Quote:
His name is Randy and his number is 231-747-9899
His name is Randy and his number is 231-747-9899
Michigan
- Thread starter Grammi
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Thanks you very much!
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You are welcome. He works second shift but I do know he has faverolle's.
You are welcome. He works second shift but I do know he has faverolle's.
I would like to thank all the nice people on this thread for all the prayers and kind words for my friend. It means a lot to me just to know that people really care. From the bottom of my heart I thank you.
Robin
Robin
Wow, so much to read and I keep up on it daily! How did I miss that BYC will be down tomorrow? Didn't know that until I saw Nova's post. Where was this message and will it be all day?
Nova - So sorry about Buffy. It sucks to lose them. I free range mine if I'm home, but I don't watch them or stand outside with them. I look out the window now and then to see where they are, but mostly just listen for the roosters or distress calls. My dogs also hear what's going on outside and they shoot through the dog door before I can even react if they hear something.
Olive - I'm just curious how often you lose a bird to predators seeing that yours free range all the time? I have decided that I would rather risk losing one to a predator than keep them locked in the run. I do keep them in if a hawk is hanging around, or after a fox attack for a few days, but I will always let them free range as long as I have chickens.
Rbahmer - I'm so sorry about your friend. Go be with her and tell her how much she means to you. I lost a dear friend 5 years ago to cancer. She was in hospice and I went and sat by her bed the night before she died. I just held her hand for hours and talked about all our memories and I told her I loved her. She couldn't speak, but a huge tear slid down her cheek that told me she heard me and understood. I miss her everyday.
Welcome to any newbies!
Hillbilly - Those are some big eggs! Love those double yolkers. Also, nice crate you picked up at Goodwill, looks brand new! I love our Salvation Army store.
Bianca - Wish I had skylights in my coop!! Your husband is a genius!
Farmerboy - I want to see you in your tux too!! Let's see pictures!
Nova - So sorry about Buffy. It sucks to lose them. I free range mine if I'm home, but I don't watch them or stand outside with them. I look out the window now and then to see where they are, but mostly just listen for the roosters or distress calls. My dogs also hear what's going on outside and they shoot through the dog door before I can even react if they hear something.
Olive - I'm just curious how often you lose a bird to predators seeing that yours free range all the time? I have decided that I would rather risk losing one to a predator than keep them locked in the run. I do keep them in if a hawk is hanging around, or after a fox attack for a few days, but I will always let them free range as long as I have chickens.
Rbahmer - I'm so sorry about your friend. Go be with her and tell her how much she means to you. I lost a dear friend 5 years ago to cancer. She was in hospice and I went and sat by her bed the night before she died. I just held her hand for hours and talked about all our memories and I told her I loved her. She couldn't speak, but a huge tear slid down her cheek that told me she heard me and understood. I miss her everyday.
Welcome to any newbies!
Hillbilly - Those are some big eggs! Love those double yolkers. Also, nice crate you picked up at Goodwill, looks brand new! I love our Salvation Army store.
Bianca - Wish I had skylights in my coop!! Your husband is a genius!
Farmerboy - I want to see you in your tux too!! Let's see pictures!
Question for Michigan breeders: I have been thinking about breeding (selling fertilized eggs). I want to make sure I am well informed before i start. I am wondering on what the requirement for Michigan are? What i should do and know before staring. Thanks for the help!!!
acechicks - I'm not a breeder, but many on this thread are. Not sure what you mean by Michigan requirements? Olive, Opa, theron, anyone else have advice?
Someone asked about worming chickens with Fluebenvent. I have not used that, but I do use Ivomec that I buy at TSC and put it in their drinking water. It is the 1% injectable for cattle and swine and you give 1 cc (or ml) per quart of water for 2 days. You do not need to throw out the eggs, I still eat them. Ivermectin has been used in humans to cure River Blindness, so it will not hurt to eat the eggs.
