Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[NovaAman]

fuzzy, I bagged all my leaves for the run, add as needed. I bagged the leaves when they were dry, or so I thought. There is a bit of dampness in the center of the bags. Well anyway, as you could smell, there was no yucky smell in the run at all, and those leaves have been breaking down pretty fast. I am thinking I needed to bag up more. I have 3 bags of leaves left. Don't think they'll last out the winter. I also have some in the roosting area where I can walk in, and they don't seem to be too bad in there either with the pine shavings mixed in. Just a thought.

 

[Stacykins]

Ok, folks. The date of Chickenstock 2013 is June 22nd. 10am to 3pm. Let the planning begin.

I think I may be able to go this year. We'll see. If I can get it worked out, I'll try and hatch some Araucana chicks to bring along, if anyone is interested in them!

It all depends on if my father is willing to goat-sit. My doe Yoko will need milking. Since he gets summers off (schoolteacher and lives eight hours away, but enjoy visiting when he can), it may be possible on that date! I don't have anyone else I will trust my goats with, to be honest.

 

[NovaAman]

I've got a problem totally non-chicken related and I am asking if any of you have any ideas to help me? I'm beginning to think this is hopeless. I'm probably providing way more info than needed but I just don't know what might be relevant.

My neighbor has 2 dogs, a border collie and what he says is a malamute/german shepherd dog mix. They really barely tolerate each other and it's been this way for years. They're both about 6 years old. They are essentially untrained. He would go to work (truck driver) and let them run loose all day till this summer when "things that happened in town" forced him to put up a fence and a doggie door.



Bec

Me, I love dogs. Couldn't go long when Baby was gone before I went and got another. SO, please understand that I say this with much sadness... I think both dogs should be put down. They have behaviour problems that are habitual now. Yes a strong owner probably could do something with them, but to find one who has the time and wants too, as well as keeping the dogs after the behavioural issue are worked out... At this point the dogs are miserable. The dogs are injuring each other and the own is a pathetic peice for having dogs who he could obviously not properly take care of. I am sure he loves his dogs, but loving and taking proper care of are two different things. Unless you can find a rescue for the big dog... BUT now what happens with little dog, who will be left alone most often again. A dog alone is much more likely to become depressed and destructive. Are you going to take care of that? Or is he going to take care of that? What a sad situation all the way around...

 

[Trefoil]

Happy belated Birthday Lady. I'm sorry to hear about your "friends" on facebook.

When it comes to deep litter method, Mr Harvey Ussery (author of "The Small-Scale Poultry Flock") swears by dirt floors. He recommends that if you cannot use dirt floors for whatever reason, to make sure that your floors are then water tight to prevent them becoming included as part of the natural composting that is the vital mechanic behind the deep litter method.

I don't mean to spout of like a book worm, so I hope no one gets mad at me for quoting from something I read instead of personal experience.

Please feel free to quote all you want, knowledge is knowledge and having numerous sources is a good thing.

The vinyl is definitely looking like a winner. Like I said before, I'm totally committed to the deep litter method. It's so low maintenance, almost no maintence. I think I would buy a roll of vinyl though, rather than the tiles, to prevent any (inevitable)moisture from seeping through.

But say I went with dirt, would I just build the foundation and work from there, leaving the ground untouched? Or would it be best to add dirt, build it up, tamp it down? I would worry about moisture being an issue. The new coop would not be on the highest ground.

P.S. Tartan is a Jacob wether. He's a sweety

If you go with dirt you will want to add enough so that the floor of your coop is higher than the surrounding area, it will help with moisture. I wouldn't worry about tamping it down, the chickens will do that eventually.

One part green and two parts brown, Makes the compost turn to ground.
Add some water and some soil. Turning is the only toil.

There is a lot more that I could ramble about but I'll stop now.

Don't stop, you are on a run. Its easier to gain knowledge from someone with experience than to go through the learning process without help. Thanks for the info

I've got a problem totally non-chicken related and I am asking if any of you have any ideas to help me? I'm beginning to think this is hopeless. I'm probably providing way more info than needed but I just don't know what might be relevant.

My neighbor has 2 dogs, a border collie and what he says is a malamute/german shepherd dog mix. They really barely tolerate each other and it's been this way for years. They're both about 6 years old. They are essentially untrained. He would go to work (truck driver) and let them run loose all day till this summer when "things that happened in town" forced him to put up a fence and a doggie door.

The shepherd mix has perpetual ear infections and doesn't like them to be touched so they never get fixed without getting knocked out first. Both dogs want to be alpha. According to my neighbor the bigger shepherd mix has attacked the smaller BC dog a couple times, (no real damage, as far as I know). He claims the attacks were unprovoked. I have never seen those attacks. I have seen other interaction between both dogs and there is a lot of growling and very often the smaller dog growls first.

My neighbor called me Thursday to tell me Big dog viciously attacked smaller dog on New Years day. He put a good sized hole in smaller dog's right shoulder and a smaller one on the left. My neighbor claims he loves both dogs, he hates the idea but he feels he has to put down Big dog though he claims he doesn't want to, yet will do NOTHING to try to fix things. I got him to talk to the head vet (after I talked to her while taking his smaller dog in for treatment, don't ask why I was doing that), she recommended a dog behaviorist to him. So believe it or not he's going on Saturday morning. (I had to tell him he should be taking Big dog with him

).

However, he says he knows what the behaviorist will say, because she already told him over the phone that Big dog ought to be put down. I know he told the behaviorist every negative thing about the dog without all his "other" reasons for putting him down, crap like he "doesn't have the time to train him", he has "to do this, do that, etc", he can't "deal with it any more". He has an excuse for everything.

