Michigan

[SillyChicken]

thanks Olive, st john is too far from me... I'll just have to keep trying TSC or wait for chicken stock and hope someone brings some.

We got our first turkey egg today...... now I'm in a panic, I don't know if I should go buy an incubator and try to do them myself or wait and see if the hens will manage to brood them. I did bring the egg inside because it was so cold last night. My luck that was probably a mistake.. I planned on putting it back out once it warms up if the hens don't try to brood. I more than likely will just try to hatch at least half of them.

Does anyone know if turkeys will share a nest? Has anyone used the incubators/egg turner at TSC - are they any good or should I get one on line?

I may need to do a crash course on incubating!!


After today... we are going to be warming up! Upper 60's next week!

(Don't forget the time change! Spring forward Sunday!

 

[Olive Hill]

I figured it was too far. Also figured you thought I was in Lansing.

Bringing the egg in was a good move. You don't want to leave them in the nest or they'll stop laying when they get a clutch. Unless all you want is a clutch, in which case it doesn't matter so much. If you don't disturb the nest too much they'll keep laying in the same spot. Two or more turkey hens will lay in the same nest, but sometimes they like their own, too. Just depends. The turner at TSC is fine, the incubator is... okay. You'll usually have much better results with a forced air bator though, rather than a still air.

 

[1muttsfan]

I have a mixed flock too - LF and bantams both, 5 different breeds. They all seem to do just fine together, although the Welsummers pick on each other (not any of the other breeds).

I sure hope it is 60 up in the UP when I get back, I am really going to miss the 80s and sun down here. Although I am looking forward to all the eggs due to come in - 6 dozen? 7? Can't remember.

Opa I don't know if you have ever fished down here, but it is paradise - I hve never seen so many different kinds of fish. Or so many big ones! Yesterday we went scooping for sand fleas, so we will try them today on Sheepshead - kind of the Florida version of Perch, but way bigger. And with teeth.

 

[Mom 2em All]

Nope, totally different animal. Imagine brown sugar baked into little shapes like maple leaves but tasting like a concentrated shot of maple syrup. Wonderful.

LOVE Maple Sugar Candy...mmmmmmmmm.. I dont like Maple Syrup though

I had it once, tasted like I put whiskey on my pancakes. No more for me.

I've had one done, and I did it with no drugs at all, including the general anesthetic. Wouldn't recommend it!

It's right up there on my list of most painful experiences ever, at least number 4. If I have to get another one, I am requesting every type of drugs they've got.

(And maybe one that they haven't!)


I loooooove maple sugar candy. As kids, my brothers and I use to get a piece on our annual apple orchard / pumpkin patch visit. That isn't nearly enough maple sugar candy, so my girls get get one every time we go to the farmer's market, which is usually at least once a week while it is open.

(Okay, sometimes I get one too, they can't have all the fun.)

I once bought a pack, and was so sad that I had to give the kids each a piece...lol.

OH! Its going to be an open area in the spring, summer and fall... Their will be NO straw in the coop, except for one box to lay eggs in. Also, I am seriously considering pulling a Daron and sanding their winter enclosure for next year. Putting a hole in the floor of their coop and covering it with hardware cloth, and setting the water over that for when they are stuck in their coop from 6pm till 9 am... I don't know... will have to see. But I think the sand would be so much better... Maybe... Opinions?

But yeah... I am looking forward to no more food and water in the coop for the late spring, summer and early fall, and being able to take a hose to it and just rinse it out!

Wouldn't sand soak up the poop and pee and breed bacteria/diseases?

Nova - I think you're going to want some type of bedding in there even in the summer. They go to the bathroom a lot at night and their droppings are very wet. Having nothing to sop it up?

If you've got smell problems your C:N ratio is off. Maybe rather than using leaves pick up some good bales of nice, dry straw.

I use pine shavings. Seems to work best for soaking up, clean up, keeping things smelling okay and dry.

Oiy, it was a long day at school.

