Michigan

[snowflake]

Actually we got all laying and dual purpose breeds this time around. We didn't even venture into meat territory until we figure out processing requirements and such. I'll have to try the light trick and maybe that will help. They've been in the barn long enough to know where "home" is. Oddly enough, we can't get the chickens in and we can't keep the ducks out.We let the ducks out to have some fun in the pond and they were back under the "chicken" tractor in no time. I guess we bit off more than we can chew and its time to consider it a lesson learned. We're going to dwindle down the flock and then maintain 10-15. A nice little backyard flock will do the job just fine.

I don't understand why you are having this problem with standard chickens. It is a natural thing for them to go in at dusk, some times that is 9:30 10, in the summer, hope the light works for you

 

[SillyChicken]

Morning!!

If anyone wants white silkies (vj),bantams (both free) and turkey poults, let me know. A few of the turkey poults are Royal/ BBW crosses, might make for some meaty birds! I'll probably keep back a few myself.

My poor turkey hen will not get off her nest. One was starting to hatch so I left that one with her (only to find it had hatched but got smooshed). The rest of the eggs were too fresh or dead so I took them from her. I have been pulling her out and locking her from the coop but it's not helping. I put the poults in with the adult turkeys, the tom was herding them toward the broody hen and away from me. So it looks like they've been readily accepted by the turkeys.
Real men wear kilts.....

and drive pink cars!

now if I could just get my DH in a kilt........ he's got some awesome nice legs!

!

I spent all weekend cleaning the coops and chicken yard. DH helped me install a 6x6 kennel panel for a gate into the poultry yard. Now I can drive the mule and lawn mower into the yard! It works great!! Did a little landscaping around the hexagonal coop as well. I need to find something to put on a few sides... it looks kinda blah. Was thinking about some of the metal decorations at TSC.

I have several plants I need to transplant in my flower gardens...the yarrow and lavender and another plant, have outgrown their spots so I'm going to put them on a hill by the driveway that we can't mow.. I'm hoping these plants will take over the space, or at least bring some color up there. They do a good job spreading seeds where they currently are! (photo is a few yrs old, so they've realllllly grown)!



I also have a bunch of hosta that I need to thin out... anyone interested? They are the white w/green curly leaves at the base of the block wall, I need space for the other varieties to grow. I get plants as clearance plants and by the next 2 yrs, are growing like mad! So, they're a tadd over crowded now. I yanked most of the ferns out last year. I took this photo 2 yrs ago, so you can imagine how much bigger everything is now!

Saw snow white and the huntsman yesterday.... it was OK.... but....... meh...wouldn't see it again, and won't buy the dvd. The computer animation for "sanctuary" and one of the final fighting scenes in the castle was well done though. I love computer animation!

 

[SillyChicken]

I don't understand why you are having this problem with standard chickens. It is a natural thing for them to go in at dusk, some times that is 9:30 10, in the summer, hope the light works for you

I have the same issue with my young silkies and bantams, they lay at the door but won't go in. IF I have the light on before dusk, they'll go in.... silly chickens!

 

[Stacykins]

Fluffy picspam time!







The cleanfaced chick




My new avatar

Chick was Zzzzzz the entire time. There is a peduncle in all that fluff, haha.

 

[1muttsfan]

Stacykins, thats a great hatch and cute chicks too

Sillychicken, Joann fabrics has some really cute outdoor decorations too, pretty inexpensive too.

 

[SillyChicken]

Stacykins, thats a great hatch and cute chicks too
Sillychicken, Joann fabrics has some really cute outdoor decorations too, pretty inexpensive too.

OH yeah? thanks for the tip! I'll check em out!

I picked up 2 of the license plate planter boxes (red and tan plate and some brackets), the tractor hanging bracket and a solar lantern (that I got discounted cause it was bent) to hang on it. I'll stop and get a couple flower pots to put in them tonight.



Stacykins... the chicks are adorable! What kind are they? derp.. never mind.

 

[NovaAman]

OH OH OH! Love the chicks. AND, I will be going to chicken stock... will be wanting silkies. AND I will gladly take some hostas.

I need to plant something along the fence/run. Something the chickens will not eat... Whats good? I am sure someone has posted on this before, but since it didnt' matter to me at the time, I didn't pay that much attention. Now it matters to me. HA.

 

[SillyChicken]

OH OH OH! Love the chicks. AND, I will be going to chicken stock... will be wanting silkies. AND I will gladly take some hostas.

I need to plant something along the fence/run. Something the chickens will not eat... Whats good? I am sure someone has posted on this before, but since it didnt' matter to me at the time, I didn't pay that much attention. Now it matters to me. HA.

http://www.poultryhelp.com/toxicplants.html

try this... gonna have a look at it myself... they're not on the list, and I found another post here that said they're not, but the chickens like to eat them. I'll still bring a few to CS. Maybe if you put some hardware cloth between the plant and chicken fence, it would make it hard to peck at the plant.

 

[Nigellas]

Quote: ME!!!

 

[RaZ]

I need to plant something along the fence/run. Something the chickens will not eat... Whats good? I am sure someone has posted on this before, but since it didnt' matter to me at the time, I didn't pay that much attention. Now it matters to me. HA.

ME!!!

I don't know what the chickens won't eat. Mine ate my entire hosta bed last year. A lot came back but I had to add a bunch of new plants so it looks pretty sparse. I have netting around it to keep the dogs and chickens out because I broke down and got some of the more rare and exotic hostas. I can't believe that I paid $15 each for a few of them. And that was my landscaper price!

I did some serious pruning on the willow trees again today, so I'll have a bunch more cuttings. I have about 20 or so in pots that are already rooted and growing well.