Took Mama out this morning and late afternoon to stretch her legs and eat and she went right back to her eggs. Have no idea if they will hatch, but as babigyrl suggested, will give them plenty of time. They are supposed to hatch on or around the 19th, so I'll give them a full week more to the 26th. My question is how long is too long? Will she stop setting when she feels it's been too long? I don't want them rotting or exploding under her!
I didn't realize how much I have been thinking about these eggs hatching, but I must be because I had a dream last night that I felt under Mama and pulled out an egg that had a chick hatching out! Maybe that's an omen? I hope so.
I have also started writing how many eggs I get per day on the calendar. Today was 6 but the previous week was only 4 per day.
acechicks - I'm not a breeder, but many on this thread are. Not sure what you mean by Michigan requirements? Olive, Opa, theron, anyone else have advice?
Someone asked about worming chickens with Fluebenvent. I have not used that, but I do use Ivomec that I buy at TSC and put it in their drinking water. It is the 1% injectable for cattle and swine and you give 1 cc (or ml) per quart of water for 2 days. You do not need to throw out the eggs, I still eat them. Ivermectin has been used in humans to cure River Blindness, so it will not hurt to eat the eggs.
Took Mama out this morning and late afternoon to stretch her legs and eat and she went right back to her eggs. Have no idea if they will hatch, but as babigyrl suggested, will give them plenty of time. They are supposed to hatch on or around the 19th, so I'll give them a full week more to the 26th. My question is how long is too long? Will she stop setting when she feels it's been too long? I don't want them rotting or exploding under her!
I didn't realize how much I have been thinking about these eggs hatching, but I must be because I had a dream last night that I felt under Mama and pulled out an egg that had a chick hatching out! Maybe that's an omen? I hope so.
I have also started writing how many eggs I get per day on the calendar. Today was 6 but the previous week was only 4 per day.
Don't know how long BYC will be down tomorrow, but see you when we're back up. Sure gonna miss checking in with you all!
- Apr 19, 2009
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Relative to how much they're out, very rarely. We've had three daytime attacks total; that's in almost a decade of free-range chickens on this property. One was a fox that came by in the middle of the day and played a game of chicken chase. One was a bird of some kind -- there was just a circle of feathers left in the backyard. And the third was a mink/weasel right at day break. There was a second fox that I know of, I think it was last summer if I remember correctly. I saw him trotting through the yard and ran out with the gun but he didn't touch any birds and never came back. There were also some dogs this summer, but they hit the electric fence at the south side of the wooded hog paddock and I sat on the deck and listened to them yelp "all the way home".
Of course I'm sure terrain makes a difference, especially with aerial predators. I don't think, save the backyard where the chickens naturally spend very little of their time, there is really room here to get a good swoop in. In fact, DH and I were just talking about this last night. We were out doing chores when one of the roosters was giving the sky a stare-down, I looked up to see a mature bald eagle flying over and pointed it out to DH. He agreed that it was probably having a limited line of attack that deters them most. It's all we can think of, really. Because we have lots of hawks in the area, plus the eagles.
I also think that there is some management/selection that helps. Of course it's just a theory based on what has worked for us. But I don't coddle. Here, the chickens are livestock and they're expected to pull their weight. I begin young, which is one advantage to warm season chick rearing; if it's warm outside we put them out on day one. If not, they go out as soon as possible. I also integrate as soon as possible, as young as day old. Is there a risk to chicks with older chickens? Sure. I've honestly never had any ill effects from it though and I do think a big part of that is raising them in such a way that their instincts are needed on a daily basis and therefore are a bit stronger. Even our roosters are not mean to the chicks. And I don't have "special" chickens by any means. I've built my flock from hatchery stock and occasional additions from small animal swaps here and there. We've just taken a very "natural selection" approach to who gets to stay and who doesn't and it's worked out thus far. HTH!
