Michigan

[DaughterOfEve]

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I had a RI hen pull something getting off a roost and for a week I helped her up and down from the roosting spot. She was then able to do it on her own, now a couple years later and I think she may have trouble when the colder weather starts because every morning she waits for me to come in and there she is right in front of the ladder (blocking all the others). I think she wants ME to help her down rather than manuever the steps. Spoiled little hen. Hope Rusty is doing better soon.

 

[KrisRose]

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I rented a trencher and Chickflicks hubby Dick drove it. To get down far enough you need to go to about 4 feet. You go very slow so it takes awhile. I paid about 500 to 600 to rent and need a big truck to haul. The trencher we used to put in electrical line goes down 2 ' and costs less then 100 to rent.
I got the black plastic pipe at TSC. They had 200'. Cant remember size but 3/4" sounds about right. TSC also had the 8' hydrant I need.
Some advice
-the pipe is bundled up tight. Break the ties and pull it out. Let it relax in the sun. I didnt and it kinked when being laid in trench. Had to cut it and use a connector which is what I was trying to avoid.
-make sure it is dry and not going to rain anytime soon. We had to go through good ole Michigan clay. It started raining when we were filling trench and clay went from flour consistency to gummy and impossible to work with.
-had to dig out trench near house by hand. Down just over 4 ft and through the good ole Michigan clay. OMG. I am not a hard body like Opa. Will pay to have it done next time

!

 

[fifelakelooper]

Thanks for the info on installing the frost proof hydrant. The cost of renting a trencher sounds ok but $500-600 for renting a truck to haul is.....well....not in the budget at present!! However...I will check into it all for next year since it would be nice for Nov, Dec.and January. We leave for Feb-April (this winter anyway) so I can handle another winter of hauling water. I usually have a heated water container for the chickens but this year they are going into the Rv we converted and staying at a friends for 3 months...where they WON'T have heated water. So I purchased a black rubber livestock bowl and will use that so they won't be confused in Feb. when we leave. I've been told these rubber bowls are easy to knock the ice out of and then you put in hot water. I'll see how that goes.

Yesterday I went out and REMOVED the poop board DH and I installed 5 months ago from under the roost board. I did not hang it with chains and perhaps that was the problem...but what happened is my 5month and 6 month old flock continued to cluster ON the poop board instead of the roost. I have had the same roost board for about 6 years.....never had any problem with chickens roosting on it. So each day I scraped the poop off and although I had gone out for 2 weeks straight when the flock was younger...and picked up each bird and placed on the roost...they were back on the board next I checked. So I removed it and last night...they were all on the roost. We had used a hard plastic for the poop board and made a wood frame to put it on so it was solid and easy to scrape but it drove me nuts to see them on it instead of the roost. You would think they would want to be on the highest roost possible....but not this group of jerseys and Orps. I will try to put the plastic poop board back after a week or two and they are trained for the perch. Hopefully it will be ok then.

 

[M.sue]

Note To Self: Upon feeding chickens.....do not hold FULL feed scoop under arm while bending down.......S-P-I-L-L.......O'well, my girls will have pickings all day now. Thank goodness it was in the run and not in the coop!

Still on the cool-side this morning but not as windy, for now that is. Have a great day everyone!!

Hope everyone's day is going according to plan because mine is not. I wanted to clean out the coop and sanitize it but it is still too darn windy, 20mph out in the open....not gonna happen here! I might be able to get it done on Thurs. or Sun. Sat looks very promising weather wise but I'll be gone all day @ my DD's horse show. This wind has to die down eventually, I can't imagine what this winter will bring.

 

[AngelaB]

Okay, the pretty rooster boy is going home on Wed. But, I am going to get a Silkie PULLET tonight! They are so pretty. The guy that I am buying her from has two Goldenlace Sebrights for free. I can't take them, but if someone is interested I will give you his number. He is in Metamora. He said they are 25 weeks.

 

[Farmer Andy]

AngelaB- I have to tell you about when I saw the pic of the pretty boy. I had been reading your posts about wanting a friend for your EE. So I pulled up the pic of pretty boy and actually gasped out loud, saying to myself "I don't think that's a girl, that's a boy, a very pretty boy but a boy none the less". I didn't have the heart or wealth of experience that many of our fellow Michiganders do to tell you first. I wanted to wait for a few people to post to see if I was on track. Anyway hope the new Silkie girl works out great for you.

 

[chickflick]

Good Luck with the silkie, Angela. Hope it works out for your shy EE. She definately needs a buddy to hang with to give her some confidence to come out of her coop.
I'm cleaning out the coop today. Yup, the wind sure has picked up. Gonna make it interesting. One of my new blue orpingtons acts like she wants to lay her first egg, so I'm in here trying to give her time to see if she does lay. I'll have to go out and see what's she's doing soon. It's lunch time, so that hopefully will give her time.
Got to take the dogs for a walk in the park. The wind wasn't so bad then so it was a nice walk. Feels good to be able to go walking again.

Enjoy your day.

 

[Ferrret]

How safe is it to help a chicken pass a blockage?
My littlest silkie was unusually lethargic yesterday so I caught her and checked her out. She has some kind of lump that needs to be passed, and I'm not sure if it's a misshapen egg or a tough poop. She got a warm bath and has been indoors since yesterday. She's been drinking a lot and passing mostly water, she wasn't eating yesterday but today she seems more lively and has eaten some.

Is there anything I can do to move whatever it is out of her, or should I just wait and see if she passes it on her own?

 

[AngelaB]

Quote:
Thanks. I hope she helps her too! I just hope it turns out to be a pullet, not a roo! She is 15 weeks, so I am not sure what to look for. The owner says they are hens, so I hope he knows what he is talking about.

 

[chickendales]

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i have black silkie hen with crooked beak that make u good pet