Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

Ah, no wonder you turned on the heat on the way home from work!

That and it was 50 degrees at 1:30 am. And I had the windows down when I left work.

 

[RaZ]

Low 80's now and I'm cutting firewood back in the woods. 70 fallen oak has been sectioned and a face cord split. Back out for round 2.

 

[aart]

Low 80's now and I'm cutting firewood back in the woods. 70 fallen oak has been sectioned and a face cord split. Back out for round 2.

That'll warm ya up!
70 or 7?

Changed out coop shavings, get faster at it every time.
So funny to watch them go WTH!! even tho I disguised the new with some of the old.

7 eggs today, broody mama back in business after 11 weeks.

 

[RaZ]

70 foot length

 

[Candy442]

Received my Sandhill Preservation order at 6am. PO called me a little after 5am, I am always up by then during the week. There were five Black Penedesencas, four Iowas, and he threw in six white Leghorn chicks. One poor little one didn't make it and was quite squished in the corner of the box. It was a dark one so not sure if it was Iowa or Black Penne. His Iowa chicks are all very dark chick down so later on I should be able to tell which ones are Pennes. They have white streaks on the tip of their wings, around their eyes, and light belly fluff. But, the Birchen color Iowas can also have those markings. It seems there will be another shipment in the near future I hope. His fertility is zero in his White Chantecler flock, but he put another rooster in the pen to see if that helps his hatch rate. I ordered five whites, 10 each of the Pennes and Iowas. Stay tuned

 

[1muttsfan]

That's great in this hot weather to only loose one chick.

 

[aart]

Picking up more chips for run today...might get two loads, setting one aside to add in a few weeks or so.

Bagged up all the old coop shavings yesterday, 5-6 feed bags worth, much if it 'dust'.
Will add these to run chips a bag at a time. Tried adding all at once one time and the balance was overwhelmed, was nasty so now go slower. Need to gather some cut and dried grass too.

5 little crowers out there, 8wks old, 1 is really good at it and the others are coming on board. Funny to hear. Not too many squabbles...yet...another month or so they'll be in the freezer. <sings> all the young dudes, soon to be stews.

 

[RaZ]

Devil dog had one of the chicks today. Carried her over half of the property.
Other than being wet with dog drool and scared, she was fine.
I don't know if she escaped the run or the Demon Dog found a hole to get in and out of. Still, I was pretty POed with the damn dog.

Home around midnight and locked up the coop. All hens and littles were roosted and doing fine. It's frustrating to think that there is still a weak spot in my defenses.

 

[aart]

I don't know if she escaped the run or the Demon Dog found a hole to get in and out of. Still, I was pretty POed with the damn dog.

At least the dog didn't kill her.

It's frustrating to think that there is still a weak spot in my defenses.

No doubt.

 

[aart]

Got two loads of chips yesterday....it kicked my ass, but glad I did it.
First load I just 'dumped' onto a large tarp for later(next few weeks or so).
The 2nd load got distributed in the runs along with a couple bags of coop shavings.

Freaked out the 8wo chicks, they flew up the run wall, one popped out a gap at top, and ended up in back field. Luckily she followed the yard fence around and ended up under that tarp where I could catch her. She was not happy, I haven't handled these birds much, broody just weaned them...they are skittish! I think she's OK, have been worried that one of the only two pullets will meet their demise somehow leaving only one bird once the boys are gone.

Cut and spread some long 'field mix' while hauling chips from driveway.
Hopefully rake it up before rain later today to add to run along with straw from changing out nest bedding.