Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[NightOwl3]

Hi Michiganders!

I was over in Chelsea this weekend and stopped by Family Farm and Home. They have little chicks already is stock. Currently they have Cornish Rock straight run and pullets. Plus some supplies on sale. They are also taking individual orders. We put in an order for 5 New Hampshires chicks. can't wait!

Thought I would spread the word.
James

Good idea! Any chance you'll be making it a private group? Otherwise your non-chicken friends can see what you post in a open group like that in their newsfeeds. Just a thought.

Buy and sell on FB..https://www.facebook.com/groups/Michiganpoultryandeggs/

 

[chickflick]

Some of us, who have been on for years, have become more than just chicken buddies. We have had several picnics where we have gotten to know each other and have become friends. Friends share things and this is where they share. Some have inside jokes. Some have formed close friendships. Some have come and gone. They have shared joy and heartache. They have shared how to treat lice and mites. Injuries. And loads of chick pics. I think you get the drift... BYC has become family to lots of these folks.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

I think i lurked for a year, then have been on almost 4 i think. I can't think of any mod worthy conversations of late? We are all planning for spring, babies, taking care of family and plotting new coop features. Seems pretty MI to me! The weather complaints are in a whole bunch of state threads right now. LOL

 

[1muttsfan]

Tap, they already do that in Mackinac county - our road is a mess sometimes until Monday, good thing my car is so good on snow.

Hard to get too excited about chicks and hatching when the snow is so deep and the cold so intense. I have NO plans to keep chicks indoors this year, way to dusty and smelly.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

I really was hoping for someone to drag out the old garden link, too. I am a newb with flower beds....i need help!

 

[1muttsfan]

Fuzzy, you might like this Forum

http://www.theeasygarden.com/

 

[uchytil]

Tap, they already do that in Mackinac county - our road is a mess sometimes until Monday, good thing my car is so good on snow.

Hard to get too excited about chicks and hatching when the snow is so deep and the cold so intense. I have NO plans to keep chicks indoors this year, way to dusty and smelly.

That's what's been on my mind. I usually keep the meaties in a brooder inside for a week and then out under heat lamps. I don't want to end up having to keep them inside for the duration if this cold keeps up. I'm still weighing my options, however, it seems like later may be better. And maybe not at all until fall. I did 25 last fall and it was way easier.

 

[1muttsfan]

I'm still weighing my options, however, it seems like later may be better. And maybe not at all until fall. I did 25 last fall and it was way easier.

I was wondering about that, seems like as they get bigger the weather would be cooler as they were old enough to tolerate it well, and maybe they would not be so stinky. Just did not have time to try it last year.

 

[SillyChicken]

Mead....... yum, one of my favorites and part of the reason we started trying with honey bees. Unfortunately, we haven't had much luck with them yet. We had a supplier open a bee store in Napoleon MI... Napoleon Bee Supply: http://napoleonbeesupply.com/.

We built our hive out of the kit material they sell in the store. Went through about 10 lbs of sugar to get them started. We aren't sure what happened but our bees absconded on us in the sumer before producing any honey.. you can imagine our disappointment. We are going to try again but move the hive to a different location, a bit more shaded.

These are the components that make a basic hive(click on image it should get bigger) You don't have to buy the supers right away, unless your hive is super active and fill up the larger hive bodies. We have yet to need to wear all the fancy gear to handle the bees.


There is no feeder shown in this set up. This is what we used.

 

[preciouskitty]

If i do meaties I am gonna wait for fall (prob go in with the guy who does any repairs on my house, he's been doing them for years). I, too, don't think I can ever deal w/chicks in the house for 8 weeks. Oh the mess I had last year when I decided to get into this whole chicken thing!

As it is, I still have 2 birds in the house (Spaz & Blackie) with absolutely no chance of integrating them back into the flock til the snow melts & I can give them a separate "safe" area in the run. They seem fine together other than Spaz not being too thrilled about Blackie's morning amorous advances

Gardens. Oh to dream...of green, warmth....I don't think we are gonna even be able to till soil until June things are so frozen!!

I have about 6 deer out back staring at me. "Hey lady, when are ya gonna put some more corn out? We're hungry & there is NO food except back around here". I just don't think I can lug the 50lb bag out there with all the ice without breaking my neck (or la leg, arm, etc).