Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Brennigan]

Quote:
Very true! Holland City allows chickens (where the houses are so close you can peak in each others windows!), but Port Sheldon Township (outskirts of the City with same address) doesn't. I really think it boils down to your neighbors too.

I honestly don't think I will make it through winter if it ends up being anything like last year....I'm already whining, have 6 layers on, the wood burning stove at 600, and its 20+ degrees outside (windy). No way I'm gonna tolerate those subzero temps ....I am SUCH a wimp (must be that Cali blood...where I was born; why or why did my fam choose Michigan???)

I love my wood burner. I haven't kept track but I think that it has paid for itself by now. The biggest expense was the chimney pipes. They were about twice the cost of the stove. My only regret is that I got the smaller unit that was rated for my square footage. While it does a wonderful job of heating the house, the wood box is not big enough to last through the night. Some mornings are a tad cool when waking up and the furnace kicks on. I keep it set at 58 degrees so the gas bill is held in check.

My advice is get as big a unit as you can afford. You can always build a small fire in a big unit.

DF just finished installing DH and mine's wood stove! Our neighbor lost everything to a house fire last year (including their dog who asphyxiated under their bed), and I'm terribly afraid of the same, so we installed a triple-wall chimney; but yes, the chimney is the most! We must've spent about $1,500 on that alone plus $700 or so for the stove. Thankfully, our house insurance won't go up since its not considered a fire-place. I'm looking forward to finally using our downstairs & saving some money on the heating bill! Got so excited to try it out that we didn't read the directions for starting the first fire to break it in slowly. No broken bricks, thankfully!

Newbies!!!

I have a couple of different options in my run for the hens. Just in case they get locked out. I have a dog house filled with straw and also a couple of tops from the pet taxis so they could get out of the weather and stay warm.
Your Isa's should be ok. I can't believe they are shivering. But then again, we went right past fall and into winter and might not have gotten use to it like normal.

That's a great idea! Our Welsummer always snuck under the fence and I'd find her by the house's back door when I'd lock them in. We fixed the underside with chicken wire, and she hasn't gotten out since, but I think I want to do this just in case. Our Buff laid on my lap today and fluffed out all her feathers -- boy, was she warm! I do notice my Welsummer will shiver when her feet/legs are cold. They aren't afraid of the snow and ventured to peck at any grass peeking through....then I could tell it was snuggle time because they both looked like flamingos only standing on one leg!

I never knew I'd like them so much.

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We're in for rain and 45-50* this weekend Saturday through Monday. Hoping it washes away all the snow and has a chance to dry before it gets below freezing again. Don't want anymore ice dams! And I'd really like to give the girls a full day to free-range and not freeze their little legs off! Regardless, I'm feeling a bit more confident for our first winter after the temperature dipped into the teens and they didn't freeze to death.

 

[matt44644]

Thankfully, our house insurance won't go up since its not considered a fire-place.

Who are you with?I know State Farm considers anything with an open flame in the same category as fireplace.Thanks

 

[1muttsfan]

If anyone is looking for property, the DNR is selling off some of theirs in these counties. Alpena, Cheboygan, Clare, Isabella, Midland, Montmorency and Presque Isle

http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDNR/bulletins/ddcb3f

Beg to differ - that is OUR property they are selling off.

it was not that the bacteria themselves were resistant, but that almost every antibiotic out there is aimed at gram positive bacteria and what is going around us a gram negative one.

Any use of antibiotics can lead to resistance if it is not the correct usage. While wholesale farm use has certainly also contributed, regular folks using antibiotics incorrectly has led to considerable issues with treatment of infections. The only way to identify resistance or susceptibility is with a Culture and Sensitivity, not trial and error.

Hello. Figured I should introduce myself, not sure if I have yet but been lurking.

Hi and welcome - so sorry to hear of your loss.

And hi to PDPercherons, and misfitmorgan

 

[Brennigan]

Quote:

Who are you with?I know State Farm considers anything with an open flame in the same category as fireplace.Thanks

Ours is AAA. We called last night as soon as it was installed. When we called before deciding between a fireplace and a wood stove, they did say a fireplace would go up $50. But the representative last night just said that it was noted on the account that we had a wood stove. DH asked if the insurance would go up, but she said it would be covered. They said it was viewed as a furnace.

 

[misfitmorgan]

Hello Mutts and Fivewire!!

Warmer weather will be so very very nice. I have a house chicken that needs to go back out and join the flock.

 

[preciouskitty]

Well the birds spent most the day outside. My black Ameraucana, Kali, could care less about the snow. Opened the door. Out she came, snow up to her belly. She will do anything to get to a blade of grass! One of my EE pullets didn't care either. The rest, well, this ain't their first winter! They were a little slower at coming out (except for BUG, one of the PRs.she LOVES to come on the deck, which she made a bee line for). Once they got out, the spent the afternoon pretty much under the front deck (faces south) scratching & dust bathing & sunbathing!!

Kali leading the flock...

 

[matt44644]

Nice coop!

 

[PDPercherons]

Hello you guys . I'm in the small berg of Remus. I have a mixed flock, wanted to raise Andalusians though. Problem is I like ALL of my chickens.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Well, i had already spent the $200 on the vet, they didn't know. Others have done the same, isn't showing up on normal cultures! Usually i'd be thinking the same thing but in this case if you know it isn't your usual run-of-the mill mg/crd, and you gave tylan to no use, you might want to consider this before wasting your $$$ at the vet's. I don't begrudge them, they told me important things i needed to know to treat him. But not everyone can run right out there and do that, we all want to but realistically most birds will never see a dr's office.

I do not know how widespread whatever it is has gotten, just from the deaths and stories, speaking to others have confirmed it. What i do know is it is stumping drs too, and i am very good at diagnosing things myself and it had me stumped for months. At some point i will get bloodwork done. When i know i will pass it on, bad or good.

 

[1muttsfan]

Infectious organisms that don't show up on culture are much more likely to be viruses, and not susceptible to antibiotics. Viral infections are detected by blood work that looks for antibodies (the body's reaction to infections). Unfortunately each organism must be tested for separately, and this can be expensive if you don't find it on the first test or two.