Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[JackieandChicks]

That was my thought, something so urgent that required evac. I'll keep ya posted.

I have horses, worked at boarding barns, can't imagine what would cause that unless there was a chemical spill somehow. No signs of fire? Maybe a practice evacuation?

 

[RTFchickens]

Work programme paid off today.
I came home with half of my pickup bed filled with vegetable and bread treats for the canaries and the compost. 

It is truly amazing at the vast waste of food especially considering that this food was the waste of a store or restaurant. I have an entire bushel of tomatoes that can be made into juice or soup or straight canned. The only thing wrong with it is one or two that are bruised or not visually appealing. 

I wonder if school lunch programs could partner with local farms to turn uneaten lunches into chicken or pig feed. I've visited and volunteered at the school lunches. There is SO much food wasted every day! It would be nice to see it recycled!

 

[bigmrg74]

I wonder if school lunch programs could partner with local farms to turn uneaten lunches into chicken or pig feed. I've visited and volunteered at the school lunches. There is SO much food wasted every day! It would be nice to see it recycled!

Or better yet, set up some chickens at the school so that the kids can feed their leftovers directly to them. They could even do experiments with the chickens, see what happens when one group of chickens gets nothing but junk food items vs another group that's getting plenty of fresh fruits and veggies.

 

[Stacykins]

I've got turkeys! Squee! They're so cute! There was one DOA (a Holland White), but that is not too bad.

What I got from Porter's:
Bourbon red x 1
Golden Narragansett x 1
Oregon Grey x 1
Oregon Blue x 1
Penciled Palm x 3 (two different bloodlines)
Chocolate palm x 3
Regal Red x 1
Self Buff x 2
Sweetgrass x 1

I am going to definitely keep the buffs, regal red, bourbon red, and the golden Narragansett. Which means the rest are available.

If anyone is looking to start a flock of palms, Penciled and Chocolate palms are absolutely stunning. I just prefer more red based birds. That Oregon Grey and Oregon Blue are some beautiful birds too!

 

[chickflick]

There sure is A LOT of hawk activity going on lately. A way to close call at a neighbors house. I was there taking care of things and looked out to see a hawk chasing down a chicken! The very next day, neighbor was in yard with her chickens and a hawk was sitting in her small birch tree with chickens right under it. Lock down!! They have been seen quite often during the day.

 

[tntchix]

I wonder if school lunch programs could partner with local farms to turn uneaten lunches into chicken or pig feed. I've visited and volunteered at the school lunches. There is SO much food wasted every day! It would be nice to see it recycled!

Or better yet, set up some chickens at the school so that the kids can feed their leftovers directly to them. They could even do experiments with the chickens, see what happens when one group of chickens gets nothing but junk food items vs another group that's getting plenty of fresh fruits and veggies.

These are great ideas, especially easier to implement in rural areas where the rules aren't so airtight.

 

[RaZ]

I can see a lot of opportunities for small operations to make use of all that wasted food.
Chicken and hog food, vermiculture and composting. Juicing and other renderings.

All of the bread I brought home is still within the sell date, it was just squished. Some were really flat but some packages are no worse than if you had a grocery bag fall over in the trunk on your way home from the store. I have at least 100 packages I eat some myself and freeze some for later. There are 4 packages of cinnamon-raisin bread. Bread is a limit treat for chickens as it is not all that good for them or ducks or even wild birds. Maybe I can figure out how to make bread crumbs. Anyone nearby need some smooshed bread or buns?

Part of the problem with reusing this stuff is all of the new rules and laws regarding food safety. That and overall ignorance of recycling and composting.

PS Raptors are migrating so hawk activity is increasing. Watch your flock.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Yep they are and I had something all black out there today checking out my chickens. What weren't in the coop Bigbie (my Nelson RIR cock) had in the wood scrub with his body turned to block them in and growling at it. He had a small trunk of the dogwood scrub expanding the thicket grove into the field between him and the 'all black' rapture with his other side pressed against the thicket.

He let no one out until the bird flew over the tree tops and I called him to hurry the girls to the coop. They got there before I did to close them in. It circled a few times and then wee didn't see it again.

I've seen young eagles before but this was NOT mottled as the last young eagle a few years ago. Was as big though. So I am not sure what it was....NOT a turkey vulture for sure. :/

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Some chickie decided to store eggs under the ramp. I only noticed b/c I had to close the coop. I assume its Marian (tag one that crows) as she's the only one small enough to squeeze under.

I have never seem a hawk at the coop. I saw one flying around once, but that's it.

 

[snowflake]

Lady, did you get to Lowell? it was great as always, may go back tomorrow, so DH and DS can go. The apple dumplings and squash bisque were SO good.and I love the art work
weather was good all morning, and a good part of the afternoon

Raz do you just compost the junk food, I always thought getting food from nursing homes would be good but paper,plastic and such is all dumped in together and it would be a lot of sorting