Michigan

[Chickmate]

A belated Happy Easter to everyone. Went to my daughter and son-in-laws for Easter on Saturday night and returned last night after dark. Great neighbors on both sides of me were doing day and night shift chicken duty. One to close the chicken door after dark on Saturday night and one to open it on Sunday morning. Can't wait to install an automatic door! When I got home last night I looked in the window of the coop and did not see one chicken! Someone stole ALL my chickens?? The heat lamp was on and not a chicken under it! I opened the door and had to laugh as for the first time, they had all managed to get up to the high roosts that are about 5 ft. off the ground. They are going on 8 weeks this week and I guess they have decided they would rather roost like big chickens than sit under the heat lamp any longer. Now I have to go out and take "stuff" I have been storing on the roosts (like a twin bed frame) out of the coop and give them room to roost up there.

Also have my 10 baby FBCM in the big brooder in the coop and the older chickens have started sitting on the wire top and pooping down into the brooder. I need to figure out how to keep that from happening.

It's cold and raining and I would rather stay in the house, but have to go out and get busy in the coop. Love spending time with my peeps anyway.

 

[Chickmate]

Oh no, please not that! Just brought in the mail. JURY DUTY!!

 

[DaughterOfEve]

Hope things look up soon Vicky.

As promised, I snapped a couple pics of the McMurray chicks that just arrived. SLW and Quail D'Anvers (sp). All are doing great and those little bantams give the bigger chicks what for. Very funny to watch.

Enjoy the warmer weather, I know there is more rain in the forcast.

 

[fifelakelooper]

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Thanks Andy...I will check it out. I don't know if I NEED to worry about it or not...I just haven't had that type door before and I do have lots of predators around here!

 

[SillyChicken]

Guess I had alot of catching up to do!

Hi to the new folks!

Hi to the old folks!

Hope everyone had a happy easter. We took a basket with some baby bunnies up to my DS house for my DN to play with. She was excited. We've got several bunny litters on the way!

We've been keeping busy, we're planning out seperate fencing for the dogs and the geese and ducks and chickens. I'm sure it will keep us busy most of the summer putting it all up. My DH likes to over build things, but thats ok cause if we (I) change our minds and want to add some goats or sheep, the fences will be strong enough to hold mini elephants.

I was surprised how fast the ducklings grew up. I've got a little pekin and fawn runner from TSC. I'm looking to get them some quackmates to hang around with.
I'm finding the ducks a little more appealing than my geese. The emden won't have much to do with us, and the African.... never shuts up and I can't go near anything else or she chases them away. I'm sure she'd be happier with a mate cause even though she feels me or my DH should fill this role, we've left her quite disappointed and she lets us know every second that we're out there. I may consider rehoming them if the right person comes along.

I've also really enjoyed the BB turkeys. They're friendly and funny as the ducklings but do seem kinda dense. So I'm interested in getting some Heritage birds. The BB's will be for holiday dinners, but I'd love to have a breeding flock of heritage birds. Who was on here from the brooklyn area that had turkey's?

I sold one of my salmon faverolle roosters this weekend and have 3 hens that have gone broody (all on the same nest).

At the end of May we have 100 channel catfish being delivered to our pond. I'm excited about that too! Lots of good stuff coming our way this year!

We also sold my old sportster this weekend so we'll be able to pay off a few bills which will be nice!

 

[Olive Hill]

Probably shouldn't say it out loud lest I jinx us, but it looks like maybe we'll be getting a little less rain that originally predicted. At least so far... They said something about wintry mix/snow for early next week though. WTH is up with that? I am so DONE with this spring. Everything is 3 weeks behind at this point doesn't bode well for the long season stuff unless we get a drastic change real soon. *sigh*

Channel 8 / WOODTV out of Grand Rapids running a "special" on Thursday night at both 10 & 11 p.m. Bill Steffen will be giving his long range summer forecast for the coming months. I'm interested to see what he predicts. Of course only time will eventually tell.

Sorry to hear about the downsize, Vicki. Hope things improve for you soon. And hey, look on the bright side, less chores, right?

Fife -- Glad you got the coop moved. We've driven over our drain field a couple of times.

As long as you're not doing it often and when you do you don't stop and park on top of it I don't think it's too awfully likely to create big problems. Of course, I'm no expert. JME. Maybe we've just gotten lucky so far. And that doesn't really help any with the coop you already moved, now does it?! LOL!

 

[chickflick]

Vicki, hope things improve! I'll keep you in my prayers! Anything I can do for you, let me know!

 

[shelleyb1969]

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Ditto from me, Vicki.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

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Ditto from me, Vicki.

Same here Vicki

 

[Opa]

Vicki, to echo the sentiment of the previous posters, you are in my thoughts and prayers.