Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[BackyardFarmMom]

He does candy - calls peanut m&m's his vitamins, but actually counts out how many he allows himself each day. Those look great and simple too! They will go on my list to try. I was digging through recipes and I think I will also do the sugared almonds.

8 is one serving... That is alot of vitamins for one day!!! LOL

anyone else visualize Nova's bird making the comments?

Everytime!

http://www.njboxers.com/satin-balls-recipe.htm

Steers vs chicken coop. pictures included

That one!!!! Then Bella vs You!!!

Oh, forgot to mention!
Yesterday, I drew some blood out of Bella to be tested to see if she is pregnant or not, I will know the results tomorrow! I pray that she is! The testing is only $2.65!!!! If I had the vet come and preg check her, it would have costed me about $60.00! Thank God for letting me find that dairy job!

 

[mrcush]

I know I've asked this before but I worry so I will ask again. I had a infra red heat lamp on all the time in my coop. I've been getting different information from different people so I ended up turning it off so my girls could get used to the cold. It got down to 22 last night and I went and check on them a couple times last night and it seemed cold in the coop. My coop is not insulated so my question is... Do you heat your coop with a heat lamp? If so, do you do it all winter or at what temperature do you turn it on. Sorry, I'm a newbie and this is my first winter with the girls.

 

[Farmerboy16]

Steers Vs. coop sounds like it could be funny!

Ok, I will do that one before going back out the the real world.


I was walking to go milk Bella, when I saw Pancake in the chicken pen. I stood there puzzled, wondering how did he get in there, and November came in view. *sign* Both of them?!? I keep Maybelle in the chicken pen at night, so I can milk Bella, so I thought that they were keeping her company. Ok, whatever, got to milk Bella, then I saw it. Dropped the milk pail and the udder wash pail. I was so flipping mad! I HAD JUST A WEEK EARLIER FIXED THE COOP FOR THE WINTER!

Pictures are a thousand words right? THESE SAYS A MILLON!!!!
The steers- last spring, they are a year old now.

Pancake

November

Last winter-

Now-

The plastic covering is the GREENHOUSE plastic, NOT cheap stuff!

I grabbed a pitchfork and beat the the steers out out of the pen with the handle, while my dog nipped at their heels. I banished them to the wood pasture.

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

I got a twin to my first egg today!!!!




See the color change where my fingers were? Awesome mood eggs!!!

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

Last winter-

Now-

LOOK DAD!!! WE HELPED LET THE CHICKENS BREATHE!!!

 

[Farmerboy16]

Last winter-


Now-

LOOK DAD!!! WE HELPED LET THE CHICKENS BREATHE!!!

Hey! The coop is very well ventilated! Thank you!

 

[RaZ]

Do you heat your coop with a heat lamp? If so, do you do it all winter or at what temperature do you turn it on. Sorry, I'm a newbie and this is my first winter with the girls.

I do not heat
This I repeat
A risk of fire
From hen pecked wire
Tis not a nice feat

I use no light
In dark of night
A hen will lay
At her time o' day
I find this just right

I use no lamp
Not with a clamp
There is no heater
Not even a cheater
Coop is fine, not a bit damp

Chickies have evolved
Were we involved?
Season after season
We tend to make reason
Why add heat --- tis not resolved

Dry and draft free
Is how the coop should be
You will learn o'er time
Hens can handle the clime
Ventilation is the key

With apologies to Dr. Seuss and Mother goose.

 

[shegeekster]

I got a twin to my first egg today!!!!




See the color change where my fingers were? Awesome mood eggs!!!

Awesome!! First eggs!! Excitement!

 

[Farmerboy16]

Oh, forgot to mention!

Yesterday, I drew some blood out of Bella to be tested to see if she is pregnant or not, I will know the results tomorrow! I pray that she is! The testing is only $2.62!!!! If I had the vet come and preg check her, it would have costed me about $60.00! Thank God for letting me find that dairy job!

Learning to draw your own blood samples is fairly easy and as you've found, saves a ton of money! I have a hard time with a wiggly goat on occasion (I have no one to help me), but it sure beats a farm visit from the vet! Did you use Biotracking?

Biotracking? I have no idea what is it. A coworker gave me a syringe and a tube and used one of the cows there to show me where to draw blood from. Bella was a bit wiggly(I have no one to help me too), and it took me 3 or 4 tries to find a blood vein. Poor girl, but she was a good patient. Love her!!!

 

[tjbeckman]

Sorry to disagree, but raw meat diets come with the hefty risk of food-born infections such as salmonella - especially for animals that are malnourished and likely to have decreased immune system function. Not to mention the risk to puppies with immature and inexperienced immune systems.

I will agree with you on the pups, I do not suggest feeding raw until they are at least 9 mos. I don't like the idea of commercial food at all. If you are uncomfortable with totally raw, even if you made your own with cooked chicken and rice etc still better than commercial in my book