Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[SillyChicken]

connected on a nice doe yesterday! Love hunting in the snow!

 

[NovaAman]

Well for me, creating a pen was easier to do since I have a total of 4 coops with in the coop/run. So, the one coop, I just made a chicken wire and fence wall down the run from the edge of the coop to the run wall. So, that 4x5 coop has a 5x16 foot run area to keep the faverolles separated from the rest. They will probably continue to stay separated for a few months, and should continue to use their designated coop even after combining, and the hens should stay with their rooster. I may continue to pen them separate later, maybe build another door on the run for staggered free ranging times, keep them from mixing.

ScifiSarah, Pat is now completely free of his protective custody. He has a silly dance, and calls Skeeter for whatever treats he finds in the garage. So darn sweet. Still a slow walker, but he is much better. Last night he was bedded down with all the silkies, a glw, and Skeeter.

 

[Herducks]

Quote: If you guys get this together let me know. I could drive down and meet you there!

 

[Opa]

Ring neck pheasants were introduced into Michigan in 1895 with birds from China. Several other states had introduced them much earlier. Small farm fields with dense fence rows provided ideal habitat and pheasant populations in our state reached their highest levels in the in the 1940's and 50's. Changing farming practices reduced habitat and the populations have spiralled downward. The DNR attempted to reinvigorate the population by introducing a ring neck pheasant from the Sichuan province of China that they felt was hardier and more adaptable strain. The results of that extremely expensive endeavor was far less than hoped.

I was fortunate to start hunting when pheasant populations were still quite high and when I think back to what conditions were like I can understand the reasons behind the population loss. Most fields were small 20-40 acre plots with dense fence rows. Corn fields were extremely weed choked. When corn was harvested it was usually with a inefficient two row picker that left a lot of grain on the ground. All of this contributed to a healthy bird population.

Most farm fields today have no fences and crops are planted almost to the road. This allows the maximum return from the land and allows big farmers to routinely farm over 1000 acres. Roundup has eliminated most of the weeds, and crops are now harvested with combines that leave practically nothing behind.

Weed seeds made up as much as 0% of a pheasants diet and crop spillage added important winter sustenance. While remanent pockets of birds can still be found I doubt that most of you will ever experience the thrill of the explosive sounds of wing and cackle as a large cock pheasant took flight. To have experienced the awe and wonder of dozens taking flight at once is a memory I cherish.

 

[BobBry]

You taught at Paw Paw High? I graduated from Paw Paw!!!

Yes, I did. and When you first came on the Mi thread I think I asked you some questions about some of the people I remember from there. We moved to Montague in 1968. When did you graduate?

Far as what i've read, you skin the chicken to keep the feathers, i have read about feather selling and the best prices were from intact saddle and hackles, skin attached. ( I don't , wouldn't, but don't mean i didn't see the prices on them! )

I did buy some in the past.

.

Gotta love living in Michigan!

P.S. I might be up for driving to Ceder Creek Hatchery in Twin Lakes, MI if anybody want's to go. I can take 3 others seated comfortably...4 if you don't mind getting really close with your buddies. I have to call and check on availability, but I don't see a problem making a chicken run! My proposed run I would take M-90 to M15(very short stint on this road) to M-57 to M-46. I am willing to pick up anybody along this route (up to 4 people). Maybe we can all plan a day to be there and have breakfast/lunch out there? It would be nice to meet everyone.
Let me know if your interested....in the meantime I will check on availability.

I would like to meet you, whoever you turn out to be. Keep posting.

Bobbry - when I give roosters to my brother for eating he skins them and returns the feathers to me. I put them in the freezer until I have time to clean them.

What do you do then?

I have to disagree.

The ring necks are native. (unless you're thinking the chinese pheasant brought in by the state to stabilize the ring neck).

They are regulated by the state and have a scheduled hunting season. It would be ill advised to shoot the pheasant. And he will survive just fine in the cold.

Depends on where in Michigan. North of a line from Muskegon to Saginaw one will not find the general habitat to be conducive to ring necks. There are some micro climates suitable above that line, but few and far between as I understand. More Ruffed grouse territory.

If you guys get this together let me know. I could drive down and meet you there!

Ditto. Ditto

Ring neck pheasants were introduced into Michigan in 1895 with birds from China. Several other states had introduced them much earlier. Small farm fields with dense fence rows provided ideal habitat and pheasant populations in our state reached their highest levels in the in the 1940's and 50's. Changing farming practices reduced habitat and the populations have spiralled downward. The DNR attempted to reinvigorate the population by introducing a ring neck pheasant from the Sichuan province of China that they felt was hardier and more adaptable strain. The results of that extremely expensive endeavor was far less than hoped.

