Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[chickflick]

I know Krisrose has her turkeys and chickens free range together. Turkeys are in a separate coop, but just a few feet from each other. Has them for a couple of years now and no blackhead disease.

Good Morning! Been a very nice couple of days. Hope you all enjoyed them. Today is much cooler and wetter!
Love the mamma hen and her chicks. So adorable.
RaZ, hope that lady doesn't get in trouble with the city for raising butterflys! You may see her in court with you! Did love the video.

 

[tmkuroda]

Chicken Stock? What, when, and where is this? You guy ARE crazy.. and your taking me to Crazy Town with you! I have already buckled my seat belt for the ride lol. We have pretty much decided to get genetic hackle chickens so that way I can get my Hubby deeply involved in this but I want to buy one hen that I can keep as a pet. I don't know if it will be from the GH Chickens or not. I will have to see how it goes. I am sure I can pick up a few items that I will need that are not alive at this peeperpaloosa right? Oh and have you all seen those DIY chicken pluckers? I want to have my husband make one this year so it will be ready next year! OH and I will not be ready to get meaty chicks till July 2014. Will they still be available to buy?

Tina

 

[RaZ]

A few random thoughts (replies) to several of the subjects I've read over the last few pages.

Mulching a garden with pine shaving from the coop should not be big deal. Remember that fresh litter has not started to compost yet and the pine shaving will leach some of the nitrogen out of the soil. The nitrogen from the chicken poo can offset that a tad.

Chicken manure is "hot", meaning that it is high in nitrogen content. I don't think that most of us have so many birds that we get a tremendous build up. Rake it in the ground if you can. Better yet, compost it for awhile before using it in the gardens.

To be sure what nutrients that your garden needs, get a soil test kit from the Extension. The report will tell you exactly what you need for your crops. It is about $20. I'll post a link to getting a kit from MSU.

ETA: http://msusoiltest.com/

Soil borne pathogens are a concern where lots of birds are housed together in small areas or for long periods of time. While it is a concern for all of us, I tend to think that our chances of contamination are pretty low. I can't find any research that addresses small flock concerns. Studies focus on large scale operations. However, we can learn lessons from big operations and take steps to keep our small flocks healthy and happy. Look at the MAEAP guidelines for good ideas.

If you have your poop boards tilted, the chickens won't roost or lay their eggs on them.

The lady with the butterflies had an issue with the power company who wanted to dig up her yard to get to a control box behind her property. The mayor intervened on her behalf and they worked out a way to do the work without destroying the habitat. It's nice to know that some officials appreciate the environment.

Ya'll stay dry today.

 

[naglady]

welcome to the new ones.

dreary and cold here today..

raz nicely put.. i cleaned my coop out completely last week, its deep litter from last sept.. i just added what i thought it needed over the winter and they mixed it in themselfs.. and to be honest it looks composted.. i did scoop out the poop piles when i could.. sometimes it was to frozen but when it warmed up enough i pitch forked it out of there.. i put it in a pile in the corner of my garden and figure i will use it when i get my garden going..
i have been putting the chick poopy pine shaving in my flower beds.

.

 

[kimmie6067]

I use bedding from the floor, other then a woops egg in the middle of night they do not lay on the poop boards only in the nest box's in winter it works well cause it does not freeze and you can roll the mess up and toss in a bag. the rest of the year, most do not use anything on the boards, Opa has a sheeting similar to what showers are made of and they scrape off easy, I think this yr. I am going to try splitting open feed bags and use them on the boards. Hoping to pick them up and dump off the poo

Hey that's an idea why can't I use spilt open feed bags or trash bags and roll it up and take it to the compost pile and shake it off or something or how bout newspaper and roll it up and toss it on the compost pile, hummm I have got to do something.

 

[NovaAman]

What the hey is a genetic hackle chicken? What did I miss here...

 

[NovaAman]

Forget it. I put my brain in gear and used my fingers and looked it up. Cool, another meaning for dual purpose... Eggs and fly fishing.

 

[SillyChicken]

Rain... SNOW

 

[RaZ]

Rain... SNOW

This is to inform you that your post has been deemed offensive. If you must comment on such events, you may use a family friendly euphemism such as "liquid sunshine" or "powered sunshine". Continued use of bad words will not be tolerated and you may be banished to Alaska.

Sincerely,
The Weather Police

 

[Lisa and girls]

Mom, we need to talk. Found this pic here
http://cuteoverload.com/2009/04/21/mom—we-need-to-talk/

Too cute not to share.