

Well, I got my two coops cleaned and ready for winter. Did I say that nasty word?!

Forgive me, please. I'd rather have fall last a few months and then comes spring.
Was so happy that I accomplished the cleaning, only to walk in this morning and see all that poop on the floor! Those ungrateful brats!

Was a bit stiff and sore this morning from working outside all day but still went for my walk. Good to work the stiffness out, at least that's what I tell myself!

Gotta go and work in the flower beds and get that garden put to bed. Hope you all have a great day...enjoy the weather cuz it ain't gonna last long!

 

[CricketYang]

So, I think I've an egg eater. Two days in a row I've come into the coop and my ONE ISA that is laying has had her egg broken and all the yolk gone. She hadn't laid for five days straight and then her next two eggs were just shells that were broken and empty. This is depressing.

 

[keyt1969]

Hope everyone is doing well and surviving this crazy wind. I get a kick out of seeing the chickens try to get around in it!

So we're getting more serious about this winterizing thing. Now our question is what would be best for feeding. We have read and read til our eyes about come out of our heads and we don't come up with a common answer. I know everyone does things different, but I just don't want to do anything wrong!

Like I've said before, we only started this chicken thing in May, but Aric and I both grew up in situations with chickens around....we were just not responsible for them so we don't remember how things were done. I know my sister (18 years older than me with a large ranch) would fatten up her chickens with cracked corn and leftovers, but lately I've been reading that's the wrong thing. Ugh, there's so much debate out there!

We aren't worried about the water thing because even in the winter we would be out there a lot so the water would always be changed.

The one good thing is it seems we are turning the corner with the molting. It appears the high protein diet has definitely worked! We have also licked the colds it seemed a handful had. So maybe we're doing some things right!

On another good note...Kim, I wish you could see Jax now! Yesterday we were sitting and watching his behavior. We let all the ducks into the chicken run to spend time with them longer than they normally do. Usually I would let them in there 10 minutes before everyone went into the barn for the night. But yesterday we let them in there about an hour early to see what Jax would do. EVERYWHERE he went, Opie followed him! If Jax happened to walk away from him and Opie's head was turned, Jax would walk up to a hen or Sadie and Opie was RIGHT THERE! He would always stand between Jax and Sadie and twice he bit him when Jax went near her. Opie did the same thing if he headed for a hen!! I have 2 very large hens and 2 large rooster cochins and they would NOT let Jax touch them. 3 times my big BLRW roosters I got from Tiempo a while ago pecked Jax too. So, I think he's cured! After about 15 minutes of this, poor Jax was standing in the middle of the run like a geeky high school kid with no friends!

Today things were calmer. All 7 ducks spent time in the pond together many times and Jax seems to have made friends with the calls (4), laying in the sun with them and napping next to them. Today was cheese and corn day. Jax LOVED that!! He's a talker though! He doesn't say anything until I walk out there then he quacks non-stop! Aric was out there most of the day painting shutters and he didn't say a thing, but every time I went out there he went on and on lol!

Well, hopefully tomorrow isn't as windy! I have a massive ear infection (probably thanks to the teeth I had pulled and problems after that), so every time I went to visit the animals and see Aric's progress on the shutters, I was in horrible pain. I'm in the process of making baby blankets for gifts (I've been trying to get to the point to make them for money but friends keep getting pregnant! lol) so that fortunately keeps me inside!

Have a great night!

 

[Olive Hill]

Keyt, the debate you see here about people feeding corn and leftovers is mainly centered on people who cut the diet of their chickens with those things (or scratch). Cutting the feed, reducing the amount of fortified feed they receive by increasing the "treats" and fattening agents in their diet, compromises the nutritional intake. Cracked corn use in the winter in addition to their regular diet to provide the additional energy that is required to stay warm is not problematic. Just watch that their intake of actual feed does not decrease. Mature birds' nutritional needs don't significantly increase due to the weather, but their energy requirements do. Since corn is rather nutritionally void, but energy dense it's a decent option to meeting those needs. HTH.

 

[Olive Hill]

Well, morning Michiganders! It's another chilly one out there; everything is covered in frost. I'm waiting on the last two eggs to finish hatching so I can get the 'bator cleaned up and re-set with the next batch of eggs. All of the chicks, other than those two that are still hatching, are up and moving around in there. Everyone looks good. Only had 1 egg that didn't make it. It stopped developing early on though. Good hatch rate, healthy vigorous chicks. I couldn't ask for much more. Well, other than hoping they're mostly male. I could ask for that.

Today's project is erecting additional waterfowl housing. It's getting a bit crowded for them with the addition of the muscovies, big duck and that sacrilegious pet sebbie gander we won't discuss.

So... more housing it is. (No, the answer could not be less waterfowl, don't be silly!)

 

[Mom 2em All]

Good Morning everyone-
keyt, I am glad that Jax is doing well there. Do miss him. BTW, he never shut up here. Ever. Get him a girlfriend, he will be happy. Opie is big enough to keep him in line and away from Sadie. lol. Roosters will keep him away from your hens. It is a good situation for all, except maybe poor hormonal Jax.

Quackers is doing okay without him- I am sure she was confused for a couple days, but she is hooked up with my biggest male Muscovy now. It will be okay. I could use another female scovy to even my numbers with two male ducks- it will happen, just a matter of when.

My frizzle would like a silkie or another frizzle to snuggle with this winter if anyone has a pullet/hen they are looking to get rid of.
My chickens are LOVING the fact that they do not have to run for their lives and can scour the garden remains without worry of Jax attacking them. Not relaxed enough to give me an egg, but look much calmer now.

Today i am cleaning aquariums.

I have a tank of death and cannot figure out why. The other aquarium has nasty looking gravel. *sigh* I hate lugging buckets of water to refill them.
Also have parent-teacher conferences today. For my good kid. Piece of cake.

Hope you all have a wonderful day.

 

[lilmstw72]

Good Morning fellow Michiganders... brrrrr baby, it's cold out there! Now that it is starting to be colder more often I need to figure out what to do about keeping my chickens hydrated through the winter months by keeping my waterers from being frozen. What do you all use?

The way my coop is designed my waterers are outside so I will need to do something to keep them from freezing. I'm assuming the best thing would be a plug in heated waterer which I'm sure I can buy at the local feed store or online but thought I would see what others use that are on here.

And since I am still new to chickens... will all my chickens cease laying eggs in the winter months if I don't add some artificial lighting to extend their 'days'? Out of my 7 (assuming all pullets, haven't heard any crowing yet), I average 3-4 eggs a day. I know my EE is still molting and I'm not sure both of my JGs have started laying yet and of my 4 Lt. Brahmas I'm sure 3 are laying.