Michigan

[KeepsPeeps]

Indeed, the late winter has got my patience dwindling and I'm wanting to build my coop NOW instead of waiting until March.

Oh, and the other issue...waiting to hear from my association as to whether or not I need to do more convincing as to why my neighborhood residents and I should have the right to keep some hens if we choose to do so. Living in a place that preaches sustainability and environmentally conscious practices, I never thought having a few hens would be an issue.

Reading everyone's posts makes me want to pick up a chick or two immediately! Aaah!

 

[snowflake]

Are you sure that first pic is a rooster? looks like the hens I got from him, my rooster had a lot of beautiful color (rusty) in his neck cape. even when they were rather young. maybe the pic. just doesn't show as well, course if he is crowing you know for sure

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[Chickmate]

OK, dumb alert! Wait for it.............................when hens go broody do they still lay eggs? My BR is broody and hasn't laid an egg since she started. Also when I make her go out in the yard with the flock they pick on her, especially her sister BR, and the roosters seem to chase her more than they did before. Does being broody change their whole demeanor and make them more timid? I don't remember her being this passive before.

 

[chicken grandma]

My hens did not lay while they were broody.

I do think their personalities change when they are broody.

The expression 'he was a sitting duck' probably means that a person is more vulnerable like a duck/chicken sitting on eggs.

Someone recommended putting the broodies in a cage with food and water in the middle of the coop. That sounded like a good idea.
Hopefully distracts them from the broody behavior and also protects them.

 

[Chickmate]

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Thanks Nancy. She is in one of the upper nest boxes so no one picks on her when she's in the nest, in fact yesterday was so cute I should have taken a picture. When I went into the coop one of the EE's was in the nest box with her and the BR had her wing over the EE like it was a chick. Almost made me think I should give her some eggs and see what happens. Anyone have advice for hatching chicks in the winter? I really don't have any place to keep them in the house, so they would have to live in the coop. I'd be worried sick about them freezing or getting picked to death.

 

[NovaAman]

is it bed time yet? Well not for the ducks. I just had to chase them outing the pool! Silly ducks.

 

[chicken grandma]

I think Spring chicks do better with the sun and the outdoors/grass/dirt to peck!
Also the older birds are more tolerant of new younger ones when everyone is not cooped up...

 

[Olive Hill]

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Thanks Nancy. She is in one of the upper nest boxes so no one picks on her when she's in the nest, in fact yesterday was so cute I should have taken a picture. When I went into the coop one of the EE's was in the nest box with her and the BR had her wing over the EE like it was a chick. Almost made me think I should give her some eggs and see what happens. Anyone have advice for hatching chicks in the winter? I really don't have any place to keep them in the house, so they would have to live in the coop. I'd be worried sick about them freezing or getting picked to death.

I'm being too lazy to type out a response about winter chick-raising so I'm just going to copy and paste the one that I posted on page 2860 of this thread. You can see it in context here and then there was other discussion of winter chicks around that time, too.

Mine:

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[fuzzybutt love]

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Baaah on them. If you can't have OUTside hens, maybe you could build a little INdoor aviary cage for some bantams. There are some bantams that are tiny and still lay a medium egg; don't know how, but i've seen pics. If they can't see them, and hear them, ...... well you know.

It is hard to keep a lawn where chickens are scratching, though. Little ones, as well as feathered feet (supposedly) scratch lighter. In MI there is a law called "right to farm" that says you can have chickens pretty much anywhere, but if you have to exercise this do it carefully and not without much research. A site i visited that specialized in this gave these pointers to getting chickens approved: go door to door and get signatures of people interested in the ability to own chickens. Have facts on hand when you bo before the committee, and statistics to show that the arguments (dirty, loud, getting all over, etc) are not valid. Never lose your temper. Always speak calmly. Show plans of your coop, if able to show cleanliness and containment. (Mabe show pics of dream coops?) There is more but i don't remember it all. The biggest thing is showing that this is going to be a clean educated affair and not some ramshackle thing that will bring down property values.
Good Luck!

(Oh and they said to bring some fresh eggs to hand out. Mabie you can get some from someone on here that is close?)

 

[M.sue]

Hi guys....I got the best compliment today from my 22 yr.old nephew. I wanted to share it & give credit were credit is due! He posted on FB that he had just eaten the best farm fresh eggs ever!!! Yes they were mine!! People always tease about how spoiled & pampered my chickens are, that I do more than is actually needed but that's OK. When I get compliments like the one today it makes all my little efforts worth while and wanted you all to know that most of my knowledge comes from my Wonderful Michigander Friends and other BYCers. WOOT.....WOOT....Thanks Guys!!!