Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RTFchickens]

It's a possibility Opa, but they were like this even without a rooster for a while too. I will have to do some observing and see the temperament differences. Thanks.

I had a similar situation in my flock. I watch and watched. It turned out that while perching at night they would peck/pick on about 5 of my hens. It was only these 5, and not the others. They would simply pull the feathers off the backs, and leave the hen bare back... After reading what to do, I read you can cover it while it heals, or put something undesirable tasting on the pecked hen's back. If I remember right it was vapor rub?

 

[Brennigan]

Coop was down to 20* last night and today most every school is closed as we get 30mph wind gusts and more powdered sugar.

I'm trusting all the research I've done and trying not to worry about my two hens and their first winter. They pranced out of the coop happy this morning for some scratch and raisins. ::sigh:: I wish I could be that warm in this weather!

@SillyChicken // Great job on the renovation! How's the coffee table coming along?

[edited to tag]

 

[taprock]

This year I decided not to shave from October til January.  Tonight when I got out of the shower I looked in the mirror and saw Gabby Hayes looking back at me.

Last October my DH decided to go a year without touching his beard. I have nothing against beards but I hated it because he wouldn't even trim it.

Thankfully he did shave this October and took twenty years off. However, he does have a beard again for hunting, hopefully not for the whole year.

This morning the weather is so depressing I really don't want to go outside but the birds need fresh water so I guess it means bundling up really good.

 

[chickflick]

Yeah, it's really cold! We got a couple of inches of snow last night. I'm sitting here trying to get it into my head that I have to go out and take care of the hens. So glad the bantams are in the heated garage. Less time out in the horrible weather.
Hope RaZ gets to come home and isn't thrown in jail again. Don't know about those folks in GC! Some power hungry people are running that town.

Stay warm, friends.......

 

[tntchix]

I had a similar situation in my flock. I watch and watched. It turned out that while perching at night they would peck/pick on about 5 of my hens. It was only these 5, and not the others. They would simply pull the feathers off the backs, and leave the hen bare back... After reading what to do, I read you can cover it while it heals, or put something undesirable tasting on the pecked hen's back. If I remember right it was vapor rub?

RTF, that might be it. The other morning when I witnessed all the new layers (yippee) each lay their egg, I was giving a once over and chatting w/the girls on the roosts about why they didn't have any feathers on their back and one of the other breeds kept putting her head really close to the bare spot. I will blukote them again and hopefully it will stop. Oh, geez, Vaporub, really? Well, no one would have trouble breathing in the coop, that's for sure. LOL

***Now where did I put that baby monitor I was installing in the coop?***

 

[1muttsfan]

Well we have been pretty busy here since Sunday - 18" of snow overnight Sunday and another several inches since. We were NOT ready.

 

[suwahsen]

This summer I planted some sunflowers in the chicken run thinking that the seeds would drop for them to eat, but the seeds didn't drop. I just broke a flower off and hung it in the coop, the flock is having fun jumping up and picking the seeds out.

 

[tntchix]

ooh winter activities!

Did you save me one too?

How much snow ya got over there neighbor?

 

[RaZ]

Well we have been pretty busy here since Sunday - 18" of snow overnight Sunday and another several inches since. We were NOT ready.

Love the hive. I've been thinking about making one like that. How well did it work for you?

On a side note, MDARD is changing/creating some crazy GAAMP for the keeping of bees. Once again, it is not based on sound science but rather more on scare tactics and misinformation designed repress the small scale farm operation.

 

[RaZ]

It was a busy day for me. First was a CT scan with contrast dye. When that 100 cc of iodine hits your veins you sure do feel it. Different parts of your body light up with a perception of heat. It was a strange sensation.

Afternoon was spent in court answering the "show cause / contempt of court" allegations. Long story short, the court probation director was trying to get money from me for a case that has been closed for several months. Fortunately, I had the ROAs (Register of Actions) and the transcripts for each appearance. After a brief recess the judge came back and said that the case was closed and I was free to go. I asked him to repeat that a second time so it should be there on the transcript for today. The only thing left unknown is what the sticky notes in the file say. I was not allowed to see those hand written notes.

A ward of advice to anyone appearing in a court of law: get a copy of the ROA and request a copy of the hearing transcript. It just might save you later.
My mom's brother passed away this weekend and today was the funeral. I had to miss it. Yesterday was a viewing and I offered to drive mom to that. Mom declined because I drive a truck. Apparently it is bad form to drive a truck to a funeral home. "What will people think" she asked me.