Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

Raz, sorry to hear of your law troubles. Perhaps you could contact Farm Bureau agency, they have been fighting all kinds of farm related problems with the uneducated city folks. Just a thought.

Part of the problem is that certain agencies get their marching orders from the main office in Lansing. And the prime directive seems to be "don't make waves". Not much help for a backyard farmer as far as legal help.

In fact, MDARD and MAEAP have new "rules" that exclude farms of less than 50 animal units and/or live in certain areas. Over 80% of the state cannot be certified based on this recent criteria. Thus not protected by MRTFA.

It is not just my criminal chickens, this is happening to hog operations, small dairies, tree farms and a host of other farm operations. We seem to be losing our rights at every turn. IMO

 

[gladahmae]

Broody mama question. It's been 4 days since chick 1 hatched, and 2 days since the last one hatched and I'm thinking I could open the dog crate at this point but *I* am worried about the chicks. My run is chain link do chicks could easily get out, or get under the coop, or something. It's also almost 18in from the ground to the bottom of the door fur them to get in/out of the coop. I've got 7 chicks in my basement brooder, should I just take the 4 chicks from outside and put them in with the others, or should I stop worrying.

 

[jrsckn]

Looks like I've got my first broody hen. Could she have gone broody when I brought day old chicks home 2 weeks ago? Of course not

Is it too late to put them under her?

 

[Ferrret]

Part of the problem is that certain agencies get their marching orders from the main office in Lansing. And the prime directive seems to be "don't make waves". Not much help for a backyard farmer as far as legal help.

In fact, MDARD and MAEAP have new "rules" that exclude farms of less than 50 animal units and/or live in certain areas. Over 80% of the state cannot be certified based on this recent criteria. Thus not protected by MRTFA.

It is not just my criminal chickens, this is happening to hog operations, small dairies, tree farms and a host of other farm operations. We seem to be losing our rights at every turn. IMO

Humph.

So, should I mention to my Dad that re-starting the family farm may be without State protections? Granted it's nearly 100 years in the family, with small farms for neighbors, so perhaps they'll overlook the animal head count portion.
You mention tree farms, are they going to crack down on fruit and vegetable farms for not having livestock?

These rules seem flat out ridiculous.

 

[snowflake]

Wanted to share my Great News My LF Faverolle pullet took Champion continental....at FowlFest

sorry i missed the BYC friends that were there I probably saw you but had no idea putting names with faces
Here is a pic of my girl and her winning Plaque

;Aw-some

I didn't know so many showed,that is great.
Quote: x2, our rights are being slowly taken away and the general opinion is: it doesn't affect me so whats the big deal? I don't smoke but I don't think a person that does should be denied a job, some comp. will fire you if you smoke, even off grounds. I don't usually drink large or extra large pops, cities are making these things illegal you can't induce labor before 29weeks but you can abort a baby up to ? months. you can't say the pledge of allegiance,wear a shirt with an American flag or take a plastic knife to school you might offend some one. the list goes on and on,


sorry one of my pet peeves ,,, people are loosing so many rights, one of thees days they will wake up and wonder what happened? (I hope it isn't to late)

so have a great day and go work outside if you don't have to work for $$ today

 

[Maah]

I did lock down this morning too. Not too excited for this batch though. I mostly wanted my OE's (set 6 shipped OE eggs). Only 1 of the OE's made it to lockdown today & it has a very porous shell. I also have 5 white silkie eggs in there for lock down today. I think I ran the humidity too low on this set. I guess we'll see what happens.

........................................................

Is there anybody that might be interested in some of these chicks?

I was thinking about bringing my white silkie chicks to Chickenstock next month. I currently have (3) 10wk old chicks, (7) 2wk old chicks, and however many of the 5 that hatch this weekend from my bator. I will be keeping a couple of them, but thought about bringing the rest to CS.

I'm sure they aren't anywhere near as beautiful of silkies as RIRJen's, but they're decent. Black skin, small black combs, 5 toes... etc.

These are the parents: I can get some close up detailed pics if anybody wants them.

 

[19sarah90]

^^ "Forte", my Rouen Duckling ^^


^^ "Faruq", my Runner Duckling ^^


^^ The Family's 4-week-old Laying Mix ^^

 

[SillyChicken]

Broody mama question. It's been 4 days since chick 1 hatched, and 2 days since the last one hatched and I'm thinking I could open the dog crate at this point but *I* am worried about the chicks. My run is chain link do chicks could easily get out, or get under the coop, or something. It's also almost 18in from the ground to the bottom of the door fur them to get in/out of the coop. I've got 7 chicks in my basement brooder, should I just take the 4 chicks from outside and put them in with the others, or should I stop worrying.

