Michigan

[RaZ]

Excellent, thank you! (Especially since Raz still hasn't responded!

)

I'm trying to avoid giving my 2 cents about composting and gardening. Too many "experts" with too many opinions; Too many people have told me that I can't do what I have been doing. Like the compost class when the instructor said that it is impossible to hot compost in the backyard. I guess my pile at 150 degrees just wasn't hot enough for her.

I avoid the gardening threads for the same reasons. I just get in trouble.
I will say that it is always a good idea to run a soil test and see what you have and what you need based on the crops you want to grow.

 

[sarah92480]

I did not know that about the ingredients but that is good to know. Makes it worth paying a little more to get fresh stuff like that!

 

[taprock]

I never did find out were the blood came from.

TSC didn't get their chicks in today. I called 3 times.

I medicated all the chickens and gave bottom baths to the ones that were really bad. I cleaned up the bumble foot girl and posted some questions and picture. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/638771/where-do-i-cut-on-a-bumble-foot#post_8587362 It doesn't really look like other pictures so I'm not sure where to try and cut it open. Or rather have DH cut it open.

I'm in because I had to take a shower after chasing chickens through the mud! Headed back out in a few minutes.

 

[sj3364]

Too nice to be working. I keep taking breaks to go out and visit with the chickens. They are in chicken heaven all snuggles in their own little dirt holes. I think the all the hole digging is what surprised me most about chicken behavior. I had no idea they did that.

I found mealworms at Meijer yesterday. $7 for 7oz. Not sure if that is a good price or not but seemed better than what Family Farm & Home had. The girls sure do love them, but at that price they will be an infrequent treat.

 

[RaZ]

Too nice to be working. I keep taking breaks to go out and visit with the chickens. They are in chicken heaven all snuggles in their own little dirt holes. I think the all the hole digging is what surprised me most about chicken behavior. I had no idea they did that.

I found mealworms at Meijer yesterday. $7 for 7oz. Not sure if that is a good price or not but seemed better than what Family Farm & Home had. The girls sure do love them, but at that price they will be an infrequent treat.

I agree, I keep popping in and out doing things. I put the ducks in the bathtub while I cleaned their brooder. They loved the water but didn't want to swim in the deep end. They did enjoy bobbing for peas.

My hens have dug holes up to a foot deep. Even the chicks in the brooder dig body-deep in the sand.

Meijer's has the best price on mealworms, $7.49 here for 7 oz and at TSC it is over $10 for the same amount. Mealworms are a great training aid. I like to feed them to the chickadees and their babies.

 

[Our Roost]

Okay--so I'm late for the party! Caught the word Michigan as I was navigating through this relatively new format of BYC's. My girlfriend has a home just south of Manistee Michigan in Freesoil. I built a really nice coop last summer and we are stocking it with chicks for the first time in April. !5 layers and 10 meat birds. I tried to order breeds that fair well in colder climates. We have black giants and black rocks for meat and orpingtons, black sex links and golden laced wyandottes for egg layers. Hoping they do well. How are your birds fairing the winters? I am debating on insulating the coop. I have exterior treated wood but dont know if that will be sufficient with only a light. I've heard lights at night may disrupt their egg laying habits? I have developed a rain barrel/watering systen with nipples in pvc pipe for less maintenence. Can either be filled by mother nature or the garden hose. I am also working on an automatic feeder much like a deer spreader. Same principle. No one seems to have one. Keep ya posted. Take care, jack sprat!

 

[Mom 2em All]

So you enablers, first week of April I'm getting a mess of Golden Buffs, aka gold comets aka gold sex-links and for the heck of it because they didn't have buff orpingtons available that week a mess of Blue Andalusians just because they had 'em available and they were different. I know absolutely NOTHING about them other than the tiny blurb under the photo.

I did remain slightly sensible and order straight run so extra roos will be visiting freezer camp, but still.... I've succumbed to chicken math!

And TSC will probably have I was looking for when I finally do get there.

My Carmen was a Golden Comet and the best darn chicken ever. Thought she was a dog, laid an egg every single day...perfect.

