Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[NovaAman]

OH, and they will be 7 weeks this weekend.

 

[Opa]

Another cool start to the day but another good day will soon be underway. I've got a small job to do for a customer then when I get home I will start prepping the chickens for the smoker. I will clean the inside of the carcass, trim as much fat off as possible, place them in mesh bags, then finally put them in an ice water brine made with brown sugar and salt. After spending the night in the brine, they come out to drain, then into the smoker for 12 to 14 hours of slow smoking and cooking.

 

[preciouskitty]

Another cool start to the day but another good day will soon be underway.  I've got a small job to do for a customer then when I get home I will start prepping the chickens for the smoker.  I will clean the inside of the carcass, trim as much fat off as possible, place them in mesh bags, then finally put them in an ice water brine made with  brown sugar and salt.  After spending the night in the brine, they come out to drain, then into the smoker for 12 to 14 hours of slow smoking and cooking.

My mouth is watering already (er, drooling...need to remember to close windows tomorrow!)
Can't wait til Saturday.

 

[taprock]

With a huge to do list I ended up doing nothing last night. It was our anniversary and DH took me out....for KFC. That was our first meal together after having a huge reception on our wedding day. So we ate and watched tourists. Not sure where people are from that that think a freighter is a "big barge" but they were visiting and snapping pictures. I moved my chicks from the basement to my outside coop/tractor and everyone seems to be adjusting well. I am looking forward to some warm weather this weekend, and rain would be ok as long as it's up here and not down chickenstock way.

 

[ladyrsanti]

I found the second missing barn cat. -_- It was dead in the barn, in a small space between a concrete trough and some extra siding. Again, no visible signs of injury or noticeable cause of death. They're being poisoned is all I can figure. The two that I found dead are the ones that travel the farthest from the property so it's no surprise. Then I had a scare this morning when I went out to feed them and only one showed up at the bowl.... until I realized my husband left the garage door open late last night and shut it right before he came in. There were at least three in there this morning when it dawned on me to check.

There's one way to ensure they don't go too far!

My guess is that "someone" is trying to poison that fox that's been stealing their chickens. That's my optimistic guess anyway. I'd hate to think that someone is so bothered by the cats that they're setting out poison for them. I spent almost $400 getting them TNR'ed. But I have absolutely no proof of that so there's nothing I can do but shake my fist at whoever is doing it. I don't believe in poisoning animals, pestilent or not.

We had an unexpected egg customer yesterday too. My sign is down at the moment so it was a bit of a surprise when a lady stopped in. She said she kept chickens herself but a fox has been in her area too and her girls aren't laying because of the stress (of being cooped up?). So I sold her my spare dozen.

Vigilance at my house.

 

[uchytil]

I love having these woodpeckers come here

Laura, we love those and have a few that nest in our woods. The pileated Woodpecker, like the one shown, is a pretty uncommon, and wary, bird. You are lucky to get shots like that.

 

[snowflake]

Snowflake- I'm in Cascade. Belding is so nice. My husband and I go there often to skate the white pine trail.

our daughter lives on Cascade springs, kind of at the end of 28th st.; she is raising some chicks for me. Her girls LOVE the baby chicks, they brought 12 here Monday(getting to big for the small brooder) the rest will most likely come home next week

 

[snowflake]

Laura I love the pic. we have pilates but they don't come that close to the house,that is cool,

love your birds Nova,

looking forward to seeing every one Sat.

 

[preciouskitty]

Laura, we love those and have a few that nest in our woods.  The pileated Woodpecker, like the one shown, is a pretty uncommon, and wary, bird.  You are lucky to get shots like that.

We have a TON (pretty sure that pic is the same) them; and while I love them, they love my log home, too!

 

[tdhenson86]

Nova, I'm thinking W MI could have a mini meet up.

I am NOT suggesting we replace Chickenstock, no starting up drama here.

I'm an hour south of GR. A mini meet there would be awesome!