Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Maah]

Love seeing the pic of the baby goats!!!

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So, I have (4) 13 week old cockerels that I'm about ready to send to the roaster & freezer camp. It will have to wait until after vacation tho. One of the boys tried crowing this morning. Tried being an important word there. When I was growing up, my mom used to have these salt & pepper shakers. Little plastic kittens and when you tipped them upside down they'd "meow", only it would come out sounding so mechanically wrong. That is what this boy sounded like... it was rather pathetic. I'll be a tad bit sad to see 2 of the boys go. They are both quite nice looking & would fill out to beautiful roosters. All well... I think they'll turn out just fine on the dinner table too & that will be another 4 down & out of my way.

I'm starting to get eggs out of my spring pullets. Woot woot!! Our ISA brown & RIR I know for sure. They're 18 weeks. Pretty soon I'll be able to retire a couple of our 2yr old hens that annoy me. They're still laying, but the quality and quantity of their eggs are starting to drop. They'll go on Craigslist & somebody will take them. I'll keep a couple of the 2yr olds. One is still laying nice eggs like clockwork and another still gives nice eggs when she's not busy being a good broody momma.

 

[Opa]

I've been sitting here drinking coffee, worked several crossword puzzles, and basically prograstinating. I should go out to the garden but at the moment facing all the possibly broken tomato plants is just to daunting.

 

[naglady]

Good morning everyone

I dont know if anyone lives by Maple city.. but here is a link to a add of someone that has a roadside stand and will pay $2.50 doz for eggs, and want
5-6 doz a week.. hope this helps someone out.

http://nmi.craigslist.org/grd/3900438111.html

 

[taprock]

Here's the link to the CS13 pix: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uchytil59/

The pictures are great , except the ones with me. My favorites are Granny with Tucker and Darron and Grace talking.

I found it interesting that twice as many chickens died in the cage free farms. I wonder what they are dying from? Maybe scratching around in their own filth does have its drawbacks.

My guess is predators. Also they can catch more disease, parasites when out with wild birds as opposed to never leaving a building or yard. There are ways to lower how many die but when nature is involved nothing is foul proof...or fowl proof.

Today's project is a pheasant pen. Temporary and small until I can determine the sex of the birds. And since I will be home all day, lock the broodies out for the day. Tonight I think we are headed into the craziness of the St. Ignace car show and parade night.

 

[NovaAman]

Cage free does not mean out on the grass...

 

[ladyrsanti]

Cage free does not mean out on the grass...

Yes, that article made it very clear that cage free chickens WERE NOT allowed outside. I wish the MSU studies were a little more thorough though, including free range chickens into their tests - you know, as a control group

I'd like to see the whole spectrum of methods put to the test, side by side, not just the most popular commercial methods. But I'm sure funding is for commercial applications and true free ranging is still not considered a viable option for mass production of eggs, therefore not under consideration. But still, curiosity demands answers!

 

[NovaAman]

Sorry, I am on my touchpad... I meant that to come across as a sadness... So many people buy the eggs that say "cage free" thinking they are grass living chickens...

 

[iamfivewire]

Got up early today 6:30 (not as early as Opa's usual wakeup times tho) to get an early start on weeding the gardens - seems i ended up donating blood as a primary accomplishment - first thing, i sliced my finger in the catfood can. Then "fed" the mosquitoes while weeding - im sure THEY are happy to have full little tummies of my blood. Tilled a small area for DW to plant some flowers. Got lawnmower & cart out to work on a firewood re-stacking project, & then the rain started - which has put a "damper" on continuing my to-do list . . . .so hopefully the weather & temperature / humidity will cooperate a little better later on . . . . . . . . .
we wont even mention it being too wet to bale - i mean, mow the grass . . . . . .

 

[ladyrsanti]

Sorry, I am on my touchpad... I meant that to come across as a sadness... So many people buy the eggs that say "cage free" thinking they are grass living chickens...

Oops, and I was responding to Taprock's comment about predators, which shouldn't be an issue for cage free chickens.

But yes, it is misleading and we're on the same page. I should have quoted their post instead of yours.

 

[gladahmae]

Y'all need to quit with this rain talk!!!! We haven't really had any in 3 weeks I think. my gArden could really use the 'real stuff' and not just me sprinkler for 2-3 hours every day.