Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[Wrightsx4]

The coloring is fantastic, what are they?

Thank you!
They are salmon faverolles.

 

[Bens-Hens]

I finally finished reading this whole thread... on my ohone, it came up as 19 pages. Pam and Nova, I am also a Michigander. I am still trying for my first successful hatch. Ben, you are very talented with your coop designs. I cannot imagine being restricted on how many hens and no roos. I already have 26 hens, 1 roo, and6 teens we are trying to figure out yet. A likely unsuccessful hatch due yesterday, another that looks poor for the week after, but the hatch after that is looking fantastic.

Welcome, and thanks for taking the time to read it all. I try keep it up to date for everyone, and somewhat interesting when I can. The problem with where we live used to have nothing to do with restrictions, but now those other problem play second fiddle to what we enjoy....our chickens lol. Alicia and I were out in a rural area the other day, talkin about acres, sheds and breeding pens lol. We both are desperate to get out of here and into something bigger.

Here they are - it's a little tough to get pics of these chicks! They're either snuggled under mom or they're running in all directions. I caught this one of a few chicks all together by Betty.

Very nice, except none look very impressed lol.

Hey fellow Michigander!. Look Ben, you have a Michigan based set of groupies! Haha

About your hatch, is it broody or incubator? I have had them late and early under the broody, and not surprised to get them hatching in the bator on day 23...

I know right?! Not that I am complaining at all but seems many readers come from your neck of the woods. Must be a nice place to live.

I am using the LG incubator. The temp stays pretty constant, but I do not have a hygrometer yet. Will see if i can talk my poor, tolerant DH to stop at chinamart on the way home from work this week. He surprised me last fall by buildingan awesome coop and run for my girls. I had been recycling materials from us remodeling the house. We, and by we I mean he, because my strength doesnt last long enough to be much help, built a smaller pen attached to the existing for the chicks to go in after they are old enough to be outside. We have our 6 teens there now. Once we know which are hens, we will be able to easily integrate them to the big flock because the have seen each other for a few weeks now.

I woke up admitted to my hubby that I am chicken obsessed. I even dreamed of hatchlings. Lol.

Shame to read about the poor results so far. You can bet that if the temps are staying good, the humidity is to blame (providing they were good eggs to start with) We got some cheap hygrometers, but eventually went for an online one which I have found to be very good. Also had a build in remote temp sensor so it gave both lots of information at egg level, but the display was in the open.

Very nice unit, and the company did a great job of posting it and the other part from USA to Oz.

This is the one I got for US$19.99. They do one without the probe for about $15 and one with an egg on the end of the probe for a few buck more.
http://incubatorwarehouse.com/incubator-remote-thermometer-hygrometer.html

Yes, I'd like to say that admitting puts you on a path to curing the addiction, but that would be a lie. I mean, I just discoved a TUZO!! They have got to be some interesting looking chickens. I wouldnt get anythough... Not unless I had pad locks and blow you off your feet electric fence at night to keep thieves away. We have THOSE types of people around here...

SO, Ever, what part of Mich are you from? I am over here in Tulip Central... Holland.

How are you doing Oz?

I am yet to say it out loud, I write it and that's as close as I get lol. *Google search TUZO* hahahaha Sounds like you live in a similar area to me. If it's not bolted down and double locked it better be well lite if you want to keep it. Even then, it may only slow them down. We have been pretty lucky here though so far, but it's still not nice.

For when Oz get back, "Hey mate" although he is about to bolt on another chicken adventure so it may be a bit before he has time to re-visit.

 

[EverMystique1]

Yes, I'd like to say that admitting puts you on a path to curing the addiction, but that would be a lie. I mean, I just discoved a TUZO!! They have got to be some interesting looking chickens. I wouldnt get anythough... Not unless I had pad locks and blow you off your feet electric fence at night to keep thieves away. We have THOSE types of people around here...

SO, Ever, what part of Mich are you from? I am over here in Tulip Central... Holland.

How are you doing Oz?

I am barely 5 miles from Indiana in a tiny speck called Burr Oak. Halfway between Chicago and Detroit.

And I think those thieves are everywhere. We even had someone steal the gross carpet we had stripped from my parents house (but left the new carpet).

 

[Wrightsx4]

I'm feeling quite lucky [knock on wood!]. We've lived here about 14 years and have never had anything stolen off our property. We're pretty remote though buried deep in the woods. If you were to hold out your left hand with palm facing outward (Ben...cuz that's how lower peninsula Michiganders give directions) and look at your pinky finger - I'm at the middle knuckle by Lake Michigan.

 

[NovaAman]

I am barely 5 miles from Indiana in a tiny speck called Burr Oak. Halfway between Chicago and Detroit.

And I think those thieves are everywhere. We even had someone steal the gross carpet we had stripped from my parents house (but left the new carpet).

OH MY GOSH! You gotta know my granny then! And my aunt Deb, aunt Jo, and uncle art, uncle Ray, and my mom, my sister, my cousins. Ok.. mom and sis live in sturgis now...

