Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

I've been lucky with my current flock. No frostbite on them last year. I'm hoping for the same this year. My Sapphire Gems are the only ones I worry about. They have huge combs for hens. This will be their 3rd winter as adults.

New visitors to the birdfeeders. Goldfinches have returned and Juncos too. They always seem to disappear for a while. It's not just the woodpeckers and squirrels eating the peanut butter. Chickadees and titmouses (titmice?) like the peanut butter log too.

I was supposed to go to the health department for a shingles vaccine but I don't have enough gas. I'm out of a lot of things. I need that allowance from Uncle Sam to get here.
ETA My doctor advised me not to get a second shot or booster for the Covid. I had the single dose in early spring. A Covid test last week was "not detected".

 

[1muttsfan]

Why don't they want you to get a booster? That seems quite risky.

I got my booster a couple weeks ago and just had a little minor arm soreness

I can tell you that if you start cutting their combs you are going to witness a huge bloody mess. Those suckers bleed like crazy. Once they have been frostbitten it cuts off the blood supply to the affected area, and that tissue shrivels up and falls off on its own. I don't think pre-emptive trimming is a good idea, as some of them may not get frostbit at all.

 

[aart]

@aart do you think this is a bad idea?

Yes.

 

[RaZ]

Why don't they want you to get a booster? That seems quite risky.

I got my booster a couple weeks ago and just had a little minor arm soreness

I can tell you that if you start cutting their combs you are going to witness a huge bloody mess. Those suckers bleed like crazy. Once they have been frostbitten it cuts off the blood supply to the affected area, and that tissue shrivels up and falls off on its own. I don't think pre-emptive trimming is a good idea, as some of them may not get frostbit at all.

Because I had Covid while I was in the hospital in October. Doc says that my body is producing antibodies that are better than the vaccines. I guess so since the last 4 tests have come back negative or undetected. I hate that swab up my nose.

I second not cutting combs as a preventative measure. Chickens do fine all on their own. If frostbite does happen the damaged parts don't really seem to affect the chicken. At least that is what I noticed.

 

[Sammster]

Yes.

Ok, no more of that. Right now, they look and feel like nothing is on them, at all. It really was just the slightest bit. But, I'll not do it again. Thank you.

 

[chickflick]

 

[riss]

Slowly but surely just added some insulation

 

[Dreamzchaser]

View attachment 2924226

I can only imagine what the poor roo is saying,lol Definetely a lot of clucking,lol

 

[RaZ]

That chicken soaker is pretty clever.

The radio is saying that tomorrow will bring high winds of 25-40mph with gusts over 60. They were saying to expect power outages. I hope not, I don't have gas for the generator.

I'm going a bit stir crazy here. No gas to go anywhere. No money to buy gas. Still waiting for my allowance to get here. Hopefully I won't have any major expenses like I did last month. I have to get used to living on a budget and yet plan for contingencies. Either that or get a wife.

 

[aart]

Got ll the dishes and laundry done,
and filled the bathtub so the power won't go out.
Luckily it'll be in the upper 50's.
I kinda have a wood burner in the lower level, enough to keep the pipes from freezing.