Michigan Thread - all are welcome! - Page 377

Today was a sucky day for working. I ended up buying a bill cap just to keep my hair from blowing every which way and loose. I had to bag and rubber band some papers because the wind was just taking off with everything. Not looking forward to Thursdays complaint list.

Jace had bible club tonight, so I had an extra hour to get a bunch of crap done that I would have done yesterday had I not been a moaning baby. I went to LOWES, and was in there when my mom called me and asked me if I was ok. I told her I was buying my pvc pipe, and apologized for scaring the poop out of her. I got pipe, connectors, glue, fasteners and zip ties for 28 bucks. Then I went and got my moms pills and two pumpkins for the boys to carve/paint and came home, got out the hack saw, made 15 foot poles. Glued them and then taped them too for extra measure. I am a dork. I know. I started getting them up while I was waiting for Jace to get out of bible club. Here is what I was doing...

I have to put up 3 more still, I have 7 up now. BOY WAS IT A PITA! to do by myself.

I also dumped a half bag of wood chips in the big coop. I guess now when I refer to the big coop, I guess it is a big coop. the big coop, now that I have walled in the summer coop is 8x12. It has a 4x12 area (that runs under the 4x8 coop that is part of the big coop, but the original underrun from the original coop) that is just a big dust bath. Well anyway, I will get a tarp in the next day or so and ask the neighbor to help me get it up and over if I can not manage to get it myself.

As for my chickens... When I got home today, most of them were hanging out in the garage. The only ones who were not were the CS birds. Those guys and gals took over the big coop. While I was putting up the hoops, some were then moseying all around, catching up on their scratch and pecking. As soon as few drops of water fell, they all ran back to the garage. LOL. Sheesh, Now I was out there in the rain putting up the PVC and they were all being chickens and hiding out.

I was really amazed that they were all in their coops and roosting at 6:30 tonight. They usually wait until the last possible moment. LOL. I brought them out busted up stale bagels soaked in chicken broth, and that got them all down off the roosts. LOL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladyrsanti 

I was in the day they closed, Overheard the lady behind the counter talking to some one else and bankruptcy was mentioned don't know for sure they were talking about the feed store, I liked their scratch but didn't like the powdery feed to hard to manage. was a nice store. Hate seeing older business' go out. They had been there a long time

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobBry 

Do not buy or build whithout  first determining the legality of your intended actions. 

 

 

Good advice!!!

 

 

and thank you for the gardening advice!!

   Bob

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaZ 

Just a reminder...

 

Tomorrow is the Ag Com meeting in Lansing.  

Please attend if possible.

 

If you can't attend, please write. I can take your letter / e-mail to the meeting.

had hoped to go not sure, did send a short message asking them to vote against the changes. got a reply also

Quote:

Originally Posted by NovaAman 

Like your hoops, 

thanks for the advice on the feeder. I put a bolt in the bottom of mine to attach the pan to the pail, works very well, My feed cans are in the run so I don't carry them far but I do put the feed pans back in the large trash can at night. Seems to help discourage coons. NO food around for them 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladyrsanti 
Sad news, our feed store closed its doors last Friday in Lowell - Blue Ribbon Feed.  I didn't know until yesterday, driving into town for feed only to be forced to go to TSC.   No warning or anything.  Anyone have any information on this?   I will miss their chicken feed, even though it was more expensive.  I took a picture of the place last week while out shooting fall foliage.  Love that building.

I don't know why they closed (I see snowflake has a possible answer).  DH and I drove by there on Thursday and he saw the sign saying they were closing.  We never bought our feed from there, but we did stop in one time because DH was looking for something specific and he talked with the guy running the place.  Very friendly and helpful.  It's too bad to see them close up like that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by taprock 

  Love all the chicken pictures.

 

We were told that our boy that looks like that is a silver duck wing. 

 

 

I love mama's face.