I agree, I keep popping in and out doing things. I put the ducks in the bathtub while I cleaned their brooder. They loved the water but didn't want to swim in the deep end. They did enjoy bobbing for peas.

My hens have dug holes up to a foot deep. Even the chicks in the brooder dig body-deep in the sand.

Meijer's has the best price on mealworms, $7.49 here for 7 oz and at TSC it is over $10 for the same amount. Mealworms are a great training aid. I like to feed them to the chickadees and their babies.

You cant ignore me forever.
AND- I see that Nova has one of the Uggos...how'd you manage that?


NOW- ALL of you...I have banties..if any of you want some banties..if I am sending a couple to Nova...well...ya know, I can send more. She lives by all of you...while I am way out here in the east side.

Therons eggs hatched!!!!! Well, some of them. I have four in the incubator that didnt hatch and my broody is hatching hers now. I have 8? 9? in here, and she has five.

II also have FOUR UGGO ROOSTERS THAT HAVE TO GO...

 

[NovaAman]

Juise, any time will be fine. I will have the coop all ready to go for them to go into. If they can pick you pullets, thats all I want. IF they have you pic, heres what to look for, especially if you can get some that are as old as the ones you are picking up... SMALLER toes.. the smaller the feet, the better... WHY? because, pullets have thinner toes than the roos even at 8-10 weeks. ALSO, absolutely no walnut development... Again, any color. Also, pic the smallest ones. Better chance of getting pullets in that case if you have to pic them yourself cuz they aren't sexed. Silkies can be a PAIN in the butt to sex. They are a literal, wait till it crows or lays an egg. LOL. But those 3 things are the best way to get closer to getting pullets if they aren't sexed. I don't mind a roo, but, I LOVE my Roger.

I got to punt a roo today. I have been letting the neighbors chickens out when I let mine out. They go to work early. SO, anyway... I have not had a problem with their roo at all. Carl warned me that he's been attacking lately, and I told him that I haven't been having a problem with him at all. Yeah, spoke to soon. I open the door, turn around to head back to my yard, and he comes and does the back attack. I turn around and he attacks me from the front, so I punted him, he came back again, I punted him again, and he came back AGAIN! So, I punted his butt again, and he puffed up and went to come at me again, I put my arms out to the sides like they do with their wings, and I chased him all over the yard, yelling at him at the same time. Now, I am a big girl. Any one who would have witnessed this I am sure would have been wondering why the fat chic was chasing the chicken, wouldn't it have just been easier to drive to KFC or where ever to get some? Dang rooster. I am taking a big stick with me tomorrow. I am just glad that sucker is only going on a year. No real spurs yet. This is the third mean roo in a row for Carl... WOW. How does he do it.

And here... It is blurry, but, my camera does not do good long distance and I really had to try and get this pic... The black and white blob is our cat Payne, and the other blobs are the chicks stalking him thru the trees. It was really funny, cuz I swear Payne was trying to get away before they got to close. LOL. It was 10 of the 12 chuckles that I got from Avalon.


RaZ,

, My chick doesn't want to be related to your chick either.
HOWEVER! I bet you, we all here do appreciate your advice on the composting. We can take it or leave it, but I sure wouldn't mind it. I need to grow as much food as possible this year. I want to be able to can and take it into the wintering months. I am really considering turning half of my garage into a winter green house. I have the lights... I can keep the temps in there a bit higher... SOOOO tempted to try hydroponics..

 

[NovaAman]

Too nice to be working. I keep taking breaks to go out and visit with the chickens. They are in chicken heaven all snuggles in their own little dirt holes. I think the all the hole digging is what surprised me most about chicken behavior. I had no idea they did that.

I found mealworms at Meijer yesterday. $7 for 7oz. Not sure if that is a good price or not but seemed better than what Family Farm & Home had. The girls sure do love them, but at that price they will be an infrequent treat.

Meijers price is the best i have found for it. Not bad at all!

 

[Mom 2em All]

Nova..

Another tip for trying to pick a silkie pullet..they dont have spur bumps..none. I know that other pullets do- girls or boys..but I havent experienced it at all with silkies.