Michigan

[Chickmate]

What a beautiful day! Getting the front lawn mowed today and the back tomorrow. As I type this my older chicks are free-ranging and the younger FBCMs have the run. It feels so good to be able to just open the coop door and let them come out. The dogs are being great. Jimmy just follows them around hoping they'll poop, Vera is still afraid of them and Sachi has become the official flock guardian. He walks around as they forage and it almost looks like he's counting heads. Right now he's just laying on the deck in the sun watching them sunbathe. I leave the coop door open so they can hide if a hawk flies over, but I'm hoping if he continues to stay out with them that his presence will help deter a hawk attack.

Have a great day everyone!

 

[eeyore75]

Thank you for the welcomes

I don't have any chickens myself -my neighbors flock (she has about 20-25 that roam) lives in my backyard 1/2 the time- you can thank her & others like her if they quit allowing people to have flocks in the city.

My mom has quite a few and loves them. She sells meat & eggs- sometimes laying birds/roos as she sorts her flocks, and likes to hatch out a couple batches each year (has friends incubate them- or a broody hen) & buy her meat birds to raise up. I try to help her out with her birds (like building 5 runs off her big long coop. 3 covered 2 not, dividing the inside up for run spaces) If my stepdad would give her the land to use on the opposite side of the coop..... I'm afraid we would have 4-5 more runs built on and the coop inside sectioned off more. That side is in the center area off a few of the cattle pastures though- so that would make switching fields hard for him.

And he thinks we do enough chicking projects between the mixed flock (egg producers/ random broody hens), meat birds & 3 areas (covered runs) for certian breeds she likes to play with. Plus the front room with the brooder/ feed bins has her pets that free range. So he is probly right.

I should also add we are planning to be at ChickenStock- however- need to make sure- A- it is the same park as before, B- was told it is on June 25th- can anyone verify these for me? Times, etc. Jenny (RIRJenny) trys to let me know, but was not 100%

 

[chickflick]

Yep, same park in Delta Twp..... Delta Mills Park. It's on June 25th. Hope to meet you there!

 

[eeyore75]

Quote:
Thank you- we were there 2 yrs ago? (the 1st one), & enjoyed it...... would you know what time it starts?

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi eeyore, if you check out one of opa's posts above he has the link to the chickenstock thread at the bottom. Hopefully I erl be there too

 

[chickflick]

Quote:
Thank you- we were there 2 yrs ago? (the 1st one), & enjoyed it...... would you know what time it starts?

10am-3pm

 

[keyt1969]

I posted this in the emergencies section but knowing there are quite a few very smart chicken people here I'm hoping someone has an answer!!


I have a 1 week old chick, probably a cochin mix who was fine until today.

Actually, I'm not sure if she was THAT fine. I haven't seen her eat or drink since she hatched..or move around much either. I tried showing her the water and she would take a little but I never saw her do it on her own!

Now she's displaying behavior I've never seen in a chick or adult. Her head is thrown all the way back, eyes never open and every once in a while she will shake her head violently like dogs do when they're wet.

I was keeping her in with a 1 month old bantam who literally took her on like her own. She would peck me if I reached in for the baby!!! After trying to give the chick some pedialyte, I put her back in the tote for warmth and separated the two chicks not knowing what the bantam would do. Well, she managed to get to the side with the baby and is sitting as close as she can get to her. Now the baby is chirping again and trying to sit up, she just can't because her head and neck are thrown all the way back!

Anyone have any ideas? I'm assuming it's probably a neurological thing!? Anything I can do? Should I keep the two chicks separated?


****************************************************************************************************

Good news! The baby is standing, and it's head isn't thrown backwards anymore. I think it's a combination of two things; the Pedialyte and the bantam!! As soon as that baby heard the bantam chirping, she started to fight! Now she's standing on her own, a little wobbly and only opens her eyes occasionally, but she's up!!

So what's the trick to get her to eat on her own???

 

[chickendales]

Swap Meet
&
Flea Market
MAY 21, 2011
9am-3pm
Tuscola County Fair Grounds
Livestock, Feeds, Homemade & Household Items,
Toys & Children Items
Garage Sale & Swap meet Items,
And Much Much More!
Help Support 4-H
Space Available $10.00 ea
FREE ADMISSION
Contact Us For Information
Jennifer Beardslee
(989) 717-1370
or
Tuscola County MSU Extension
362 Green Street
Caro, MI 48723-1910
(989) 672-3870

 

[DaughterOfEve]

Quote:
Hey Miss Montague, greetings from Muskegon! I would try to give them some fresh grass. Grass always gets my boys going!

Thanks for the tip Muskegonite. I was out picking small nips of grass and breaking up dandilion green to give to the two love birds. They sure enjoyed the treat. I am hoping to see some sign of action, soon. Muffed up feathers, Clyde smoking a cigarette .... he he.

 

[DaughterOfEve]

okay all you Morel Hunters (so called) here is the proof there are morels in michigan this year.

don't laugh! what they lack in size they make up for in flavor.