Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[gladahmae]

No advice on the ear problems. We don't have them much in our house.




I made an appointment to get my birds processed on the 16th. The temps aren't supposed to get too high, so I'm hoping I don't have any late-loss issues. They'll be 10.5 weeks when they are done. I did make a bit of a mistake though. My feed place is open on Mondays and Thursdays. I was planning on getting the rest of the feed I need on Thursday. And I just realized TONIGHT that it will be the 4th on Thursday and they may not be open.

It's locally milled, non-GMO stuff, so it's not like I can just go to TSC and buy a few bags of finisher. I'm going to call them in the morning and see if there's any way I can stop by and pick up what I need. I'm so irritated with myself right now! I was going to get feed on Monday, and then decided I would wait until Thursday, and have DH pick it up on his way home from work. That'll learn me!

A quick question: when we get our birds back, should/can they go straight to the freezer or do they need to hang out in the fridge for a few days before becoming chick-cicles?

 

[NovaAman]

You can freeze, but you'll need to let them rest then when they come out of the freezer. The point is to let the rigor enzymes go out... I personally let them rest till the legs move easy then freeze.

 

[alex8565]

thought I would share this pic of lake Cadillac. Got a lot of good ones this night. Also wondering if anyone has a running car around the $400 range

 

[Trefoil]

Happy birthday, Sarah

Chicken subject. So, have 2 FBCMs (Maia & Lela) that I got from Wynette at CS in quarantine in bedroom. They are in a nice 3.5' x 6' box covered with some plastic garden fence. The kitties like to keep them company. About an hour ago, quite a ruckus & Precious (yes, that is where my "screen name" comes from) & Kitty came tearing out of the room. Went in & there is Maia in the middle of the room! I have NO clue how she got out of box as fencing was still in place & looked totally undisturbed! Find it hilarious how freaked the cats get by the chickens once they get big (Maia is ~22 weeks)..anyhow, picked Maia up, petted her & calmed her down, put her back & added a few more clips to cover!

Think I will have another cup of java....

Anyone have any tips for de-mudding my chicken run? With all the rain it's a disgusting stinky slop. What's the best way to fix this? Wood chips? Sand? (Or might that add to the mud?) I'd like to stay away from straw, which seems to stink really badly when wet... We are having family and friends over on the 4th and I need to fix the ew going on currently.

I live on a sand hill so I use top soil and use it when I plant stuff, it works, but sand would probably work better. You need the run area to be higher than the ground around it.

I need a bit of non chicken related advise. Apparently this has been the year of the ear infection. I know some many people who've had ear issues, even people who hardly ever have ear problems. I've only had one ear infection before that I can remember (many years ago), and my mother said as a child, I never had them.

Sunday I went to a walk in clinic (my regular doctor obviously wasn't available). I had a nagging ear pain. Doc took a look, and saw it was a middle ear infection. So I was sent on my way antibiotics (a Zpack, azithromycin). Monday, the pain was the same. Work sucked. Every time did a transfer assist or anything with lifting (I'm a CNA, and it can be very physical), my ear throbbed. But I sucked it up, and was glad when it was done, crawled in bed as soon as I got home.

Today, my eardrum ruptured. I woke up with ooze coming out of my ear. I got an appointment with my normal doctor as soon as I could, and she confirmed that it was ruptured and not looking good. So she gave me different meds, stronger ones And it hurts so bad. Like I'm being stabbed in the ear, constant throbbing that radiates down to my jaw. I feel awful, all feverish now. I hope the meds start working, soon.

I don't know what I'm going to do if this doesn't begin to resolve by the 4th of July. I am scheduled to work then, and I really, really want the time and a half that goes along with it. I want to work, because I don't even like to go to parties or cookouts, or whatever! I feel like I might get in trouble if I call it, that they'll think I am really going to party or something. I don't want to get written up because I am legitimately feeling bad. Do you all think I should load up on Tylenol and ibuprofen if it isn't better by the 4th, and gut it out? Or call in?

Try taking a decongestant. When my DD was 4 (many many years ago), she got her first ear ache, The Dr. told me that if I gave her a decongestant when her ear first started to hurt it would stop it. It was something about the throat getting swelled, trapping gunk and that caused the infection. Any way, it works, and the pain is from the swelling.

Happy Birthday all you July babies.

 

[Trefoil]

Someone dropped a rabbit off yesterday. Its young and big, white with some black spots and has an injured ear. I thought at first it had ear mites, but its been hurt somehow. Its tame, but I have no idea if its a he or a she, it has pink eyes. Does anyone have room for a tame,nice rabbit that needs a little help and a good home? I know nothing about rabbits and can't keep it in my garage for long. I firmly believe it should be legal to shoot anyone who drops off pet animals. If it had gotten into my dog fence, it would have been lunch.

 

[NovaAman]

Raccoon just got in my run and into the coop where two of my broodies are. One broody was seriously injured, but I think she's going to be able to make it as long as she doesn't get an infection. I have filled the hole where the skin was ripped away exposing back muscles and tendons with triple a after getting all the gunk out.

I have locked the coops themselves so they can not get in the run in the morning until I let them in. I am going to have to find where it got in, but I am thinking through the hoop roof somewhere, though I can not see a hole, but it was dark, and in the morning, I will be able to make a better inspection.

I put the broodies eggs under Beulah, but might put them back under Little Pretty in the morning, and hope she's able to finish the brood. She's only a week into it. If not, they'll finish in the incubator. They are from Texas I think, a blue cuckoo marans.