About the thieving part... they'd be stolen for fighting, and I'd hate to even think about that. I unfortunetly saw a youtube clip... I was so gobsmacked, sick to my stomach. Poor animals...

SO... If you haven't figured out who I am talking about yet, and I know Burr Oak is like a blink and you'll miss it, what the heck, there aint no stop lights, you call this a gas station? Kinda town... LOL. Spent many a summer with my family there while I was growing up. Don't get down that way much now, and I am sure my grandma would appreciate a visit...LOL The Krontzes... Yup. Now, you wouldn't happen to be married to any of my relatives would ya? Now wouldn't that be a trip.

 

[ozexpat]

g'day

I am still around till Wednesday. Juggling work and packing. As usual I have more to carry than I have room. the three 70lb bags will be full - along with the golf bag.

Just 3 sleeps till I fly

 

[Bens-Hens]

I'm feeling quite lucky [knock on wood!]. We've lived here about 14 years and have never had anything stolen off our property. We're pretty remote though buried deep in the woods. If you were to hold out your left hand with palm facing outward (Ben...cuz that's how lower peninsula Michiganders give directions) and look at your pinky finger - I'm at the middle knuckle by Lake Michigan.

We have been lucky too, only had one incident, and they didn't get anything. It's still not a good area, and bad things seem to happen around us.

I totally dig a BIG BWHAHAHAHAHA reading the directions part....twice! I am sure it makes sense to locals, but for us convicts it's a hoot!

OH MY GOSH! You gotta know my granny then! And my aunt Deb, aunt Jo, and uncle art, uncle Ray, and my mom, my sister, my cousins. Ok.. mom and sis live in sturgis now...

About the thieving part... they'd be stolen for fighting, and I'd hate to even think about that. I unfortunetly saw a youtube clip... I was so gobsmacked, sick to my stomach. Poor animals...

SO... If you haven't figured out who I am talking about yet, and I know Burr Oak is like a blink and you'll miss it, what the heck, there aint no stop lights, you call this a gas station? Kinda town... LOL. Spent many a summer with my family there while I was growing up. Don't get down that way much now, and I am sure my grandma would appreciate a visit...LOL The Krontzes... Yup. Now, you wouldn't happen to be married to any of my relatives would ya? Now wouldn't that be a trip.

I would not be worried about the chickens here, apart from the eggs they wouldn't know what to do with them, probably just let them out. I fear more for my tools.

Truly would be blown away if you have been talking to a relative, on a West Australian's blog thread about chickens!

g'day

I am still around till Wednesday. Juggling work and packing. As usual I have more to carry than I have room. the three 70lb bags will be full - along with the golf bag.

Just 3 sleeps till I fly

Have a good one sir, pack well and travel safe. Will be watching your thread intently. I think I want to see some sausage pictures, [wait hang on] of your sausage machine [wait I can do this] the hand sausage pumper, oh I give up. I can't do it hahahahaha

Mr Tea was consumed tonight. Another Facebook shot, another stir lol. "Eating pets again?"

Sticking with the DIY theme, DIY Colonel Sanders.

 

[NovaAman]

Don't worry Ben... I was having a really hard time not making a comment when I went and caught up on Oz's thread yesterday. I figured I'd just shut off BYC before I got an infraction... Again. LOL

Have a safe flight Oz! I bet you're getting ansy to see those beautiful kids of yours. And your wife too of course.

Yeah, it would be kinda funny wouldn't it? No, it'd be more than funny. It's hard to remember all the different last names of my cousins over there... Especially since some of them have been married/remarried... BUT since most of them were into stock car racing... AND when I was a kid some 25 odd years ago, you could just ask anyone in town... Except the local cop... Since my grandma popped him one for messing with my grandpa who had a broke back, and was laid up in bed most the time... LOL Then my cousins (boys) always in trouble. Heck, I remember pick up trucks and sleds in the winter... We weren't very smart kids, but I remember we always had fun. Even at the leached out swimming hole. Burr Oak wasn't your idealic cutesy little town... It was your idealic hillbilly town.

I can remember my uncle Art getting bullfrogs and us kids standing around watching him cutting their heads off and getting po-ed when one got away, and us kids chasing them down trying to catch them again. We used to live in the house near the ball field (before I moved to Florida to live with my Dad), and me, my cousins Angel, Harvey, my sister Patty and I would sneak over and get in the announcers both. I can also remember daring Harvey to pee on an electric cow fence... Yup... Great memories.

 

[NovaAman]

Yum... Mr. Tea looks tastey!

HEY! They say you are what you eat. SO, now Mr. Tea will always be with you. Tell your FB opposers that. LOL. You can find me on FB too. Same name. AND YES, I talk a lot about my chickens their too. LOL

 

[NovaAman]

Sorry... And for those who want to know what a Tuzo looks like... it is a hard feathered bantam. Very muscular, stands more upright (like a runner). Very sleak lined and I think pretty.



They also come in white, blue, are the standard accepted colors, but can be found in silver duckwing, crele, red brown, pyle, cuckoo (cuz who isn't dizzy enough with freaking barred rocks, Right?)