joessportster Posted April 24, 2018 Author Share Posted April 24, 2018 On 4/22/2018 at 6:41 AM, Rivervalleymgb said: If snakes are stealing the eggs, put a golf ball, or several, in the laying boxes. End of problem. Ohm. somebody call PETA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted April 24, 2018 Share Posted April 24, 2018 On 4/18/2018 at 2:36 PM, Audio Flynn said: Hawks and mink killed off Mink in Livonia? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audio Flynn Posted April 26, 2018 Share Posted April 26, 2018 On 4/24/2018 at 3:32 AM, DizRotus said: Mink in Livonia? I moved to a 32 acre small farm in Ionia in 2010. 😎 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted April 26, 2018 Share Posted April 26, 2018 I see so now you Live in Ionia, in other words, LivIonia. @Audio Flynn But seriously, there are wild mink in Ionia? I’m surprised they’re anywhere in Michigan other than closets. EDIT: 4/26/18 a 11:48 I see that wild mink are common in Michigan, and throughout North America. It makes sense, but I never thought about it. FYI, we had a pet chinchilla. I looked it up. It takes 300 chinchillas to make a coat. Not surprising, since their hands are so small. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audio Flynn Posted April 29, 2018 Share Posted April 29, 2018 On 4/26/2018 at 7:50 AM, DizRotus said: I see so now you Live in Ionia, in other words, Livionia. @Audio Flynn But seriously, there are wild mink in Ionia? I’m surprised they’re anywhere in Michigan other than closets. EDIT: 4/26/18 a 11:48 I see that wild mink are common in Michigan, and throughout North America. It makes sense, but I never thought about it. FYI, we had a pet chinchilla. I looked it up. It takes 300 chinchillas to make a coat. Not surprising, since their hands are so small. In five years I have been within six feet of a mink. Tiny scary murderous beasts! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted April 30, 2018 Author Share Posted April 30, 2018 13 hours ago, Audio Flynn said: In five years I have been within six feet of a mink. Tiny scary murderous beasts! Now thats funny......................So how old b-4 I get eggs ? Cleaned out the coop Saturday for first time had to drill holes to drain the water otherwise pretty painless except trying to keep the birds out while the floor dried. also now when we wake in the am all the birds have figured out how to get through the eaves at the roof, all 11 are happily pecking at the ground when we get up. Should I wire that area to keep them in ? Thoughts ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 It's around 18 weeks for the birds to reach laying age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted April 30, 2018 Moderators Share Posted April 30, 2018 56 minutes ago, joessportster said: also now when we wake in the am all the birds have figured out how to get through the eaves at the roof, all 11 are happily pecking at the ground when we get up. Should I wire that area to keep them in ? Thoughts ? I would think so, if they can get out other things can get in, or get them when they are out. We use to have ours out sometimes during the day when were home but they would get into the house way before dark, I just had to remember to go close the cage door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audio Flynn Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 12 hours ago, joessportster said: Now thats funny......................So how old b-4 I get eggs ? Cleaned out the coop Saturday for first time had to drill holes to drain the water otherwise pretty painless except trying to keep the birds out while the floor dried. also now when we wake in the am all the birds have figured out how to get through the eaves at the roof, all 11 are happily pecking at the ground when we get up. Should I wire that area to keep them in ? Thoughts ? 4-5 months I have some of mine open but only 3 inch slots. Good idea though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted May 6, 2018 Author Share Posted May 6, 2018 Ok thanks guys, I will look at putting some chicken wire over the eaves, these guys are approx 6 weeks old so I must wait a bit, starting on 2nd bag of food 16%layer feed TSC brand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted May 16, 2018 Author Share Posted May 16, 2018 Ok How old / big before I can let these chickens roam the property for a few hours a day ? they can get more natural protein (bugs) and vegetation outside the pin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 6 hours ago, joessportster said: Ok How old / big before I can let these chickens roam the property for a few hours a day ? they can get more natural protein (bugs) and vegetation outside the pin. Once they're feathered out, it's up to you and your discretion based on where they're allowed to roam and your predators, any spaces that maybe you don't them getting into where a larger bird wouldn't be able to fit, etc. For me, I typically wait a bit long so that winged predators don't try to carry them off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted May 16, 2018 Author Share Posted May 16, 2018 16 minutes ago, Thaddeus Smith said: Once they're feathered out, it's up to you and your discretion based on where they're allowed to roam and your predators, any spaces that maybe you don't them getting into where a larger bird wouldn't be able to fit, etc. For me, I typically wait a bit long so that winged predators don't try to carry them off. That is about my main concern,(winged predators) they are about 1/2 grown and fully feathered. I was thinking about a couple hours before dark as a trial and see if they go back to the coop. I also have to worry about a stray dog that has come by 2 times now and ran the fence stirring them up. we keep a watch but can not obviously stand there all day and catch his A$$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted May 16, 2018 Share Posted May 16, 2018 6 minutes ago, joessportster said: That is about my main concern,(winged predators) they are about 1/2 grown and fully feathered. I was thinking about a couple hours before dark as a trial and see if they go back to the coop. I also have to worry about a stray dog that has come by 2 times now and ran the fence stirring them up. we keep a watch but can not obviously stand there all day and catch his A$$. You should be fine with supervised grazing, but I wouldn't leave them out and unattended just yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted May 16, 2018 Author Share Posted May 16, 2018 Yea , I plan to keep an eye out. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaddeus Smith Posted May 17, 2018 Share Posted May 17, 2018 And a predator isn't always a foreign/malicious threat. We have a new livestock guard dog puppy that's a few months old and likes to play with the slower birds (ducks, chicks, etc) so we have to be pretty diligent about not having them all out at the same time unmonitored. Came home tonight from an impromptu trip into town and my 6 year old spotted him eating one of her chicks 😕 ..Classic case of me thinking the wife had put everyone up and she thinking that I had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted May 17, 2018 Author Share Posted May 17, 2018 Communication is key (now if I can just remember things, this getting older crap is for the birds) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audio Flynn Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 https://adorstore.com/ Put this made in the USA large door on my coop for the geese and ducks 5 days ago and I am very impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtmudd Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 So which came first the chicken 🐔 or the egg ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted June 29, 2018 Moderators Share Posted June 29, 2018 Neither, microbes, problem was they are hard to cook for breakfast and batter and fry. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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