 

Morning.   I don't care for the white stuff before Halloween but the hunter's will be happy for the cold weather.  This is from my son's trail cam. They are at two different times and after much discussion with several guys they think really are two different deer.  I thought my son was going to pass out just over the pictures.  I'm not sure he would actually be able to shoot one if it showed up.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by SillyChicken 

Most definitely NOT the same deer!    The top photo is a young, maybe 2 yr old..small basket buck and the rack doesn't pass the spread of the ears.  I'd let this one go so he can grow!  The second photo, the rack is just past the ears, about an 18" spread.   probably 3 yr old. Would be a nice buck to take!

DH agrees not the same deer. He thinks the first is probably 2.5 years old and the second is 4-4.5 years old. He says look at the side of the body and the length of the brow tines as well as the width of the rack.

DH is a happy man right now, he got a nice 3.5 year old buck with his crossbow this weekend. It had a big body and 9 points with a drop tine. It's rack is definitely not as wide as the one in that photo but it's the first buck he actually hunted in over 5 years because he's been following that Deer Quality Management thing to grow bigger bucks. He says he's seen a 7 point 2.5 year old he hopes makes it through till next year but doesn't hold out much hope though most of the guys around here seem to shoot anything with horns.

Interesting side note, right before we were going to grind the neck meat I found bits of gray metal in the meat. We think it got knicked during muzzle loader season last year. Almost missed it.

On a chicken note, they're really not happy with all this rain! They look like drowned rats.

If you are like me and writing your letter to AG Comm pretty late here are the links again

Site selection

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/2013_DRAFT_SITE_SELECTION_GAAMP_392878_7.pdf

Care of Animals

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/2013_DRAFT_ANIMAL_CARE_GAAMP_392877_7.pdf

Manure Management

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/2013_DRAFT_MANURE_GAAMP_392876_7.pdf

And here is a great form for the letter...Fill in the blanks (And other facts and oppinions)

To (If I am wrong please correct me!!!!)

Your Name

Address

Date

Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development

Right to Farm Program

P.O. Box 30017

Lansing, Michigan 48909

Dear Ariculture Commissions Board :

I am a long-time resident of our city, and I am writing to express my concern about recent discussion and the pending decision to remove the trees along the Main Street corridor. I understand that the decision is being considered to enable street widening that will accommodate increasingly heavier traffic.

However, I do not believe that the benefits of widening Main Street for more traffic compare favorably to the benefits of keeping the trees. Consider:  Trees make for a more natural, less artificial, and therefore less stressful, environment. The sight and sound of traffic, on the other hand, are not pleasant, and can leave us feeling more stressed. Furthermore, it is well known that trees improve air quality; leaves filter the air we breathe, absorb pollution, and give off oxygen. It is also well known that traffic gives off myriad pollutants that decrease air quality.

It would seem that widening our roads would bring increased growth, and thus a better economy, to our city. However, consider that trees bring energy savings by moderating heat in commercial areas, and that landscaping with trees increases property values. Traffic, on the other hand, will increase energy costs by increasing temperatures and air pollution, and will decrease surrounding property values.

Are these tradeoffs that we really want to make? I am looking forward to your response.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

For once, this ever-maddening insomnia has paid off.  I am bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to play a game of chicken with the Ag commissioners in Lansing today. 

There are 3 of us car-pooling there so we can chat on the way.  I hope we don't get shot by the kook on I-96. 

Wish us luck.

Raz,

Wishing you all the best.  You have been leading this fight for all of us, and I for one appreciate what you are doing.  CHARGE!!!!!

Aw, that's why they went out of business - you guys weren't buying their feed!  LOL.  Just teasing.  I understand.  It *was* dusty but it lasted almost twice as long for me as the commercial crumbles so it was cost effective in the long run, like two and a half weeks per 50# as opposed to a week and a half on the crumbles.  So now I'm back to sucking down seemingly empty calorie feed like there's no tomorrow.

Good luck Raz!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaZ 

For once, this ever-maddening insomnia has paid off.  I am bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to play a game of chicken with the Ag commissioners in Lansing today. 

 

There are 3 of us car-pooling there so we can chat on the way.  I hope we don't get shot by the kook on I-96. 

 

Wish us luck.

Good luck Raz!!! Let us know how it goes!!! We are all pulling for you!

Thanks Raz!   Knock em dead!