Stop worrying.

Putting the chicks with the others could cause pecking if there is a big age difference.

I would candle the eggs you have left under the hen. Pull any bad eggs and put food and water out for the little chicks to eat.. They'll hang out with mom till she gets up. If she is sitting excessivly long, take the remaining eggs and boot her out of what you have her in so she can start being a mom.

One time I had a hen on a bunch of eggs.. so I put her/eggs/and the chicks in a kiddy pool w/light so she could see them, but they weren't getting smooshed and were able to eat/drink and stay warm..she could see/hear them. Once most of the eggs hatched, I pulled the eggs, and she started to take care of them.

 

[kimmie6067]

Good morning, everyone!!!

Mylobell, too bad about the aggressive rooster... but they're the best hen defenders!

Today I plan on getting laundry done and preparing for tonight's Tupperware party (YAY)! Other than that, just hanging out with the peeps at home and enjoying a day off of work.

Hi Sarah are you new? Or am I blind? Well if you are new hello! I love tupperware!

I have been pulling weeds and giving the weeds to the chickens. Last night while collecting eggs my cockle Welsummer rooster decided to attack me. Now I have cuts full lengthen of my left leg. I had him challenge me earlier last week. But I chased him right back to the open part of the run. This time I didn't see him coming at me, as I gathered the eggs from the inside of the coop. My guess is the rooster didn't like my crowing back to him. I have a sharp hachet and a pot of boiling water for this smart rooster or my husband offered me the .22 pistol. If my leg didn't hurt so much, I would have chicken dinner tonight. LOL

All the years I raised chickens for eggs and meat, I never had a chicken attack me before. I guess you're never too old to learn new things. After cleaning the wound to the sliced leg of mine, putting bandages on. My leg looks like a picket fence. The worst part is I have to go to work this morning at my regular job to pay for chicken feed. ROTFL Gotsa to have a sense of humor to deal with life!

I guess I should keep an eye on my Jersey Giant rooster then he could do some real damage that one, he is huge. I wonder about him sometimes. Oh yeah welcome to the group!

I did lock down this morning too. Not too excited for this batch though. I mostly wanted my OE's (set 6 shipped OE eggs). Only 1 of the OE's made it to lockdown today & it has a very porous shell. I also have 5 white silkie eggs in there for lock down today. I think I ran the humidity too low on this set. I guess we'll see what happens.

........................................................

Is there anybody that might be interested in some of these chicks?

I was thinking about bringing my white silkie chicks to Chickenstock next month. I currently have (3) 10wk old chicks, (7) 2wk old chicks, and however many of the 5 that hatch this weekend from my bator. I will be keeping a couple of them, but thought about bringing the rest to CS.

I'm sure they aren't anywhere near as beautiful of silkies as RIRJen's, but they're decent. Black skin, small black combs, 5 toes... etc.

These are the parents: I can get some close up detailed pics if anybody wants them.

^^ "Forte", my Rouen Duckling ^^


^^ "Faruq", my Runner Duckling ^^


^^ The Family's 4-week-old Laying Mix ^^

I can hear peeps already is this right? I have so many eggs in there I didn't candle yesterday so I must have 45 eggs in there crowded. 7 are ducks
I would love some of you chicks, how much are you asking?

 

[SillyChicken]

Part of the problem is that certain agencies get their marching orders from the main office in Lansing. And the prime directive seems to be "don't make waves". Not much help for a backyard farmer as far as legal help.

In fact, MDARD and MAEAP have new "rules" that exclude farms of less than 50 animal units and/or live in certain areas. Over 80% of the state cannot be certified based on this recent criteria. Thus not protected by MRTFA.

It is not just my criminal chickens, this is happening to hog operations, small dairies, tree farms and a host of other farm operations. We seem to be losing our rights at every turn. IMO

I wonder where people think their food is going to come from at this rate? If you take all the small farms thorough out the state.....add them up.. I'd be willing to bet they put more food on the table than any local large farm. We're losing the ability to provide variety of food types... heritage animals are mostly grown on small farms cause they're not profitable for large operations. My guess is........ people now in office in Lansing........ have no idea what a farm even is.