Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[iamfivewire]

thanks - luckily didnt fall on the cars or house

 

[ladyrsanti]

Oh wow. I clicked on the picture to get the bigger view and yes, that's a serious branch. We have an oak tree about that size. Scares me sometimes to walk under it. One definitely
must respect the mighty oaks.

 

[preciouskitty]

Quote:
WOW! No doubt! And noone hurt, thank goodness...that would've been quite dangerous if it had fallen on the house. I just had one fall partly on my lot from the woods behind me the other night while I was out with the chickens. There is nothing like that sound... I am now thinking..."free firewood"....

 

[iamfivewire]

yes - that will help to replenish some firewood for our woodburner

 

[preciouskitty]

Quote:
As will the one that fell the other night in our yard!! (and the 2 earlier this year!!)..LOVE my woodburner, saves me TONS on propane...

 

[ladyrsanti]

Questions for y'all. I have a pullet that is laying her first eggs out in the run (not sure which one yet) and before I can find them, they're eating them. I found one egg a couple days ago and removed it but today I caught them eating it. The pullets don't come inside during the day where the nest boxes are, even though I leave the pop door open AND the coop open for them to free range. They go into the run voluntarily about the same time as the older hens clamber out the door to free range and they stay in the run until dark. I started the routine when they were new to the coop so that I could let the hens out to free range and have the pullets (who were too small to go outside) under lock and key so I could keep the coop open for the hens to come back to lay eggs and access their food. But now that I've opened it up for everyone, they don't leave.

Anyway, should I keep the pullets inside the coop during the day for a while and not let them into the run to get them used to not spending all afternoon out there? Do you think that would encourage her using the nest boxes? Or any other creative solutions? I'm all ears.

I seriously didn't think they'd take to the routine so well. It always felt like a hassle to hustle them out into the run so I could let the hens out but now I can't get them to come in! I'd like to break them of it anyway because I don't want to keep food in the run and I've had to put it out there for them.

ETA: I think I answered my own question, heheh. Guess sometimes I just have to work it out on paper as it were to find the answer.

 

[gladahmae]

Glad you were able to get that all worked out.



10 new chickens are home. 4 clean-faced white silkies, 2 Amber Links, 2 Buff Orpingtons, and 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes. They're going to hang out in the meat tractors for a couple of weeks and then get integrated with their appropriate counterparts.

 

[chickflick]

Sorry for your loss, Tap. She was beautiful!

Happy Birthday, RaZ!

 

[RaZ]

Catching up on the posts today. I spent the day driving up to Lake City to attend the Baker's Green Acres trial and show my support for a farmer being targeted by state agencies run amok. This is the swine case you may have heard about. There were close to 200 people there in support of Mr. Baker and his family farm.

Channel 9&10 News was there so you might see something on tonight's broadcast. If you do can you let me know?There were other media outlets there from as far away as Cincinnati Ohio plus a film-maker doing a documentary.

Support your local farmer!

 

[RaZ]

Now back to the social commenting aspect of our thread...

Thanks for the birthday wishes both here and in PMs. Thank you also for the picture of Gravy, I do miss my little hen.

ACV in a metal container of any type is a very bad idea. Only use in a plastic or glass container. (If you want to create a little havoc with someone you don't like, put a salad with vinegar and oil dressing in an aluminum bowl. The vinegar/aluminum react to create a powerful laxative)

How many chickens can you have in a given space??? A humorous take by Steven Colbert. http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/427378/june-20-2013/steve-king-on-chicken-cages
Aside from the humour side of that report, I suggest as much room as possible for the number of birds that you can properly care for. I had 11 (1 was a banty) housed in a 99 sq ft coop with free access to 750 sq ft of protected run. Plenty of space for more chickens but really didn't need more than what I had.

Broken oak...do you need help with the clean up?
A word of warning, broken or cut living oak limbs can be susceptible to a fungal infection called Oak Wilt during warm weather. Trimming in the summer is to be avoided, but I suppose Mother Nature didn't get the university extension report. You can help avoid an infection by making a clean cut back from the broken part and taping a plastic bag over the fresh cut. (Sorry for unsolicited advice, I'm wearing my biologist hat right now)

On another note, I was interviewed by the Cincinnati crew regarding my case. They were doing a piece about local food sovereignty.

And a fun tidbit is that I am babysitting a couple of Salmon Faverolles for a week while a friend is on vacation. One hatched 7-1 and the other on 7-7. They look like a ping-pong ball next to a tennis ball.