Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[saysfaa]

Welp, got a bit more of a workout today than I hoped for. I meant to tramp over the field to get enough willow to see if weaving a nest box will work.

"Tramp wasn't the right word. I'm not sure what is the right work is sinking from knee to almost hip deep in the snow for most of the way across the end of a five acre field. At least it was down hill on the way back.

It wasn't worth it; I should have waited for more snow to melt.

And it was worth it because it feels good to be tired like this. And to feel like I'm making progress on a project.

And I saw a massive bird in flight that I'm pretty sure was a snowy owl. Sooooo beautiful!!!!!!

Well, I lucked out. Turns out I needed to cut the willows before they filled with sap so it is good I didn't wait. Evidentally, when the sap rises, they get too rigid to weave easily.

I'm going to start with weaving the nest boxes. I really want to replace the old bushel crates before the weather warms up much, just in case there are live post beetles in the crates.

Do you think making the tops at least a 45 degree angle will keep the chickens off the tops? I know smooth 45 degree surfaces will; not so sure about a rough surface even if I make it as smooth as possible by weaving tiny diameter withys into it.

 

[Folly's place]

If the chickens sit on top of those nest boxes (need photos!) you could add a solid top anyway. Even a feed bag, attached to the weaving, should do it.
Mary

 

[Sally PB]

Well, I am going to see if I find some thread about composting.

What do you need to know? You can ask here too.

 

[uchytil]

Composting is basically a must do when you have a farm. Goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits and all the kitchen waste. Patience is a virtue. I have two piles, one the size of a school bus and the other slightly smaller. Luckily I have a couple of tractors to keep them turned. But, if you keep smaller piles you can turn them by hand from time to time. I find it's best to leave them alone for awhile. Mine are full of red worms that break down and add more nutrients. My pig waste does not go into compost but has it's own uses for flowering trees. If you have cows you're very lucky and even luckier if you have a manure spreader. Horses, well I'll just say it's usable but they pass much seed unlike cows and the seed grows weeds, lol. Enjoy what you have I guess and experiment.

 

[uchytil]

Not much activity on the Chicken Stock page. When I log out I'll let a few members know as they don't post anymore.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi John!

Horses don't have rumens to break down weed seeds like cattle do, so you do get a lot of weeds if you don't compost, but it is very rich manure.

The mosquitoes up here are tiny, but they bite like a nail driving in. Much worse are the blackflies, curses tiny things that crawl into your hair, ears and clothes and drive you nuts.

 

[Sally PB]

Chicken manure revolutionized my composting. I can get usable compost in 3-4 weeks by using the Berkeley "hot composting" method. One caveat: A lot of turning, which I do with a pitchfork. The turning is necessary to aerate the pile to keep the process going.

I have 3 bins, side by side. The far right bin is the collection bin. It gets all the garden waste and kitchen scraps that I don't give to the chickens, plus the manure. When it's a decent sized heap, I fork it into the middle bin, and it sits for a few days. I wet it down thoroughly with a hose.

After 3-4 days, it will feel hot and I fork it into the left hand bin. It sits for a couple days, and I fork it back into the middle bin. Back and forth, every 2-3 days, until it stops feeling hot, which is usually about 3 weeks.

Most of it will be broken down, but there might be some long grass/stem pieces that aren't "done." They go back to the middle bin for another session.

I have a nice sized heap in the middle bin that I didn't get around to putting on the garden, so I left it there to become this spring's compost for potting soil for starting seeds.

Right now, the right hand bin has a good pile of this winter's poop and kitchen scraps. It'll make a great start to compost season.

 

[RaZ]

I've been composting as long as I can remember. Even took a class to become an Advanced Master Composter. Fancy title eh? Since I got the tractor I've been able to big, real big. I have a couple of piles going that are 6 feet high and maybe 10 foot base. Plus I turned a couple of those watermelon crates that I scored from work into compost bins. I'm doing an experiment with one out in the open and the other tucked away in the woods. I know a couple of tree trimmers who will drop a load of wood chips when they are in the area. That is always fun to compost. I really would like to get another chipper/shredder. I've worn out at least 3 over the years. Finer material composts quicker.
I can hardly wait until spring and get back to the piles.

 

[Sally PB]

I can hardly wait until spring and get back to the piles.

Right there with ya buddy!

I could make HUGE piles out of grass and leaves, but we don't mow that much of our land, and don't have a bagger on the mower.

In the spring, I rake up piles of thatch out of the grassy fields here. It makes fantastic mulch, so I use it that way. It's also great for the arm muscles that winter has flab-ergasted.

If I could "clear mow" and gather all the cuttings, wow, would I have a pile!

 

[RaZ]

I like your system Sally.

I scored some nice birch today.