Michigan

[Hillbilly Hen]

Hello everyone!

I'm Jen and I live in northern Michigan, about 5 miles from Sleeping Bear Dunes.

My family is going to be getting 13 Bantams at the end of April and I'm just looking around and researching.

I'll just be reading here and trying to soak up some of your knowledge while I shop for a chicken coop.

Welcome Jen!

This is a very chatty group, full of friendly folks. Check ou tthe links in Opa's, RaZ's or my siggy lines for info on the upcoming Chickenstock. We would love to have you join in on the fun!

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi Jennifer and welcome to BYC and the Michigan thread

I have a mealworm tub, which manages to survive months at a time with me forgetting about it completely. When I remember I throw in some more oatmeal and a carrot or two

My dad lives in Lansing, he says the goldfinches are starting to change color, a sure sign of spring

 

[Farmerboy16]

Hi Jennifer, since you are getting bantams, my bantie hen, Lois greets you.....

Signing up for chickenstock is a must.

The sun is out!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

RaZ

You definitely have a funny farm!
babigyrl22 Do you have to buy a culture? A friend and i looked into it, but we couldn't find "rennet"
Jennifer3141

Some bantams lay bigger eggs.... someone on here showed one that looked like a good medium, at least! (I don't know what kind, but am thinking about getting some) It would be easier than having all the big girls..... They would be happy in their own little world? I just keep visioning "Horton hears a who" (dr seus)

Nobody on the egg question??? I showed them to my DH's uncle, and he was amazed. He had chickens most his life and had never heard of eggs being so hard. He wasn't sure how the chick would get out, so now i'm a little nervous. I don't want any getting killed by not being able to get out at the last second....

 

[BobBry]

I just lost another post. answered questions, computer is doing the jerk thing. I'll be back later.

 

[un-named543]

Hello everyone!

I'm Jen and I live in northern Michigan, about 5 miles from Sleeping Bear Dunes.

My family is going to be getting 13 Bantams at the end of April and I'm just looking around and researching.

Mealworms!! So neat and so much fun. We homeschool and every year, we do a batch of mealworms (usually right up until the kids take them out and leave them in a Matchbox car one too many times... Our mealworms have many "adventures!") and I never thought about doing that for the chickens. The birds love it when I hit my mealworm max every summer!!!
Have you done superworms too, Bob?

I am so sorry for your loss, Nova.

I'll just be reading here and trying to soak up some of your knowledge while I shop for a chicken coop.

Hope everyone has a good day!!

Hi Jen, and a big welcome! Getting new chickens is always a thrill

 

[M.sue]

Hi Jennifer and welcome to the Michigan Thread. Looking forward to seeing your chicken project unfold.....this is the place for opinions & advice and the place to come when in need of some laughter!


Fuzzybutt.....can't answer the egg question but one would think it would be calcium or some vitamin in excess amounts. My uncle & cousin commented on how hard my egg shells were but are nothing like your sounds to be.

 

[Olive Hill]

Nobody on the egg question??? I showed them to my DH's uncle, and he was amazed. He had chickens most his life and had never heard of eggs being so hard. He wasn't sure how the chick would get out, so now i'm a little nervous. I don't want any getting killed by not being able to get out at the last second....

I don't know about anyone else, but I forgot you asked a question until you brought it back up. LOL! Our eggs are very hard, too. Especially in the summer. I don't go around throwing them in trees so I don't know anything about that, but I have never broken one unless I mean to and you have to whack them hard on the counter to break them. All of this "break an egg in the pocket" stuff? Never happens here and I have gone days with an egg in my coat pocket doing chores, etc before I remember it's in there. The chicks get out just fine.

 

[DaughterOfEve]

Watching a couple of cockerals confused about spring being here or not as they start claiming hens for them selves and making each other a little bloody and crowing all day. For now Spike, the EE seems to be winning the battles over Goliath, Wyandotte, but today I see Spike is favoring one of his legs. I guess I need about 4 more hens to make things a little more amenable in the chicken yard. That would give them each 10. The math seems to be different for the banties they all manage to get along without a lot of fighting despite the uneven boy to girl ratio.

Enjoying the sunshine even though it is a little decieving as cold as it is.

 

[NovaAman]

You could always cut back on the calcium... I did not give mine any added calcium until the snow flew and the digging for bugs and fresh foods were a harder to come by commodity.

So. Veena is starting to go a bit stir crazy in her carrier. LOL. I am thinking I might let her out today, and then bring her back in the house overnight. It is nice and sunny even with the wind, its not to bad... Need to clean her carrier anyway.

I'd go with the nook. I love my nook. I also have the kindle ap on my HP Touchpad, and that is nice also. But if you are going to get one.. I'd go with the nook.

I decided to get some more thick cardboard to separate the Big Girls from my teeny tiny Scatter and her babies. I will NOT be happy if another baby comes up missing. I am still disturbed over it. I wish I knew that would happen. I mean, I knew they could get hurt and pecked at possibly, so I put up the divide. I realize since it didn't go all the way to the top, it could be a problem. None of them have been jumping over to lay their eggs with her either lately, so I didn't think anything else of it. Well, anyway, got some thick cardboard from work, and am stapling that in today.

Guess I better get to work then...