I was fortunate to start hunting when pheasant populations were still quite high and when I think back to what conditions were like I can understand the reasons behind the population loss. Most fields were small 20-40 acre plots with dense fence rows. Corn fields were extremely weed choked. When corn was harvested it was usually with a inefficient two row picker that left a lot of grain on the ground. All of this contributed to a healthy bird population.

Most farm fields today have no fences and crops are planted almost to the road. This allows the maximum return from the land and allows big farmers to routinely farm over 1000 acres. Roundup has eliminated most of the weeds, and crops are now harvested with combines that leave practically nothing behind.

Weed seeds made up as much as 0% of a pheasants diet and crop spillage added important winter sustenance. While remanent pockets of birds can still be found I doubt that most of you will ever experience the thrill of the explosive sounds of wing and cackle as a large cock pheasant took flight. To have experienced the awe and wonder of dozens taking flight at once is a memory I cherish.


That's the way I remember it too, Opa. Well, I don't really remember the 18 90 part or dozens taking flight at once. But the better habitat and more birds in the 50s-60s .... Good memories.

I plan to skin the birds and salt the pelts. Are they pelts when from a bird ?

 

[snowflake]

Whole new set of issues I'm not sure how to deal with. Our coop has a visitor who thinks he has moved in.





how very cool, he does look young and if that tame he is either sick or tame, and I would think tame as he looks healthy let us know if he comes back

My son took these pictures after I found him carrying the pheasant around.

When I went out to see what was up the pheasant was in the chicken yard with the chicken eating away and none of the roosters had any problem with him. I am very nervous about wild birds and what "nice" things they may share with the chickens. He is not scared and won't leave at this point. Ideas? My son is already begging to keep him. We have a nearby shooting preserve so I'm sure he came from there.

My Nigerian Dwarf doe is just over halfway through her pregnancy! Very excited for any kids she has, and the milk she'll produce for us!


I recently took this picture. I love this Araucana pullet's tufts! They're so even and poofy!

LOVE THE GOATS,

Can you explain a little more about this whole penning thing to get the crosses/breeding matches that you want? I'm trying to do the mental gymnastics to figure it all out for spring eggs, but having 2 or 3 roos will make things a bit more difficult for what I have planned so far. All the roos have been raised together which makes me think they have a better chance of getting along with one another (and 14 hens) but I'm leery of spereating them for a month or 2 for eggs and then re-combining them and the whole pecking order thing. I'm probably over-thinking it, but I'd love to know what you have set up.

ETA: I know about the whole 2-3wk rule to make sure I have the correct rooster genes.

if you have 3roos and 14 hens they will tear up your hens and most likely be fighting amongst each other I have 30 hens and had 3 roosters, 1 to many, the roosters all got along pretty good, but the hens were taking a beating.

Bobbry - when I give roosters to my brother for eating he skins them and returns the feathers to me. I put them in the freezer until I have time to clean them.

how to you clean them/ and what do you use them for??

Ring neck pheasants were introduced into Michigan in 1895 with birds from China. Several other states had introduced them much earlier. Small farm fields with dense fence rows provided ideal habitat and pheasant populations in our state reached their highest levels in the in the 1940's and 50's. Changing farming practices reduced habitat and the populations have spiralled downward. The DNR attempted to reinvigorate the population by introducing a ring neck pheasant from the Sichuan province of China that they felt was hardier

I wonder if we spread corn among the weedy fields if it would encourage them to stay, we do have a few
Quote:

 

[Opa]

A preserved bird skin is called a skin. For fly tying only the neck and saddle are used and are sold as such. Probably the best method to preserve a bird skin is with borax. The old Twenty Mule Team borax for laundry works great. Feathers can be cleaned with white gas (Coleman lantern fuel) to remove blood, dirt, etc. Since waterfowl feathers are oily you would want to degrease them with white gas before treating with borax. While salt would work because it is granular it doesn't adhere as well to the skin as powdered borax will.

 

[1muttsfan]

As Opa and Bobry said, pheasant are neither native birds nor found this far north, as they are not acclimated to the cold and to the deep snow. There are game farms around that release birds that sometimes escape, but they do not as a rule survive the winter - probably a combination of poor survival skills due to being farm-raised, and lack of ability to survive the adverse climate.

 

[jorey]

Hi. New to forum. Lurked for months. Lol. From south Michigan so I thought I'd say hi

 

[1muttsfan]

H Jorey,welcome to the Michigan thread