Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[preciouskitty]

Simply chopping the fallen apples may take them out of your sight but it doesn't remove the problem.

Holes in the leaves of garden plants quite often are caused by slugs.  Since they are nocturnal most people rarely see them.  One method of eradication is to place to tablespoons of cornmeal in a jar.  Place the jar on its side to allow the slugs access.  They love cornmeal but it kills them. 

A second method is to bury a Styrofoam cup in the ground the fill it half full of beer.  Evidently slugs like beer they just can't handle it.

Another method is direct eradication by spraying if you can find the slugs.  A solution of 1 part ammonia to 6 parts water.  Spray it directly on the slugs and they dissolve. 

Thanks Opa.

Will start with cornmeal as I have plenty of that & I also put it at the base of my maters to try & prevent hornworms. This year I also planted some companion plants (only the last 2 seasons the hornworms decided to visit. First year I had never seen such a thing, came running in the house screeching, googled & found out what they were!).

Also do have some beer around, suppose I could try both!

Also thought of trying to spray them with some soapy water in case it is some other little bug.

 

[Amastacia]

Thanks Opa.

Will start with cornmeal as I have plenty of that & I also put it at the base of my maters to try & prevent hornworms. This year I also planted some companion plants (only the last 2 seasons the hornworms decided to visit. First year I had never seen such a thing, came running in the house screeching, googled & found out what they were!).

Also do have some beer around, suppose I could try both!

Also thought of trying to spray them with some soapy water in case it is some other little bug.

i've heard murphy's oil soap is good, though i haven't tried it myself yet. a reasonably natural product with lots of uses

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Aw. Sorry about the loss of snowball.

I have been worried sick about the same, i lost my closest pet hen last year to it. Well, i got her through the night but she wouldn't allow me to keep her from the roo, got distressed and started crying and pacing.... anyway roos and hot hens don't mix .


I have been putting water dishes EVERYWHERE and praying for the best.

 

[uchytil]

When I worked for the government we used to say " we're from the government we're here to help". Some people forgot to thank us for saving their lives. The DNR, while partly a nebulous organism, does have a role to play in our ecosystem. If we let the shallow end of the gene pool dictate policy at all levels we'd be in a world of, well you know. Don't get me wrong, when I get stopped by a pimply faced CO and asked for my license I bristle inside realizing he could be my son, or daughter - pompous punk. So, lets watch and see how this plays out. I'm pretty sure there will be a retraction of some sort.

 

[Trefoil]

Someone in garden city,Mi, has a wild duck baby that needs rescuing. Info here. Hope someone can help.
http://wildbird.rescueme.org/Michigan

 

[taprock]

We saw two hawk yesterday. Very large. I chased one of them off. My cousin sent me this. What do you think?
http://www.motherearthnews.com/print.aspx?id={9AD48319-56EB-43AB-9F7F-B8B2338BBB1F}#axzz2Z1Lanojs

 

[ladyrsanti]

I just now came face to face with a fox while leaving the chicken coop. NOT what I wanted to see. I've had a feeling this past week that it was hanging out back there (corner of my eye kind-of-thing and a snarl one night) but hadn't seen it full on until just now.

But in other news: Custard hatched a chick yesterday. No word on the second egg yet.

 

[Lisa and girls]

We saw two hawk yesterday. Very large. I chased one of them off. My cousin sent me this. What do you think?
http://www.motherearthnews.com/print.aspx?id={9AD48319-56EB-43AB-9F7F-B8B2338BBB1F}#axzz2Z1Lanojs

I'd go for the fish line. My girls have ample hiding spaces to get away if they see something. I don't let my little ones out until they have enough common sense/size to get away from attackers. My grow out side is completely covered. I've seen a hawk bounce off the top. He never came back. A little humorous. Wish I would have recorded it.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

2nd: I still have a gorgeous German NH hen and roo fore sale @$40 for the pair. Both a year old and ready for a new home. I got them from Laura as chicks and they a heritage breed.

These are well worth it! Beautiful birds with a wonderful temperment!

 

[preciouskitty]

I'd go for the fish line. My girls have ample hiding spaces to get away if they see something. I don't let my little ones out until they have enough common sense/size to get away from attackers. My grow out side is completely covered. I've seen a hawk bounce off the top. He never came back. A little humorous. Wish I would have recorded it.

Agree with Lisa. I have read about the fishing line solution in several different places. Sounds like a simple, cheap solution to try.

I have 2 resident red tail hawks (which are simply gorgeous). They pretty much spend most their time riding the thermals. Once in a while I get to enjoy their beauty when the spread their wings & sun themselves in a tree out back...very cool

Right now it is the juvenile that is driving me nuts. The silly thing screeches all day to be fed, even tho it is big enough (& does) to feed itself. It has been making some pretty low "fly-bys" in the yard, but, all my birds are 16 weeks, are big enough & seem to know to get under deck (wraps around whole house) / weeping cherry tree.