Michigan

[keyt1969]

I have excellent news!!

For those that remember earlier in the summer I posted nasty pics of my snowy call drake, Sammy's wings. They were completely feather-less and he was thin. Well, I spent all summer working with him, bathing him every other day, giving him his own special diet to both fatten him up and strengthen him and I put him and his brothers and sister in with the chickens. He even began using the small pool that was in there once I got the magpies (spotted call ducks). But despite him being obviously healthier, I never saw him flap his wings...til today.

The calls now have a much bigger pool since I remodeled the runs a few days ago. For some reason those tiny ducks prefer the much bigger pool (probably because all 6 of them can be in it at once) and the bigger ducks prefer the longer and shorter pool (probably because several of them can be in it at once). Well, when it's bedtime, as soon as all of my ducks see me they head for their coops. But sometimes one or two of the calls will not want to get out of the pool, like tonight. So walked over to it and there went Sammy! He flew from in the water to inside our neighbor's garden, a distance of about 50 feet!

Now after all that work with him all summer, I have to clip his wings. But I guess it's safe to say he's healed!!!

 

[teeville5]

There's been a lot of great info on here lately. Thanks to all.

Wow am I tired. My muscles are saying just stay where you are, quit moving. DH and I worked on some building projects for the yard and have hammered nails for hours. The only thing you could hear all day was our tandem bang, bang, bang. Great news is we're almost finished. Not so great is I'll probably be hammering in my sleep (to which the dream chickens will be happy with the fabulously awesome coop built for them

) Forgive me, as I said, I'm tired.

 

[Chickmate]

I have been on hawk alert for the last few days as well. Usually see them around here quite often, but today, yesterday and the day before, yowza! On Friday a large red-tailed swooped over the yard and landed in the tree out front. The chickens were in the yard but scattered and the dogs and I ran out and scared it off. It flew across the road to the gravel pit where the guy has chickens and ducks out all the time. It circled and dove a few times so I'm hoping it didn't get any of his. Hawk came back yesterday for awhile and today while the chickens were standing near my car he flew over. All 15 of them disappeared in a flash under my Saturn Vue! I love to let them free-range, but would feel totally negligent if he killed or seriously hurt one of them. The good thing is that it's easy to get them back in the run when I want to. I just call "chick, chick, chick!" and they all come running for whatever treat I might have.

Speaking of how smart ISA's are, I was out raking leaves today and it didn't take long for Scarlett and Penny to figure out that when I pulled the rake back it uncovered all sorts of worms and bugs under the leaves. The others stayed clear of the rake, but those two almost lost their toes a few times. Love, love, love my ISA's, but I'm really sad to hear that they may become internal layers and die from it.

I'm looking to add another four or five hens next spring and am thinking of a few white egg layers as well as a couple more brown layers. Anyone have any suggestions for a breed that "plays well with others" and will get along with my ISA's, barred rocks, marans and EE's?

Olive - As always, thanks for your wealth of information and for sharing it with us. We newbies appreciate the advice that comes from years of experience that you and Opa and so many others on this thread have.

 

[chicken grandma]

Keyt - congratulations on healing your duck! What an incredibly kind thing to do for another living being!

God bless you!

 

[Olive Hill]

teeville - Congrats on the building almost being done. Hubby and I spent the day setting poles and constructing pens. My shoulders are tired from the post hole digger and I didn't even do most of the holes, DH did.

Chickmate - Most of the commonly available breeds play well with others as a general rule. I say get whichever look most interesting to you.

 

[KrisRose]

Huston's Happy Hens :

Quote:
x 2!

Nancy, I hope your hen will be ok.

sj, your rooster is handsome and your daughter and EE are lovely.

It's almost miraculous how these little guys turn around - DH said i think she's expiring when he saw her - this evening she has one eye open, cleaned wound w/cleanser and then applied Melaleuca oil- she now has one eye open, has taken water w/poultry drench...not eating, but is atleast able to right herself....looks like the hawk was trying to debrain her - scalping her first....tore the scalp back and then I arrived.....hoping our little gal (we're going to name her Frankenstein) pulls thru this all w/out any neurological issues!
To be continued!​

 

[KrisRose]

Quote:

 

[KrisRose]

Back to work for me today

. 4 days off I am ssoooo ready to retire.
Good news is my "gooser coop" roof is done!!! Now to get my tarps out and get the runs covered!!

 

[1muttsfan]

Good morning michigan!

Sj that picture of your daughter and neil is so great

Keyt great news about sammy I remember those pictures

Opa I was in flat rock yesterday, the steelhead are running but not great yet, still spotty and not every day. There were literally thousands of shad below the park it was amazing, it looked like you could walk across them they were so thick.

I am happy my coop is insulated, no moisture problems because I did not seal the coop up and always leave a window cracked open.

 

[AngelaB]

I am kind of wondering if one of my other chickens started laying. I think it might be my other black australorp. I don't think my brahma will lay for a while yet. I have 2 australorps. Apple has been laying for a couple weeks now. She lays every other day, chocolate milk colored eggs. I got Saturday and Sunday. The one on Saturday was not the usual dark color. Otherwise it was fine. Then yesterday my niece and I found one late in the afternoon that was the dark color again. It is very unusual to get two eggs in a row for her (for now) due to the cold and weather. So, unless it was a fluke. I am hoping that Rocky started laying. We are putting a light in there this week, since this is thier first winter and they just started laying, I want to keep them laying for a little while and give them a break in February for a little while. What do you think?

Also here is a picture of my oldest daughter Remington with one of our silkies. This is the first time she held one. She is so afraid to hurt them. They are still in quarantine in the garage. They will be there for a couple more weeks. We are going out of town next week, so it is just easier for my mother in law to keep an eye on them in there, instead of a cage in the coup. I will integrate them when I get home.

My australorps and my brahma....EE was hiding in the coup still...lol