The new chicks are starting their pecking order games. Eight little fuzz butts jumping and kicking at each other. Two of the SLW's have a noticeable primary wing feather but no tail to speak of yet. I can't quite tell yet on the third, it seems a bit smaller than the other 2. The 2 BSLs aren't showing tails yet so maybe the 1 SLW is just younger. There is no way of telling how many days different the hatch day might have been. The ISAs are visibly bigger than the other chicks but the Wyandottes seem to be the boldest chicks.

Duckies has been calm and sleepy, their little crops are stuffed so I guess they spent all date eating. Tomorrow they get to swim in the sink again.

Im going to post pics of my chicks now. I just have to find my camera. Most have their feathers except one who barely has any coming in. I am going to let you all sex them.

Still a little cold this morning but the coming forecast is nothing to complain about. I think today will be a good day to work on cleaning the coop. With this cold chicken coop cleaning has been way down on my list of priorities but I can avoid it no longer. It also is probably warm enough to start getting the birds separated and back into their summer confines. I've got to decide which birds birds I'll be keeping and which will be heading for freezer camp. It's always difficult to decide but a beautiful bird that is no longer productive is no better than a non production ugly one.

Good Morning Sam!
I think I have decided that the Polish are causing more trouble than they are at earning their keep...

 

[M.sue]

I may need to do a crash course on incubating!!

(Don't forget the time change! Spring forward Sunday!

I saw step by step instructions for incubating in the websites news & feedback announcements.

Love the time change because I like to get out in the mornings early as possible but it will be kicking my butt in a week or two when it catches up with me.

 

[RaZ]

OK, it's going to be one of THOSE days that Michigan is famous for.
Woke up to bright sun shining in my window and all the chickens out in the yard. By the time the coffee brewed it was dark enough to turn on the light to read the paper. Then a snow squall blew through. Covered the truck, the ground and the silly chickens in less than 5 minutes. Now the sun is out again and the snow is gone except for the shaded areas.

I think the ducklings doubled in size overnight.

 

[Opa]

thanks Olive, st john is too far from me... I'll just have to keep trying TSC or wait for chicken stock and hope someone brings some.

We got our first turkey egg today...... now I'm in a panic, I don't know if I should go buy an incubator and try to do them myself or wait and see if the hens will manage to brood them. I did bring the egg inside because it was so cold last night. My luck that was probably a mistake.. I planned on putting it back out once it warms up if the hens don't try to brood. I more than likely will just try to hatch at least half of them.

Does anyone know if turkeys will share a nest? Has anyone used the incubators/egg turner at TSC - are they any good or should I get one on line?

I may need to do a crash course on incubating!!


After today... we are going to be warming up! Upper 60's next week!

(Don't forget the time change! Spring forward Sunday!

I would suggest you to a search for dry hatching. I think it would help you immensely. http://paraguinparadise.netfirms.com/Dry Incubation.htm

I bought a turner from TSC and have been very happy with it. I like it better than the ones from GQF.

I have a mixed flock too - LF and bantams both, 5 different breeds. They all seem to do just fine together, although the Welsummers pick on each other (not any of the other breeds).

I sure hope it is 60 up in the UP when I get back, I am really going to miss the 80s and sun down here. Although I am looking forward to all the eggs due to come in - 6 dozen? 7? Can't remember.

Opa I don't know if you have ever fished down here, but it is paradise - I hve never seen so many different kinds of fish. Or so many big ones! Yesterday we went scooping for sand fleas, so we will try them today on Sheepshead - kind of the Florida version of Perch, but way bigger. And with teeth.

It's been many many years but you're right. It can be pretty exciting with all the strange species you can catch in the ocean.

 

[RaZ]

Everything chicken...

http://apnews.myway.com//article/20120309/D9TCNORG0.html

 

[SillyChicken]

Thanks everyone for the info on incubation! This is so exciting!!!

 

[LoveMyChicklets]

For fear of getting yelled at, is this your first time incubating SillyChicken? This is our second year, last year we purchased a used incubator and had so much fun. What eggs have you set?