Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[taprock]

Considering my netting job was sub par it did rather well the first day. Only 1 Guinea, 1 peafowl and 3 chickens escaped. They didn’t go far, just hung out at the fence wanting back in. My largest run is 30x30’ and the ground is still frozen so adding permanent support was out. I also discovered a chicken size hole where a staple had pulled out from the fence on one of the posts.
I stupidly thought closing up at night would be easier with them contained. The peas normally follow me in the man door looking for treats. They would not go in the little door so I had to physically catch each one and shove them through the door.
It’s raining again today so I anticipate only the geese out enjoying it.

 

[chickflick]

That's why I love my automatic pop door. Throw some scratch in the run and they all go running in and put themselves to bed.
Huh, I don't remember a smell from the garter snakes when I picked them up as a child. I played with them a lot.

 

[Folly's place]

Obnoxious 'anal gland smell' and I do remember it!
Mary

 

[aart]

Most mammals, reptiles, and amphibians can exude a musk when alarmed.
There are a lot of variations in garter, and other, snakes....can make them hard to ID definitively.

 

[1muttsfan]

It can be hard to tell some snakes from others, but that's definitely an Eastern garter snake. And they do indeed produce an obnoxious odorous discharge when they're handled.

 

[RaZ]

It's a nice sunny day here. Really brings out the brilliance of the birds. I could sit here and watch them all day. Alas, the chores won't get done if I do that. So I better get out there and get busy. Maybe I'll see the snake again.

 

[Sally PB]

Eastern garter snake. And they do indeed produce an obnoxious odorous discharge when they're handled.

A friend of mine loves snakes. She picked up the snake that was living in my green house, and it "obnoxious odorous discharged" on her. She knew exactly what was going on, and was thrilled with it.

 

[rjmyooper]

@Sally PB I missed the post, what is the reason for the coffee grounds? I put mine in my compost, so I didn't know if there was a different reason to use them with birds. I also have tea bags a plenty.

 

[Sally PB]

@Sally PB I missed the post, what is the reason for the coffee grounds?

Coffee grounds are good mulch for acid loving plants, like blueberries. That's what I want them for.

Good for compost piles too.

 

[aart]

Coffee grounds are good mulch for acid loving plants, like blueberries. That's what I want them for.

Good for compost piles too.

OhGood, you haven't fallen for the coffee grounds chicken bedding fad.

I saved coffee ground for a gardener friend, thought she put them on her tomato plants.