In the meantime over these same days I have been walking this dog with my 2 dogs, making sure I keep his dogs separate to avoid conflict. Today on this walk Big dog rolls in the snow rubbing his ears because they always itch, he leaves behind blood. I check his left ear carefully and discovered re-opened bite marks, obviously from the border collie, one a through and through puncture the other ripped right out the bottom edge. It bled like crazy for a good 10-15 minutes. I'd say that might have caused the escalation of the original fight which my neighbor DID NOT SEE till the very end when he beat the bigger dog of with a stick.

I am not an animal behaviorist, nor a person with any experience other than having my own very well trained, happy dogs these past 16 years. When I pointed out these injuries to my neighbor he argued with me that he KNOWS big dog attacked first. Didn't see it, just KNOWS. But now has said if I can find a home for this dog before the weekend is over, he won't put him down after all.

I would say this dog would need a strong owner, no other pets in the house and probably no small children to be safe. He's a pretty nice dog, my little Ziggy adores him and is always throwing himself at him and getting him to play.

Now full disclosure, one time Big dog did suddenly grab my Luna by the head and puncture the skin. I saw the whole thing. They were both standing in front of me, AT Big dog's door into his house. I think it was a territory issue. Nothing bad has happened since. (I'm not even sure if it was last year or the year before this has happened.)

Neighbor offered me his dog but I have 2 I can't afford a third and my husband said he'd move out to his deer camp because 2 dogs are ENOUGH. (Interestingly enough, DH does not like the border collie and likes Big dog.)

So do you think this dog can/should be saved? I figure I am too close to this to make a good decision. The local humane society won't take him because they were told it was a "vicious unprovoked attack".

I thank any of you who have bothered to read this whole thing.

Bec

First- about the ear problem. Have him purchase Otic HC by Zymox ( I got it through Amazon) it comes with pain relief as well. Then have him take the dog to the vet & get his ear problems cleared up. After that use the otic twice a week ( put a couple of drops in each ear) for a month or so, after that once a week will work. I have a german shepard that has had cronic ear infections forever, I tried everything and still ended up at the vets several times a year. The otic isn't cheap, but its cheaper than the vet and STOPS the infections. He will be shocked at the difference no pain makes to the dog's temperment.. Then find the dog a new home, making sure they know about his ears.

 

[swampducks]

Me, I love dogs. Couldn't go long when Baby was gone before I went and got another. SO, please understand that I say this with much sadness... I think both dogs should be put down. They have behaviour problems that are habitual now. Yes a strong owner probably could do something with them, but to find one who has the time and wants too, as well as keeping the dogs after the behavioural issue are worked out... At this point the dogs are miserable. The dogs are injuring each other and the own is a pathetic peice for having dogs who he could obviously not properly take care of. I am sure he loves his dogs, but loving and taking proper care of are two different things. Unless you can find a rescue for the big dog... BUT now what happens with little dog, who will be left alone most often again. A dog alone is much more likely to become depressed and destructive. Are you going to take care of that? Or is he going to take care of that? What a sad situation all the way around...

Oh, he's keeping the little dog, the little dog can do no wrong, he isn't at fault at all. And he gets along with his new wife's little dog. Peas in a pod. Little dog has NOTHING to do with these unprovoked attacks, it's is ALL the fault of the big dog. But he LOVES the big dog, he simply can't deal with it anymore. As if he ever did! I've been dog sitting Big dog for the past year while he drives downstate with little dog to visit his new wife. This guy is a piece of work who just hopes if he ignores it long enough the whole thing will go away. I could go on and on but I feel another xanax coming on. This man is toxic to my well-being, the crap our other closest neighbor and I have been through with him the last 3 years has been insane. Ans now this poor dog will pay for his total uselessness.

 

[swampducks]

He's got all kinds of ear stuff, he doesn't use it because the dog won't let him touch his ears. I've gotten to the point where I can rub his ears but the second he sees or smells anything coming near his ears he starts fighting you. He's not my dog so I can't manhandle him. So the ears stay bad. The vet treated him initially and provided the drugs but that was it. I've suggested a muzzle. My suggestions are ignored. And at this point his ears are the least of the problem, the problem is whether I can save this dog's life because his owner has given up without even trying. He's ignored all the problems until they went out of control. He's a perfect example of someone who shouldn't have any pets of any kind. But thanks for the info anyway. I've used it quite effectively on my own dogs in the past.

First- about the ear problem. Have him purchase Otic HC by Zymox ( I got it through Amazon) it comes with pain relief as well. Then have him take the dog to the vet & get his ear problems cleared up. After that use the otic twice a week ( put a couple of drops in each ear) for a month or so, after that once a week will work. I have a german shepard that has had cronic ear infections forever, I tried everything and still ended up at the vets several times a year. The otic isn't cheap, but its cheaper than the vet and STOPS the infections. He will be shocked at the difference no pain makes to the dog's temperment.. Then find the dog a new home, making sure they know about his ears.

 

[NovaAman]

Hmmm... Well, I'd call a rescue group... If you think he can be rehabbed. Poor dog.

 

[Sherise CCL]

Hi guys!!

Does anyone know of a close place in Oakland County that processes chickens? Or maybe a mobile unit?

 

[chicken grandma]

Just FYI if anyone wants goats or potbelly pigs - there are some listed at

farmanimal.rescueme.org/Michigan

 

[Juise]

Juise is behind again already, but did read far enough to see the bit about screen-printing. Juise does do screen-printing. Juise even does it in the U.S.A. - Juise promises not to fly overseas just to print them, although she would be open to that if you wanted her to and were willing to pay. Juise can print both shirts and bags if she is notified in time. Juise suggests these totes, although she does not know what price range or size you are looking for, but they are made in the U.S.A. Let Juise know if interested.

Additionally, Juise believes that it is after 4 in the morning, and that she really ought to be in bed by now. G'night.