Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[JackieandChicks]

I see them all winter long sitting on the post. See them hunting in the fields behind my house. Guess the Hawks like it here!

I had snowy owls when we had all that snow two years ago, and last year there was a bald eagle in the area. There is a wetlands preserve less than a mile away, so maybe the ones that stay go over there for the winter.

 

[OldMissionChick]

I've had my first "repeat customer" on eggs today. A fellow I work with came up to me asking if I had anymore eggs. I have almost 5 dozen sitting here, so yea I have some, lol.

If our girls would stop hiding their eggs I would have eggs to sell. Finding about 3 a day from 8 hens

I'm trying not to freak out about my tomatoes. The Romas are JUST turning red. And it's rained soooooo much. And it was 47 this morning when i took kids up to the bus. I probably have 2+ bushels of chemical free GREEN Romas sitting there. Last year they never turned red. Help? Anyone knowledgeable about this?

Kids and I picked a laundry basket full of everything that was at least orange tonight, and DH wants to process them this weekend (I have pneumonia so that might not happen without a lot of work on his part). But I don't blame him because fruit flies are already a problem.

Our tomatoes are still green and it is turning cold. Ever tried making chow-chow? I think its made with green tomatoes.

 

[RaZ]

Here are Uncle John's ducks. Hatched July 18 by a broody Black Australorp. So about 9-10 weeks old now. The drake is bigger than the adult hens

 

[RaZ]

Here are the July 11 hatchlings that were co-brooded and reared by an EE and a BO. Eggs courtesy of @iamfivewire
I'm sure that the white one is a roo. He has been a problem child from day 1.
The other I'm pretty certain is a pullet. I call her Dot.


The one in the background I'm not sure of. Whitey Ford likes to chest bump with him, so I think he is likely another cockerel.

 

[Candy442]

Here are the July 11 hatchlings that were co-brooded and reared by an EE and a BO. Eggs courtesy of @iamfivewire
I'm sure that the white one is a roo. He has been a problem child from day 1.
The other I'm pretty certain is a pullet. I call her Dot.


The one in the background I'm not sure of. Whitey Ford likes to chest bump with him, so I think he is likely another cockerel.

actually it looks like background one is a pullet too by the small comb, but it is pretty red so who knows . The white one is a boy (we usually know when red feathers develop on the wings). And Dot indeed appears to be a "Dot" (pullet) too

 

[RaZ]

actually it looks like background one is a pullet too by the small comb, but it is pretty red so who knows . The white one is a boy (we usually know when red feathers develop on the wings). And Dot indeed appears to be a "Dot" (pullet) too

I hope to get a picture od Dot's legs. They are a beautiful shade of blue/grey. I think people call that "slate" but I'm not up on colours.

 

[Opa]

I've been working all summer at converting a boat set up for bass fishing into one more suited to river fishing for steelhead. Here's what I started with.



I tore out the carpeting, seats, side console and controls. Then I installed a new console on the front deck with new a new helm and steering cable. Rewire the control box, installed new cable for the jet motor's reverse gate. Next was marine vinyl on the floor and decks. Rod storage racks on both sides. Then the helm/rowers seat that also serves as a tackle box. The front winch can now be controlled at the console or from a wire remote attached to one of the 9 1/2' counter balanced oars. Two removable swivel seats finish it off
I even sewed curtains that attach to the bimini top to make winter fishing a little easier for my old bones.
Took it out yesterday to do a shakedown and found the reverse gate on the motor needed adjusting and wouldn't you know that a little adjusting rod had to break. Hopefully it won't take to long for the part to be shipped from California.


Here's what it looks like now.

 

[RaZ]

No wonder we haven't heard much from you. You have been too busy to post.

 

[1muttsfan]

That's one sweet ride, Opa. I've only managed a few trips out this year.

 

[bigmrg74]

I lost one of my Iowa's today. I was just leaving for work and I look out to the pen to see the flock all panicky up against the pen fence. Look a little more and I guess that's when Toruk saw me and opted to take off flying away. I run over to check and yep, that red tail had one of the Iowa's freshly dead, probably not even 5 minutes before, inside of my walk in chicken tractor. checked the rest of the flock and was only coming up with seven until I checked the nest boxes, saw Candy's reject hen just cowering in pure terror. Pulled the body out of the coop, and rounded the flock up into the coop to lock em up for the day.

I'm really hoping that the hen he took out was the one that was laying the really little eggs I've been getting. And I think I am going to turn that door to the coop into a Dutch door so that I can keep the top closed to let the flock come and go from the coop while offering more safety from hawks. That and there's an old two part dog coop here that I'm thinking I'm going to set the two half's up inside the mobile pen to that they would have other places to take cover.