Michigan

[Juise]

P.S. Fuzzybutt, I love pussy willows and I am totally jealous because we have none here.

Also, how long do you think it will take these chicks to figure out how to go up the ramp to their coop? I am pretty certain it is not too steep, and they have no trouble going down it. I am already sick of crawling in there to pop them in to the coop.

 

[Stacykins]

Stacykins......

(sorry). In case you did not know, there ARE better ways to see pond life up close.

Believe it or not I laughed at myself pretty hard after falling it! I am just so glad that I didn't have any electronics in my pocket at the time, and my face didn't get wet (did NOT want that water on my face

). The duckies were just quacking away like they were having a good laugh at me too! Or they were just upset at the splash I made.

In only a matter of a few hours, the number of frogs in the pond increased, and there are so many clusters of frog eggs, I couldn't count them all. I'll be looking forward to seeing tadpoles! I got to see one frog actually laying her eggs, which was too cool! Like a NatGeo program, in my backyard

 

[M.sue]

Also, how long do you think it will take these chicks to figure out how to go up the ramp to their coop?

They'll figure it out the same day you put them in there. Mine did but at first they had to inspect & test it....They were all over it...up it & down it and peeking in.

 

[Elliemae 77]

HH, so sorry about your little hen.

 

[taprock]

Sarah - love chick #3 Adorable!

Fuzzybutt - yesterday I walked all our property -20+ acres trying to find some pussywillows for the house. None. This morning I go into the chicken run to find a little bush with three shoots on it with pussywillows. Didn't think to look there!

MSue - Petey is just the cutest.

Sorry about the lost birds, HH and ?? We have had the bald eagle around the last few days and spotted an owl but the hawks haven't shown up much more than normal here yet. I have to get my netting on the run before they do.

Woke up with headache and kept it all day. Got some done today but nothing to brag about!

 

[M.sue]

HH, so sorry about your little hen.

X2 here...

Thanks Taprock...I think she's cute too and hopefully she'll be a BFF with our other little bantam!

 

[Elliemae 77]

HH,
I'm curious,
What's the difference between heritage barred rocks and the hatchery barred rocks that TSC sells? Better breeding? Conformation? You're from Newaygo? Small world.....I'm from Fremont.

 

[Juise]

Quote:

They'll figure it out the same day you put them in there. Mine did but at first they had to inspect & test it....They were all over it...up it & down it and peeking in.

Hmm, they were put into the tractor Monday, and have apparently not yet figured it out. I had my four year old stuff them in last night, and tonight they were all crowded under the coop peeping like crazy before I popped them in, like they wanted to be in the coop, but didn't understand how to get there. Ahh well, from what you say, hopefully it will not take them much longer.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Hillbilly Hen

awww.

Ferrret Would it be possible for only one chicken in a flock to have worms?
no. Possibly the others are healthier, so they have less of them. Healthy hens carry a "healthy" amount of worms, though i prefer mine have none. At the bottom of my posts there are links to info about worms and bugs. I think bald spots are usually from the kind of lice/mites that hide inside the feather shaft, but do silkies even have shafts? are you sure she's not trying to brood somewhere? Was there silkie fuzz in the nest box?

Juise I love pussy willows and I am totally jealous because we have none here.
Look carefully when you are driving down the road. Since i got these i have been noticing them in the ditches. They are flowering now, so they are easier to spot. (Yes, i am shameless.I will go to great lengths to obtain things, though not this time. )
And yes, i know you are not supposed to touch plants on the side of the road, but over here they buzz them down anyway, so i don't feel bad. Last really cool, possibly protected flower patch i was admiring got a load of rock dumped on it for no apparent reason, other than apparently the road guy didn't feel like actually aiming for the sholder of the road and spreading the rocks.

.

 

[NovaAman]

I had to put mine up on the ramp... I had to put them away for a few days, but once they figured out the ramp... It really only took me putting them on it, instead of putting them away, and I only put a few on the ramp, they got it. SO, Instead of putting them away, put them on the ramp... They may already have it figured out, but since you are putting them up, they are just waiting for that. LOL.

OK... I need to get a picture of Roopert. You guys have got to see him. He's slated for dinner, but he has to be the most beautiful mutt. I was actually contemplating keeping him, but... I'd have to get him a few hens that he is not related too. And a majority of the pullets I have gotten with him are very obviously siblings. Well, anyway... Here is what Mr. Man did tonight... Note, they are only 10 weeks old. He mounted a brood-mate pullet. PROPERLY TOO! Had her at the back of the neck in the right spot, feet in the right spot, and boy did she pitch a fit. Poor Snowball... THEN, as soon as he gets off of her, he ran himself up to Mr. Fluffers and attacked him from behind! He has not crowed yet, but he sure is acting like a teenager molesting the girls and picking on the old man. Mr. Fluffers is 2 in May. It was a sight to see. I was shocked, because last fall, none of the boys were even considering doing such a thing at 10 weeks. They had a healthy respect for Mr. Fluffers. LOL. Roopert, however, was smart enough to RUN AWAY after his attack. I don't think I have ever seen Mr. Fluffers move so fast. I mean, he's a big fatty macfat pants.

I have decided to use the two block salt lick container, the little one, for water for the ducks in the coop. I will be able to hang it on 2 hooks on the door, and they will be able to drink, but not get in it to have a swimming good time. I am hoping this will help keep the flies down too, since they will not be soaking their straw so much.

I did not get my bonus today. Apparently MLive has decided to make us wait until April 12. It was supposed to be Feb 12 and March 12. Why? You ask... Well, They figured, and I don't get this reasoning, that IF people stayed thru the change over on Feb 12, they'd get a bonus. If they continue to stay another 30 days after that, they'd get another bonus.. BUT ammended that to another bonus 30 days AFTER THAT. Trying to make sure they do not lose so many carrier. As for that, they lost the carrier who got part of my route when they did the change over and I lost half my route and 2/3 my pay... SO, I am getting that route back, and now I will only be $80 short of what I was making before the change over, but thats ok, because I was putting 140 a week in gas into my car to run it, and with not working 4 days, thats 80 in gas I am not spending, and well heck, doesn't that just beat all, I am back to what I was making before the change over, and only working 3 days a week. Oh yeah, Oh yeah. SO, I could totally quit the new job I picked up working 3rds... OR, I can keep it for a few months, and quit in the fall, before winter starts... and BY then, I would have a nice cushion built back up, and have my coop finished, and my pond put in. Yup...

Well anyway. I saw bronze breasted turkeys at FFH... How long does it take to grow out a turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners? I am considering getting a few...