Relative to how much they're out, very rarely. We've had three daytime attacks total; that's in almost a decade of free-range chickens on this property. One was a fox that came by in the middle of the day and played a game of chicken chase. One was a bird of some kind -- there was just a circle of feathers left in the backyard. And the third was a mink/weasel right at day break. There was a second fox that I know of, I think it was last summer if I remember correctly. I saw him trotting through the yard and ran out with the gun but he didn't touch any birds and never came back. There were also some dogs this summer, but they hit the electric fence at the south side of the wooded hog paddock and I sat on the deck and listened to them yelp "all the way home".
Of course I'm sure terrain makes a difference, especially with aerial predators. I don't think, save the backyard where the chickens naturally spend very little of their time, there is really room here to get a good swoop in. In fact, DH and I were just talking about this last night. We were out doing chores when one of the roosters was giving the sky a stare-down, I looked up to see a mature bald eagle flying over and pointed it out to DH. He agreed that it was probably having a limited line of attack that deters them most. It's all we can think of, really. Because we have lots of hawks in the area, plus the eagles.
I also think that there is some management/selection that helps. Of course it's just a theory based on what has worked for us. But I don't coddle. Here, the chickens are livestock and they're expected to pull their weight. I begin young, which is one advantage to warm season chick rearing; if it's warm outside we put them out on day one. If not, they go out as soon as possible. I also integrate as soon as possible, as young as day old. Is there a risk to chicks with older chickens? Sure. I've honestly never had any ill effects from it though and I do think a big part of that is raising them in such a way that their instincts are needed on a daily basis and therefore are a bit stronger. Even our roosters are not mean to the chicks. And I don't have "special" chickens by any means. I've built my flock from hatchery stock and occasional additions from small animal swaps here and there. We've just taken a very "natural selection" approach to who gets to stay and who doesn't and it's worked out thus far. HTH!
Hey Olive, I am not sure but I think that I read one of your posts that you raise pigs. My dad want a few young pigs in the spring to feed the family when they have reached the weight for the freezer. I would like to get heritage breed that is hardy in Michigan climate. What do you recommend?
Thanks.
Thanks.
- Apr 19, 2009
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Quote:
Most any spring-born pigs are going to be ready for the freezer by fall so you don't have any worries with climate. My greatest recommendation would be to choose pigs that are raised in a manner similar to what you plan to raise them. If you're raising them outdoors in a dirt floor pen, pick a farmer who has a set up similar to what you plan to use. If you're going to pasture them, choose a farmer that raises pigs on pasture. The less shock to their system when you move them, the better start they get. And the better suited they are to your rearing practices the better results you'll obtain for your efforts.
Heritage breed is a bit of a misnomer with pigs in that even the breeds that are regularly crossed into the commercial hogs are heritage types; and this is one reason why simply choosing local pigs from a farm that's using the rearing principles you'd like to emulate is the best practice. Even cross-breeds are a great choice as they can incorporate some of the best traits of different breeds and give you hybrid vigor.
A few things to be aware of as you choose:
- White and pink pigs are prone to sunburn. If you'll have them in a sunny location you'll either want to provide shade or choose a pig with darker skin. Sun burn can be nasty in pigs and can contribute to heat stress which is a big problem in hogs.
- Barrows and gilts are both fine choices for freezer pigs. Size and growth differences tend to be negligible between the two.
- You often get what you pay for. Especially with your first pigs, look for bright eyes, curly tails (some exceptions to the tails, but in general), shiny hair coats, and nicely built animals. Illness and lameness in a freezer hog can end up costing you more in the long run than the pork would have been worth to begin with. Don't fall for unhealthy hogs just because it's a deal.
Breeds that could be good choices for most outdoor systems include:
Tamworth
Berkshire
Yorkshire
Hampshire
Gloucestershire Old Spot
Hereford
And crosses of any of the above. "Blue Butts" are common and are often made up of a cross between a couple of the above; a black boar over a white sow.
I'm personally partial to Tamworth, but any are going to be good choices.
HTH!
