Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[gaitngirl]

Went to pick up nesting boxes I saw on CL . . . They were in pretty rough shape and not the best quality but the price was right so I brought them home. The people had a turkey for sale, too. I almost brought her home but their daughter slipped and mentioned the other turkey that had just died (turns out it was the 3rd to die in the past couple weeks). Went back to look at her - her eyes were a blue/grey color (not sure if that's common for white broad breasteds or not) with misshapen pupils. I'm thinking Mareks? I'm not positive how it presents in turkeys vs. chickens.
Also, does anyone know of a poultry processor in the Flint/Swartz Creek/Flushing area? I have a few roos and some older hens that I want to send to freezer camp . . . And possibly a very abusive-to-the-girls drake. He singles out the two smallest females and doesn't let up. I'm afraid he's going to cause some damage.

 

[EverMystique1]

I became a chick mommy again today. 4 of the 10 known ones so far. Not sure about several other eggs. Won't be able to candle them for a couple of days.

7 in the bator so far, and at least 2 of the 3 under Broody #3.

It will be interesting when cold weather sets in. DH may not like having them inside so long, but they won't be adapted to the cold temps enough to go outside before spring, I suspect. Did not intend to hatch this late, but my broody went broody without informing us until it was within a few days of hatch. Guess we'll have to see how it pans out.

 

[Opa]

Can you believe that Labor Day is only a week away? This summer has sure flown by and the majority of the things on my to do list have yet to be accomplished. Oh well, they will just have to wait until next year.

 

[tdhenson86]

Can you believe that Labor Day is only a week away? This summer has sure flown by and the majority of the things on my to do list have yet to be accomplished. Oh well, they will just have to wait until next year.

I feel the same way! I can't believe summer has come and gone so quickly!

 

[1muttsfan]

Mystique, I hatched chicks out in November last year under a broody and they never received any supplemental heat other than Mom. After they are fully feathered at around 6 weeks, chicks no longer need supplemental heat, as long as they are in an area where they can move in and out of the heat source (which should gradually be decreased by raising the lamp) as they choose.

Snowbirds outside (mom is there, just out of the picture)

 

[Amastacia]

good morning folks. anyone else's weekend just go by way to fast? i didn't get nearly enough do, just helped my DH re-till part of our garden (hoping to still have time for another planting of broccoli and cabbage and to get some cover crop in) and collect half of the potatoes. this is my first time growing potatoes; is it normal for them to be dying back right now? i really need to get my corn frozen before it gets too ripe sitting in my kitchen. then i need to harvest the next batch and get that frozen too. and deal with the monster zucchini. and the rest of the potatoes. and hope that i actually get some tomatoes and peppers at some point. and deal with the much-needed alterations to the coop (need more roost space). and harvest more crab apples. then the regular apples. by which point i will need to harvest and freeze more corn. i need a few weeks with nothing else to do but get caught up. oh, and find time to drive to WI to get a rabbit i bought back in February. when did life get this crazy?

 

[gladahmae]

Another Monday has come! I'm going to try to make a good dent in my mountain of tomatoes in the kitchen counter today to get prepped for canning. I'm planning on heading out to my mother's house tomorrow so I can use her pressure canner to make spaghetti sauce. Hopefully I can get them all peeled, seeded and drained today so we don't have to juggle 6 or 7 kids and try to get all of the canning done (she does daycare for my brother). I'm contemplating grabbing a half bushel of tomatoes on my way over there just to make sure I have enough. I have a LOT of tomatoes, but they're on the small side for some reason. ONE plant (for the romas) has BIG tomatoes, and the others are on the small side.....just strange!


My poor DH is going to have his hands full this week. At work we have several people who are either on vacation, medical leave, leave of absence, or going back to school which changed their availability, so pretty much everyone is scheduled for every shift they can work, up to 40 hours. (I work in a restaurant.) THAT means, that almost none of use could trade or give away/pick up shifts to help each other out with certain days. In my case, it means that I will miss my SIL's wedding today AND back-to-school night at the elementary. The result is that DH will get to wrangle 3 boys at the wedding and reception, and have to figure out what class our oldest is in (the school JUST decided on Friday that 30+ kids was too many for a 2nd grade class and is adding another teacher for a 2/3 split class) as well as do the whole "tour" with our kindergartener. I've tried to get rid of both shifts for 4 days, and no one is available for those days, or is too close on hours to take another shift.

 

[naglady]

yorkchick- glad we could help you out.. first time is always a learning experience, it does get easier and better once you find the way that works best for you..
now when i cull, its so quick and easy and fast that i am amazed that its over and there wasnt any challenges like the first time.

the deer got in my front garden last night.. ate the tops off my tomato plants, ate all my tomatos, i had alot of big ones and they were ripening. my watermelons, swiss chard and butternut sqaush.. i have 3 other gardens.. I want to kill them but i cant its not deer season.

my 3 yr old first hen hurt her leg last night, she was limping when i first went out there now she is hoping around on one leg, doesnt feel fractured, maybe dislocated at the lower leg joint, i have her in the big enclosed run.. so that if the hawk comes he doesnt get her. keeping a eye on her..
let them all out to roam yesturday for the first time since hawk attack last week.. but keeping a eye out and checking on them often.

 

[Opa]

Certainly is getting warm. Just came in from watering the chickens and picking the corn that was ready to harvest and I'm sweating like a pig. I researched the origin of that phrase and it actually refers to the condensation of water on smeltered iron or "pigs". A more appropriate animal would be a horse. Now they really know how to sweat. Some sweat so profusely that it actually lathers.

 

[Jake Levi]

I feel the same way! I can't believe summer has come and gone so quickly!

I am still waiting for summer to come. First two nights above 62 were the last two nights, so, I might get a few green tomatos from my 40 plants. My corn is tasseling out also.

Who knows when winter will be here. On Foxnews this morning they said that the Farmers Almanac is predicting a major earl, cold and heavy snow winter. Cancel the Xmas beach party on Hurons shore.

When is the state show next year? And is there one in Midland?

I have two breeds that I would like to just exhibit, not show, neither yet has a recognized standard. My Icelandic and Iowa Blues. But I want to go to both shows for sure just to look.