Hello Everyone, I had to work both New Years Eve and New Years Day so I didn't have much time to check in. Trying to get caught up now. Happy New Year to all the Michigan chicken lovers.
Scio Valley- Welcome to the MI thread, as I'm sure you have realized already, there are so many wonderful and helpful people on here. Everyone is always willing to help with chicken stuff or life in general.
Sun/Moon- First of all, welcome to the MI thread. I too am near you in the GR area, in Cascade Twp. at the far east end of 28th St. you have already got some good advice on here. If you think you want 4 girls, you should probably build your coop big enough for 8-10 to start. In the early winter I spoke with Townline Hatchery in Zeeland and I believe their first hatch that will be available is Feb 14. I think I might give them a try this year and get a few chicks.
A while back some one asked about Polish in the winter. I've had two chicken issues today and both are Polish related. It has been blizzard conditions up here on and off all day, so cold and windy. Al my roo gets picked on when everyone stays in. So he was plucked really bald and bloody today so I brought him in and glued him on a toupee. After it dried well I took him back out and found Bertie iced up. So she came in and got a blow dry. This is Polish in the winter - but usually not everyday!
My hen that was dropping her eggs from the perch stopped as soon as I put a golfball in each nest box. I watched her walk by the boxes streching her neck up looking at each box with a golfball. She picked the center box, jumped in, and started moving the golfball around and then layed a perfect egg which was cleaner than any egg I've seen from the store. Guess she's a happy hen.