Thank you everyone for the advice and contacts. I will be seeking these out and see what my chances will be. I've yet to hear anything from the township. Might be because of the holiday, or because they are short handed. But no news is good news .. (keeping fingers crossed here)
I know it was probably my rooster that gave us away, i should have got rid of him as soon as I realized he was a rooster... but my daughter and I both fell in love with him. But, he has to go now. she of course is not happy by far. (shes 12) But its either the roo or the whole flock..
I did in my letter to the township, state that i would be agreeable to give up my rooster if that was the case to show my good faith as a davison citizen. And that my intent was not to be an annoyance to the township but only to sustain myself and my family with the income from my business by utilizing my property as was my right to do. Since i am unemployed, disabled from GM, and not yet bringing in any type of disability monies, this business IS 100% income for me.
i am hoping that will have some pull for me since when i had called the township before i got my birds, she told me that the only way I could keep them legally was if it was 100% income... and .. it is... But i dont know if they take into account my husband when they mean 100%. My business is in my name only. not my husbands.
I haven't had much sleep since friday.. worried about the outcome. But whatever happens, happens.. Im trying eveything I know how to do... wishing my father was still alive.. he was a judge here is davison back in the 70's and 80's. I would love to have his contacts right about now! =)
Ive been thinking of another way to fight... what is the difference , or how would you go about figuring how to calculate the difference between the animal unit of one horse on 2 acres compared to the unit of 40 chickens to 5.5 acres, or the comparable of 2 acres? im just curious on how they figure by the unit of how many animals you can have per acreage.. I found a scale of AU's and did some figuring from those calculations of chickens compared to horses.... (horses because they are all around me) how do i compare one to the other accounting the difference in acreage also?
I really suck at math
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am i thinking correctly to figure this out or am i barking up the wrong path?
Gonna run down a few points here, whether others do/don't agree/understand ... so long as *you* do.
Let me say that I'm sorry for your personal/economic hardships, as I know how both feels; at times, it can be the entire weight of the world. However, these difficulties do *not* define the person that you are, or take away from who you've been:
SoOo ... don't let anybody else (esp. yourself) do it, either.
I, too, miss my dad. But, when I'm feeling esp. sorry that he's gone, despite knowing that he no longer suffers, I don't have to go to the last rows he plowed on this land his ashes are scattered on ... I just look at the lines in the palm of my hand. Or, the eyes of the next generation. They're still here, through us. I know what mine would tell me, 'cause he instilled w/in me the very things I'd relied upon him most for. And, I bet yours did, too.
Don't get rid of your rooster, just yet. And, don't choose to wait. Or, to worry ... neither works to your benefit, or serves to change the outcome one bit. You and your chickens acted in good faith, and the laws of the State of Michigan are on your side.
Rather than attempting to justify your commercial farming operation, contact
your local extension service ... not to discuss, in any manner, what's goin' on w/ your township, but so that they may advise you as to 'best practices' and GAAMPs. And, that'd be the third thing I do in the morning.
First thing? Clear your mind of all troubles, so that you can receive the best enjoyment of your morning coffee, and attending to your flock.
The second? Put a lock on the door, and upon any gate, so that nobody can gain entry w/o permission, or a Warrant.
