Michigan

[chicken grandma]

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Beautiful chicken and beautiful artwork on your BYC page! Will you have to give your new chicks supplemental heat or with the mothers be able to keep them warm enough?

 

[babigyrl22]

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I planted Dahlia's for the first time this year. WOW are they georgous! Mine are still blooming, should I wait until they turn brown to dig them up or will the ground be too hard then?

 

[NovaAman]

At the first house I owned and put in gardens, I only dug mine every other year. I know it says to do every year, but I never did. Same with my glads and tulips. Just every other year... Worked out nice.

 

[babigyrl22]

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Jamie, That is so encouraging to me! I have two little Isa Browns who are 3 weeks old. I have them in the coop with my Bantam who is 1.5lbs and a shy girl. I do have them separated by a fence for the time being. I don't want an Isa to be injured in a tussle.

At what age did you bring your young maren boys into the coop with your adult hens?

Also, I found out that my chickens are legal. I don't think I have the coop in the right spot but in my township, chickens are legal. Not roosters, but chickens.
YEAH! And I am only 7 miles outside the center of G.R. but I am in a township and not in the city limit. Whew!

Yes, my boys were in the coop brooder area for about...(counts on fingers) about 6/7 weeks. For the last week I've put them in a crate within the run during the day. They are about as big as the bantams (without all the fluffy feathers). Last night they were trying to get into the brooder area where Blueberry is with her chicks. I think they were mad at me because they started pecking at my boots when I came in like "Hey! Why can't we get into our room?!". Tonight when I shut them in they were up roosting with the girls.
:: chuckles :: So cute.

I was checking on them all day long but they were doing just fine.

 

[Pyncheon guy]

My new chicks will be put in brooders....and I don't dig Dahlia tubers 'til the first very hard frost.

 

[1muttsfan]

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I put in a frost-free hydrant lsat year, my neighbor the excavator dug the trench and put in sand at the bottom. Then I put in layer of old hay and 2" black plastic pipe (yes 2, the water comes out like a fire hose), then my neighbor the plumber came over and hooked it up to the line that comes into the house from the well, this allowed better water pressure (bigger line) and bypassed the water softener. Then more hay,a layer of 2" foam insulation board, then the excavator came back and filled it in
I know this sounds complicated but it really wasn't, and has saved a ton of labor.

 

[fifelakelooper]

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I put in a frost-free hydrant lsat year, my neighbor the excavator dug the trench and put in sand at the bottom. Then I put in layer of old hay and 2" black plastic pipe (yes 2, the water comes out like a fire hose), then my neighbor the plumber came over and hooked it up to the line that comes into the house from the well, this allowed better water pressure (bigger line) and bypassed the water softener. Then more hay,a layer of 2" foam insulation board, then the excavator came back and filled it in
I know this sounds complicated but it really wasn't, and has saved a ton of labor.

How deep did the trench get dug (for those of us that would try to dig ourselves....need to know how feasible)?

 

[teeville5]

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My egg production was down for the last two weeks and a co-worker suggested giving extra light at night for a few hours so the girls will have light to make up for less daylight. Today I got 15 eggs so it's working which is good because I sell a lot to my co-workers and I had to limit them this last week.

Speaking of which, one of my co-workers gave me an awesome compliment on my eggs.

He told me that he had some people over for an egg scramble and he used a dozen of my eggs and his friends brought a dozen of their store eggs. Mine were all deep yellowy orange and were a beautiful rich color when cooked and theirs were pale yellow and not so colorful cooked. His friend then asked if I would sell them eggs, too.

Of course, I had to decline as I'm down for eggs at the moment. I must say, though, I was quite proud of the girls.

And AngelaB, I thought roo when I first saw him, too. Too bad you have to take him back, he's going to be a nice looking one.

 

[M.sue]

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My egg production was down for the last two weeks and a co-worker suggested giving extra light at night for a few hours so the girls will have light to make up for less daylight. Today I got 15 eggs so it's working which is good because I sell a lot to my co-workers and I had to limit them this last week.

Speaking of which, one of my co-workers gave me an awesome compliment on my eggs.

He told me that he had some people over for an egg scramble and he used a dozen of my eggs and his friends brought a dozen of their store eggs. Mine were all deep yellowy orange and were a beautiful rich color when cooked and theirs were pale yellow and not so colorful cooked. His friend then asked if I would sell them eggs, too.

Of course, I had to decline as I'm down for eggs at the moment. I must say, though, I was quite proud of the girls.

And AngelaB, I thought roo when I first saw him, too. Too bad you have to take him back, he's going to be a nice looking one.

Speaking of color....when I gave a co-worker a dozen she was thrilled and couldn't wait to have them. Couple days later, she makes this huge breakfast for her kids that were all home from college. Each kid commented on how yellow they were....(She scrambled them) and one insisted she put food coloring in!! lol

 

[Opa]

A yard hydrant sounds complicated but it really isn't. A gas powered machine (trencher) to dig a 6" wide by at least 48" deep trench can be rented for less than $100. The water line must be below the level of ground frost to prevent freezing. In most of Michigan this would be 48". Black polypropolene 3/4" pipe can be purchased from Home Depot or Lowes but if you need longer than 100' you will need to go to a plumbing supply house. A plumber would be able to make all the connections if you have the pipe in the trench. BE SURE YOU MARK WHERE THE TRENCH WILL BE AND CALL MISS DIG BEFORE YOU TRENCH. The last thing you would want is to cut through buried electric lines or gas lines. If anyone wants advise on how to install a yard hydrant PM me for my number and I can walk you through it.