I don't think I have ever ran so fast in my life... Well, I have, but you know what I mean. I was sitting at my puter, by a window, playing angry birds star wars... I know, total child here, and I heard the commotion. There were 4 chicks in that coop also. A perfectly colored fav pullet, a silkie mutt, a faverolle boy, not good color, and another red pullet, I don't know the daddy was on that one, but I think one of the boys that went bye bye earlier in the year... Time to set the duke trap and find the hole it got in through. Until the coon is dipatched, all birds will just have to endure being locked up. Might have to put Florus IN a coop with his girls... Oh jeez... it was his girls that are broody! BUT, he can't be confined with Rod Stewart too long...

 

[preciouskitty]

I need a bit of non chicken related advise. Apparently this has been the year of the ear infection. I know some many people who've had ear issues, even people who hardly ever have ear problems. I've only had one ear infection before that I can remember (many years ago), and my mother said as a child, I never had them.

Sunday I went to a walk in clinic (my regular doctor obviously wasn't available). I had a nagging ear pain. Doc took a look, and saw it was a middle ear infection. So I was sent on my way antibiotics (a Zpack, azithromycin). Monday, the pain was the same. Work sucked. Every time did a transfer assist or anything with lifting (I'm a CNA, and it can be very physical), my ear throbbed. But I sucked it up, and was glad when it was done, crawled in bed as soon as I got home.

Today, my eardrum ruptured. I woke up with ooze coming out of my ear. I got an appointment with my normal doctor as soon as I could, and she confirmed that it was ruptured and not looking good. So she gave me different meds, stronger ones And it hurts so bad. Like I'm being stabbed in the ear, constant throbbing that radiates down to my jaw. I feel awful, all feverish now. I hope the meds start working, soon.

I don't know what I'm going to do if this doesn't begin to resolve by the 4th of July. I am scheduled to work then, and I really, really want the time and a half that goes along with it. I want to work, because I don't even like to go to parties or cookouts, or whatever! I feel like I might get in trouble if I call it, that they'll think I am really going to party or something. I don't want to get written up because I am legitimately feeling bad. Do you all think I should load up on Tylenol and ibuprofen if it isn't better by the 4th, and gut it out? Or call in?

 

Stacy. So sorry you are sick.

IMHO.....

If you are sick, you stay home.
1. For your health and well being. This always has to come #1. You will only get yourself sicker if you don't get the rest you need & further run yourself down (thus, missing MORE work in the long run).
2. For the health of those you work with. Rule of thumb I use for myself & those that work for me "if you are running a fever, you are most likely contagious, so stay home!" I really believe that this is important. We can't stay home for every ache, pain, sniffle & cough...but when we go in when we are contagious, well, think about how we separate our chickens when they are sick so as not to spread illness. Same concept

My doc always tells me "you can't go back to work til you've been fever-free for 24 hours".

I agree. Have Doc notes available if anyone questions you...

Really hope that you are feeling better soon. Been years since I have had an ear infection, and never to the degree that you have; but the pain IS excruciating.

 

[Opa]

In just a couple more hours the sun will be up and another day womeill be underway. I too have had ear infection problems recently for the first time in my life. The doctor said the infection was caused by moisture trapped by my hearing aids. He gave me some drops to put in my ears and said not to wear the hearing aids for a week. The inside of my ear had become so swollen that inserting them was extremely painful. While I'm back to wearing them I don't think the problem has completely abated. There must be something going around because I talked to a neighbor yesterday and he also has an ear infection.

 

[preciouskitty]

What a beautiful morning..

Got to watch a pretty sunrise, listen to the roosters crowing..

Was just watching a beautiful buck graze in the cornfield in front of the house. He is gonna be a nice boy.. Gorgeous velvet rack right now that appears will be a solid 6, probably 8 pt based on current width. He moved to the side field so I got to watch him more as i enjoyed another cup of coffee on the deck while also watching the bluebirds & purple martins...

Love these quiet beautiful mornings when I can just enjoy only the sounds & sights of the local wildlife....

 

[Lisa and girls]

I need a bit of non chicken related advise. Apparently this has been the year of the ear infection. I know some many people who've had ear issues, even people who hardly ever have ear problems. I've only had one ear infection before that I can remember (many years ago), and my mother said as a child, I never had them.

Sunday I went to a walk in clinic (my regular doctor obviously wasn't available). I had a nagging ear pain. Doc took a look, and saw it was a middle ear infection. So I was sent on my way antibiotics (a Zpack, azithromycin). Monday, the pain was the same. Work sucked. Every time did a transfer assist or anything with lifting (I'm a CNA, and it can be very physical), my ear throbbed. But I sucked it up, and was glad when it was done, crawled in bed as soon as I got home.

Today, my eardrum ruptured. I woke up with ooze coming out of my ear. I got an appointment with my normal doctor as soon as I could, and she confirmed that it was ruptured and not looking good. So she gave me different meds, stronger ones And it hurts so bad. Like I'm being stabbed in the ear, constant throbbing that radiates down to my jaw. I feel awful, all feverish now. I hope the meds start working, soon.

I don't know what I'm going to do if this doesn't begin to resolve by the 4th of July. I am scheduled to work then, and I really, really want the time and a half that goes along with it. I want to work, because I don't even like to go to parties or cookouts, or whatever! I feel like I might get in trouble if I call it, that they'll think I am really going to party or something. I don't want to get written up because I am legitimately feeling bad. Do you all think I should load up on Tylenol and ibuprofen if it isn't better by the 4th, and gut it out? Or call in?

 

Can you get a drs note? Just in case your not feeling up for it? Ear issues are the WORST! So painful. Hope you feel better soon!