Most any spring-born pigs are going to be ready for the freezer by fall so you don't have any worries with climate. My greatest recommendation would be to choose pigs that are raised in a manner similar to what you plan to raise them. If you're raising them outdoors in a dirt floor pen, pick a farmer who has a set up similar to what you plan to use. If you're going to pasture them, choose a farmer that raises pigs on pasture. The less shock to their system when you move them, the better start they get. And the better suited they are to your rearing practices the better results you'll obtain for your efforts.
Heritage breed is a bit of a misnomer with pigs in that even the breeds that are regularly crossed into the commercial hogs are heritage types; and this is one reason why simply choosing local pigs from a farm that's using the rearing principles you'd like to emulate is the best practice. Even cross-breeds are a great choice as they can incorporate some of the best traits of different breeds and give you hybrid vigor.
A few things to be aware of as you choose:
- White and pink pigs are prone to sunburn. If you'll have them in a sunny location you'll either want to provide shade or choose a pig with darker skin. Sun burn can be nasty in pigs and can contribute to heat stress which is a big problem in hogs.
- Barrows and gilts are both fine choices for freezer pigs. Size and growth differences tend to be negligible between the two.
- You often get what you pay for. Especially with your first pigs, look for bright eyes, curly tails (some exceptions to the tails, but in general), shiny hair coats, and nicely built animals. Illness and lameness in a freezer hog can end up costing you more in the long run than the pork would have been worth to begin with. Don't fall for unhealthy hogs just because it's a deal.
Breeds that could be good choices for most outdoor systems include:
Tamworth
Berkshire
Yorkshire
Hampshire
Gloucestershire Old Spot
Hereford
And crosses of any of the above. "Blue Butts" are common and are often made up of a cross between a couple of the above; a black boar over a white sow.
I'm personally partial to Tamworth, but any are going to be good choices.
- Jun 6, 2010
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Was going to pop on here and say Good Morning and there's another dozen pages to sort through. Not a bad thing as I enjoy reading about others experiences.
Just looked at the last page I read before skipping to the latest post this morning.
Post 30460: Rbahmer, I am truly sorry to hear about your friend. Your presence with her, sharing your heart and feelings, will always be with you and it will be everything to her. I wish the best for your friend, and you.
Farmerboy16: We liked the cross-breeds and usually raised three pigs at a time. One doesn't do well, as seems to be the case with all creatures, people included. Three at a time worked best for us.
Anyone want some peafowl? After having them since 1978 we are going to stop raising them. Geez, where did all of that time go? Suddenly I feel very old.
Also have Blue Slate turkeys. Would love to see these birds go to someone who wants a heritage breed. These are beautiful birds and don't especially want to process them. They raised 45 poults for us last year. Prolific egg layers. Have twelve total turkeys and around 45 peafowl. Should run an ad I suppose but will post it here first. If you are interesting let me know, I'm near Ann Arbor.
Apologies for throwing an ad on this post, don't get to post as often as I would like so have to do all at once. Now back to the last ten or twelve pages. Have a great day. Jim
Just looked at the last page I read before skipping to the latest post this morning.
Post 30460: Rbahmer, I am truly sorry to hear about your friend. Your presence with her, sharing your heart and feelings, will always be with you and it will be everything to her. I wish the best for your friend, and you.
Farmerboy16: We liked the cross-breeds and usually raised three pigs at a time. One doesn't do well, as seems to be the case with all creatures, people included. Three at a time worked best for us.
Anyone want some peafowl? After having them since 1978 we are going to stop raising them. Geez, where did all of that time go? Suddenly I feel very old.
Also have Blue Slate turkeys. Would love to see these birds go to someone who wants a heritage breed. These are beautiful birds and don't especially want to process them. They raised 45 poults for us last year. Prolific egg layers. Have twelve total turkeys and around 45 peafowl. Should run an ad I suppose but will post it here first. If you are interesting let me know, I'm near Ann Arbor.
Apologies for throwing an ad on this post, don't get to post as often as I would like so have to do all at once. Now back to the last ten or twelve pages. Have a great day. Jim
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