Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[lbrykowski2011]

I actually found a nice video on youtube for how to process birds by skinning them.

Any chance you could put a link up. There are so many videos out there. I like it better when it comes from someone who has already tested it and approves. I'm not sure if I could do it, but would like to know how, just in case. Thanks

 

[lbrykowski2011]

Just popping in to share, I just got home from work and look out the window to see one of our resident Bald Eagles swooping around catching starlings, a Red Tailed Hawk roosting in the tree by the road waiting for starlings to get too close, and our farm Falcon driving one of the bigger flocks of starlings and rushing in to grab one. I guess it's dinner time. Birds are absolutely gorgeous creatures, except those darn starlings anyone want a flock of 50,000?

By the way, all my chickens are smart enough to hide under the coop when the big guys come to the farm.

I laughed reading this, wondering if u were on our rd. We had a bald eagle fly over twice now, never seen 1 before. I have 4 hawks hanging in the woodsline and 1 falcon who scared me when I seen him sitting on a pole in my run. Luckily the chickens were smart and in their coop. The falcon keeps trying to get my doves at the bird feeders. I know nothing of eagles, will they take chickens and ducks? Have to say it is a beautiful, gigantic bird, seen the shadow go right over the yard.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

I only have experienced this breeding pair of eagles, we live about a mile from a decent sized river where their nest is. They have never went after my chickens, but there is plenty of other food around here though and lots of road kill ( they are also scavengers not just hunters).
I was actually shocked to see the one eagle roost in the same tree as the red tail. Normally the hawks find better places to be when the eagles visit. Our falcon has been harmless so far, he is far more interested in the flying prey than the big chickens on the ground.
The red tail makes me the most nervous, with her size and ability to maneuver inside my fenced area. I have lost young dumb chickens before to a hawk.
The eagles are just too big to swoop into my fenced area, with a 6ft + wingspan, and they usually do a big circle then swoop in close to the ground but not landing. <- When hunting starlings at least, I've never seen them swoop towards my coop.

 

[jlynnet]

I don't heat my coop. I do lock them up in this crazy cold windy weather. The coop has enough ventilation that I can shut the door and they are fine. I give them hay to lay in and munch on. I do keep a light on for a few hours during the day only. I don't want them to be in total darkness. I'll give them scratch too inside. This keeps them busy.

 

[Opa]

Poor Hope is still babysitting so Granny and I were forced to try the apple cheesecake without her. I warmed some caramel sauce and drizzled it over each piece. Very light tasty dessert with very little effort. The recipe was quite simple.

1/2 cup sugar 16 oz cream cheese 2 large eggs 1 cup finely diced apples 1 premade graham cracker crust

With mixer blend sugar and cream cheese add eggs one at a time. When thoroughly blended fold in apples
Pour into pie shell and bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Serve with warm caramel sauce drizzled over serving.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

yum! Sounds delicious

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I know what I'm making tomorrow! Thanks @Opa

@fuzzybutt love Thanks for the suggestion for the drakes here, I'm trying to hold off on the antibiotics as long as possible. So far I'm seeing great results from the iodine, especially considering that it was literally freezing during application. Size wise, the bumps have already shrank by at least half. Hopefully one more application will do the trick, without antibiotics.

 

[Trefoil]

antibiotics in the water. The plain old duramycin helps against staph infections in early stages, maybe since you were able to catch it quick it may just get rid of it??

I have the poop chart in my links? Not much to go on.
I am very hopeful for her and you.

Hmm. That is interesting! I get a case at least every winter, usually right after the temps drop and after a particularly windy night. Mine don't eat good though when they get it; so now i don't know whether they have had "something" or not!
Aw. So sorry!

I've had this issue too; i got an orpie because they were supposed to be so friendly, but mine attacked me and the girls like a roo! Laid eggs, and brooded.......... mine was hatchery stock, though and i think that was the difference in temperament. Bigger comb, bigger attitude! LOL

We were all talking about this last year, you actually did it? Heat tape under some kind of cover? Do tell! I was wanting so badly to do something like this but got stuck on the actual how-to.

The instructions I found here: http://www.hopkinslivestock.com/building_a_heated_roost.htm

 

[taprock]

We had a bald eagle around two days ago. He was having a snack of road kill deer that is out for the coyotes. It's the earliest we have had them around in the winter. Titus the wild and crazy pup chased him off.

Fuzzy - I don't know what I would do in your situation but I appreciate the fact you have always been upfront, open and honest about your flock. Everyone keeps their birds for different purposes and with different goals in mind.

 

[chickwhispers]

For the record, if anyone thinks i'm ever being sarcastic or condenscending it's not true at all!
it is especially hard when all you have to go by is written and none of the expression to go with it........ i can't speak for others but for myself it's hard to judge sometimes whether i'm talking to someone who's had chickens for months/ years; so i just put it all out there just in case. I just really love birds I really really hope that i haven't offended anyone or driven them away!

I have had situations that i just couldn't figure out, the worst feeling ever is when no one even tries to guess or respond. That is why so many links from me, i've spent a lot of midnight hours pouring over the internet trying to save my girls over the last several years. Now i'm working i don't always have the time, and i figure that many others might not either so i put up the links so others can maybe benefit too.

This is still the closest to curing MG/ CRD http://www.qcsupply.com/denagard-liquid-concentrate-novartis.html?gclid=CNqBiMr3u7QCFao7MgodA1oA4g


Finding herbal info for birds that is tested is hard! MG is the poultry version of bacterial pneumonia; the micoplasma strains are different and i can't get theirs; But those bacteria are so small they don't have cell walls and hide in healthy tissue. Also of interest to me is that diabetic people get a form of yet another strain of mycoplasma on their feet when they get wounds and the wounds get infected! A dr is saving limbs by treating the micoplasma, dr's are using meds to cure rheumatoid arthritis and other things too by treating different mycoplasmas! (marshal protocal for any other health nerds out there)

Personally, I think everyone just tries to put their experience and information out there as a help. It is hard when reading to get the tone of the thought behind the words. But if one thinks about it, people who take the time to respond, must truly want to help. Otherwise why try to respond at all. While everyone's advice may not help, a combination of different things people put out there may. so the more experience and the more advice and info the better! While one person says this and that, someone else may offer up this, that and another. And still a third person may offer something entirely different, you never know what combination of advice or experience may be helpful to another's situation.
So fuzzy, what I'm trying to say is I am grateful for everyone's offer of experience, knowledge, and information. And I personally don't consider anyone as condescending or sarcastic, ONLY Helpful.

And I am one of those "health nerds" too. LOL. I enjoy reading and learning about the different processes etc, that are being tested and studied! Thanks for the link!