Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[preciouskitty]

Wish I could've gone to the meeting this morn in Lansing..especially living so close. Will be real interested to see how this whole thing progresses. Many thanks to all of you that attended & provided input for our cause in person.

Unfortunately, having only been in the office 4 days since 19 Dec (between 3 weeks vacations, snow storm, then work travel last week), really had to show face today. Plus I will not be BACK in the office til 11 Feb; have to telework tomorrow since DH can't be around to look after birds due to something rather unforeseen that came up with HIS job yesterday, then off Friday, THEN off to Alabama for 2 weeks for work.
Figured I should give my employees their annual performance reviews face-to-face

Decided to blast out of work around 14:00 (vs. 15:30ish) after looking at the radar & seeing the snow start. Sometimes we just make the right decision. By the time I got closer to home (well, 30 miles out) already a few accidents. Just looked at my traffic app & those that live my way that I normally pool with are gonna have at least a 2-3 hour commute..only took me an extra 15 mins or so....

Well, off to the coop. Maia was laying an egg last I checked. So glad both Marans are laying again, Lela laying a jumbo daily. Now my EE (poor Partridge looks simply gangly) just needs to finish her molt & my rainbow of colors will be back!!!!!

 

[preciouskitty]

eatwhatyougrow, Yep! Looks like a handsome silver laced wyandotte to me. A real beauty!

Wow, if it weren't for the yellow legs, would swear it was one of my EE Roos!

 

[M.sue]

Yuppers.... Boy is my thinking! Always had this funny hunch ever since I got the so called rescue flock of 6. I haven't heard him crow except for once and I wasn't even sure it was him. I thought it was my Bantam Roo at first in low tone but then few minutes later the Bantam sounds off.....no mistake there....2 totally different pitched crows. Besides from the Roo behaviors I've noticed, this morning he decided to mount a hen in front of me, inside the coop. Needless to say he got a boot in the rear. Oh hell bells....this is the second time this has happened to me. I re-homed the last one. I'd like to keep him but if I do I'll have to make a few minor adjustments. Thanks for the help guys I appreciate it!

 

[aart]

See, I'm not so sure that would be the place, because I can see how it could be considered a "selling" thread. Off to ponder, and see if I can locate a similar thread that already exists.

Oh, well, not sure about the selling rules here....just thought it would be a hatching chat.
Could be a hatching chat thread with deal contacts made there, but deals made via PM...happens in other threads I think.

 

[Nigellas]

MSue- definitely a boy. He's handsome.

 

[RaZ]

Raz I finally sent out my emails to all the commissioners. I hate writing letters if I feel I don't totally understand everything. I kept it short and sweet and only talked about the changes I did understand.

I have an incubator questions. My incubator is the type that is foam with a plastic liner with a wire sheet on top of it. I was digging it out yesterday, just to look mind you! It must not have been totally dry when I put it away last year. The wire on the bottom has rust spots on it. I cleaned it all again but they do not come off. Do you think this would affect the hatching?

Thank you Tap. Sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zone in order to protect what we value. The best responses are the ones that open and honest, the canned form letters are usually discarded.
Just cover the rusty wire with a cloth or paper towel or something. You should be fine.

Yay, it's snowing again. I can't wait to break out the shovel, snow blower, and tractor.

I know that you are being facetious, but I do like running the snow thrower. Especially the big 2-stage that shoots snow 50 feet across the street.

Any update from the meeting today?

I'm getting to that....

Went to the meeting with Raz and Wendy today. It was interesting to say the least. about 18 people spoke out against the site gaamps proposals and shared their stories/situations. No one who showed up was for it.

What would have been nice was if someone from the committee would have been there who could have answered questions or help clarify what the intent for the proposals were, but no one was there. All comments were recorded/transcribed and will be taken back to the committee.

Farmer.. I read your letter aloud and gave it to the meeting adminstrator. I wanted to make sure you had a voice (next time I need to remember my glasses).. lol! Raz and Wendy did a fantastic job speaking and addressing points on the changes. I hope they will step in and say something more about today.

There was also a young man, Kyle Miron for Hogwash, the American Pig Tale. (He's been fliming Bakers Green Acres) with a film crew who tapped the whole thing.. (I hope he leaves out the part where I lost my composure, I don't do well speaking in public). http://americanhogwash.org/

Wingless drove while Silly and I cringed.

There was quite a turnout of people for this meeting despite the very short notice given. In fact, several people mentioned that they just heard about it and rearranged schedules just to attend. So many people realize the importance of this. Of all the people who were brave enough to speak, the common thread was that these proposed changes will harm them. Personally, financially and will negatively impact their lives. These good folk expressed how MDARD is ignoring a vast majority of Michigan residents and that MDARD has no sound reason to be targeting small farm operations.

There were people who are currently "legal" and worried that they won't be if the changes occur. There were people there who are currently involved in litigation and fighting for their rights. And there were people who were merely observing but then stood up and spoke their minds. Two such people were from the MI Agriculture Tourism group who, after a bit,spoke against the proposed changes. I spoke with them afterward and they had no idea that there were things like chicken coop tours in Austin, TX., Madison, WI., Salem, OR and elsewhere and that chickens are a tourist draw in many areas.

One young man described how urban farming and chickens have a unifying effect on his community in the Lansing area. A couple of people spoke about how chickens were helping their children. Each and every speaker had an honest and compelling reason for why the proposed changes are bad for all residents.

It is just too bad that the appointed officials of MDARD, the Ag Commission and the GAAMP task forces were absent. That absence along with disdain and rudeness of the January 14 Commissioner meeting set me at a low boil. I got home and composed a letter to then Ag Director describing my umbrage. I can provide a copy if anyone wants it. My next letter is to the governor to complain about the behaviour and attitudes of certain appointed bureaucrats.

This issue is far from over, my friends. Media is picking up on the seriousness of what is at stake. Last Thursday I was on Flint public radio; Monday, Lansing radio hosted Wendy and I; and Wendy was on NPR after that. I have an interview scheduled for this Saturday on Food Riot radio. As Silly mentioned, Kyle Miron filmed the entire meeting and will have a transcript shortly. He is also interviewing and filming several people who were at the meeting today. Kyle is part of the team filming the Mark Baker case and you can get more information at americanhogwash.org.

I implore you to continue with calls and e-mails to these people and your state senators and representatives. (I should note that the contact information for the Ag director and the Ag commissioners has been removed from the state website recently. I wonder why.

) If you need my help or opinion, please contact me.

Thank you to everyone who has made an effort.

 

[Living the Simple Life]

WOW!!! I cannot believe the COWARDICE shown by the GAAMPs committee to not even show up! I hope that some of the media outlets pick up on this. I look forward to Kyle's transcript of the meeting.

Thank you to all who were able to attend the meeting today....also, great job on the radio interviews.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Bravo

 

[mattsinger]

Thank you for the update!

 

[chickwhispers]

X2