Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[gaitngirl]

It's been so long since I've checked in here. I don't think I will be able to sit and read the older posts to catch up so I will just start fresh, I guess.

This weather is proving to be too cold for my old bones . . . On the up side? My heated hose works like a champ. My son and I used to haul water out by the gallons to the horse trough the (not-so) good old fashioned way. Now I can just plug the hose in for about 20 minutes and then fill the trough. So much easier on my back!

My flock is finally starting to lay again. I got 9 eggs today (though one was frozen and cracked). Not bad considering approximately half of my hens are 2 - 3 1/2 years old. I will probably have to cull some this year and replace them with younger stock. I've been thinking about scaling back on the numbers but then I see all these fun breeds that I would like to add . . .

I hope everyone is well and staying warm! And that your flocks are surviving this arctic weather/polar vortex or whatever they are calling it these days!

 

[gaitngirl]

The rescue I work with had a large amount of Earthborn donated. All of the dogs but mine did great on it (but he's allergic to EVERYTHING). I used to feed mine Canyon Creek (higher end Purina) ~ it was the only thing that didn't make him itch like crazy. Then it was discontinued, of course. Now he's on Purina Beyond Adventure (also made by Purina and still expensive). He was doing fine on it since we discovered it last spring or summer but now he's starting to react a bit to it. Not quite as bad as he does to everything else but we've tried just about every food out there . . . Various types of grain free, organic, Science Diet, etc. He seems to have a problem with chicken in almost anything. We've tried Venison, Lamb, Salmon, etc. I have a large flock of Muscovies and always have too many males. Our next step is going to be to try making our own food if he can tolerate duck . . .

 

[myfarm4579]

Hope all made it though the cold day today. I sure didn't do much outside. Just a few trips to the coop to look for eggs before they froze. Other cold night tonight

 

[1muttsfan]

4 of 6 frozen eggs this evening - but I may have not checked at noon, now I can't remember. But at least no frozen mice!

There are 2 prescription diets that may work for dogs with really severe food allergies - Prescription Diet z/d and Purina HA. They are made by breaking down the proteins to such a small size they are no longer large enough to trigger an allergic reaction. Both are VERY expensive, though.

 

[Folly's place]

There can be real problems with commercial pet foods as far as ingredients are concerned. Truth in labeling can be less than ideal. When you have food allergic dogs or cats (As I do!) things can go downhill fast. Right now my dogs are back on Hills ZD because the less expensive pet store fish/potato/pea diet suddenly caused a big flair-up in one of the dogs. Ugh! Misery, antibiotics, and antihistamines later, the ZD looks like a better deal. At least right now. Mary

 

[tntchix]

Glad everybody is surviving this wonderful cold. Did I mention I'm ready for spring?

Yes please hurry Spring!

-14 here this morning and since I'm not allowed in with the birds poor Hope was stuck with braving the cold.

warm

for Hope. How are you healing?

Furnace is now running. It is pretty noisy compared to what is sounded like before. Looks like the sealed bearing in the fan motor is the culprit. Stupid foreign made junk.

I'm glad you are warm again.

 

[1muttsfan]

Yes unlisted ingredients in pet food can be a big problem - http://www.aaha.org/blog/NewStat/po...contain-more-ingredients-than-advertised.aspx

 

[thechickenflock]

There was a Golden Eagle not 1 mile from my house today, an easy 7 foot wingspan

. What a beautiful bird. I did little bit of research and it is not uncommon for them to prey on and consume live dear

. If is wasn't helping itself to a raccoon and I wasn't taking a VERY short trip I would have turned around and put the girls in.

 

[bigmrg74]

Glad everybody is surviving this wonderful cold. Did I mention I'm ready for spring?

I'm ready for spring. I walked into work today and was exchanging pleasentries about the weather with the front desk girl. I told her it had warmed up to 3 degrees out there. She asked if that was negative 3 or positive 3.

 

[shrparatch]

I'm ready for spring. I walked into work today and was exchanging pleasentries about the weather with the front desk girl. I told her it had warmed up to 3 degrees out there. She asked if that was negative 3 or positive 3.

-17 this morning on the drive into work...BRRRR!! Sad commentary when you say that "3 degrees" is warming up. In looking ahead it is supposed to be getting up to the mid 20's in my area later this week.

A real heat wave. Come on spring!!


Hope every one is staying warm!