Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

RaZ..you REALLY need to quit going to the doctor

Sorry about your foot..

So I should skip the appointment with the heart surgeon next week?

 

[Whatshisface]

so at about 3am...dogs were going crazy...now i know why...MEET RAY RAY...THE

CHICKEN THIEF...IF HE COULDNT RESIST CHICKEN THEN HE DEF COULDNT RESIST BBQ CHICKEN....LOL

Hey well done! I'd keep the trap out though, there's probably more than one.

 

[snowflake]

Having said that, I DO have 2 full grown girls in the spare bedroom. Why, you ask? Well, I'm babysitting for DH's friend who has to go to China for 4 weeks, then Slovakia for like 2 weeks...just not able to run to her house to do bird stuff with both of our work schedules. Having used this room as the quarantine area in the past, I wasn't TOO concerned about a mess (like with the chicks). HAH..these 2 girls (whom I have named Chitty & Chatty) have already raised the dust level like I can't believe in 10 days...

I may just throw them in with my birds in another week...I'm just worried they'll be too acclimated to the warmer house temps (I keep all the vents covered in that room..but its still 55+ in there)...Thoughts?

how about the garage, put a dog kennel or something on top of saw horses, at least they are outside.

So I should skip the appointment with the heart surgeon next week?

so , how on earth did you break your foot? you need a keeper, are they thinking open heart ??

55 glad you got the coon, leaving the trap out is a good idea.

I sure do like the sun,,, set the table up in the dinning room for some starter pots. went to TSC for feed and picked up a pink lemonade blue berry,,, repotted it in a nice big pot. got some ground cherries in a pot but not sure how long it takes before you see a little green. not a lot of sun but 3 nice windows on the east side of the house

 

[Brennigan]

I think that I'll probably miss Chick Days. I have food on hand so there is no reason to go to TSC or FFH. Also, I found out yesterday that my foot is broken. Can't use the clutch with this silly boot on. So no driving for me for a few weeks. But if someone needs a co-pilot or navigator, I'll gladly ride with you to the store.

I'll be trying my hand a tapping the maple tree this year. My friend from NH sent me some spiles.

PS I too have an Ameraucana (EE) named Ethel. The other one is Lucy.

I like the Keeper idea! Gosh, this winter sure seems to be the pits as far as injuries go!

Having gotten my first 4, I mean 12, from TSC in 2012 & having them live in the house their first 8 weeks and THEN letting a broody do all the work OUTSIDE last May..never again! It took me months to get that spare room cleaned up from all the dust!

Not only was Maia a good broody; she was a great mama!

Having said that, I DO have 2 full grown girls in the spare bedroom. Why, you ask? Well, I'm babysitting for DH's friend who has to go to China for 4 weeks, then Slovakia for like 2 weeks...just not able to run to her house to do bird stuff with both of our work schedules. Having used this room as the quarantine area in the past, I wasn't TOO concerned about a mess (like with the chicks). HAH..these 2 girls (whom I have named Chitty & Chatty) have already raised the dust level like I can't believe in 10 days...

I may just throw them in with my birds in another week...I'm just worried they'll be too acclimated to the warmer house temps (I keep all the vents covered in that room..but its still 55+ in there)...Thoughts?

I like the garage idea too! Are the hens hatched from your broody mama as willing to socialize with humans?

 

[preciouskitty]

Unfortunately garage is not an option as I don't have one. Just 2 sheds that are nowhere near predator proof, nor would I want to have to walk out to. At the moment, my only option for separating birds is the spare bedroom that has been turned into the quarantine/infirmary! Generally a bird is only in for a night or two; or 2 weeks when I've had to quarantine. These 2 just scratch around WAY more than the ones I've quarantined (maybe cuz they all were ~12 week pullets..these 2 are 2-3 yrs old). Chatty literally pecks all the food out of the feeder & tries to scratch it out onto the ground. But, man. They lay huge eggs (smallest has been 102g!). However, if I don't get the egg right away, they eat it! Brats!


@BrenniganNo. The chicks raised by Maia (broody) are NOWHERE as friendly as the ones "I" raised. Though one of the EE pullets now comes to me, let's me pick her up..took a lot of feeding scratch out of my hand!

 

[uchytil]

Anyone else have their ducks start laying this week? The Muscovy started laying and the pekin had one egg.

Not yet. It should be happening soon I hope. I'd rather eat duck eggs and I know a lady with health issues that can only eat ducks eggs I supply.

 

[1muttsfan]

So I should skip the appointment with the heart surgeon next week?  

Ahhh - No.

 

[snowflake]

Unfortunately garage is not an option as I don't have one. Just 2 sheds that are nowhere near predator proof, nor would I want to have to walk out to. At the moment, my only option for separating birds is the spare bedroom that has been turned into the quarantine/infirmary! Generally a bird is only in for a night or two; or 2 weeks when I've had to quarantine. These 2 just scratch around WAY more than the ones I've quarantined (maybe cuz they all were ~12 week pullets..these 2 are 2-3 yrs old). Chatty literally pecks all the food out of the feeder & tries to scratch it out onto the ground. But, man. They lay huge eggs (smallest has been 102g!). However, if I don't get the egg right away, they eat it! Brats!


@Brennigan No. The chicks raised by Maia (broody) are NOWHERE as friendly as the ones "I" raised. Though one of the EE pullets now comes to me, let's me pick her up..took a lot of feeding scratch out of my hand!

maybe they are board, I read an article on chicken toys, one was to put holes in a water or pop bottle and fill it with seed, then as they pack at it it rolls around and the food falls out. haven't tried it yet but sounded like a fun thing to watch

 

[Opa]

This is the time of year that you can expect more visits from raccoons. It's their breeding season and they are all roaming about looking for mates and of course the occasional chicken.

One thing I have sorely missed the last few years has been eating a rare hamburger. Restaurants won't serve any burger less than well done because of the risk of lawsuit if a customer gets sick. Even when preparing one at home you should cook it well due to the risk of salmonella poisoning and listeria. Due to the way meat is processed in huge quantities the risk is higher than ever.

However, when processing your own beef you can keep everything sanitary. So last night with beef I ground myself, I was able to enjoy a thick juicy rare burger.

 

[iamfivewire]

@Opa : in my opinion , just about any beef cooked past med/rare to med is "burnt"