Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

It looks like we have a chicken win in Garden City. The guy whose case was moved to Wayne prevailed. The judge's opinion will be available shortly.

 

[tdhenson86]

I came back to several hundred pages to catch up on: I skimmed.
The past few months have been full of internship. I should graduate in May.
Our two hens are doing well. Our Australorp decided to start a molt last month, but it was only her neck and head. Lots of yogurt and other protein, and her feathers are growing in nicely now.
Nice to kind of catch up.

Awesome! What will you be graduating with?

 

[SillyChicken]

Where I work, there is a neighboring farm that breeds Jacob and Shetland sheep. Very nice setup. If I was ever going to have sheep, it would be Jacob or Icelandics.
Bella really like the Christmas tree branch, so I will give her more and give the rest to the steers and Maybelle.

Ohhhhhhhhhh? Do you know the name of the farm?

 

[SillyChicken]

No need to take anything to this meeting. There is nothing about GAAMPs or RTFA on the agenda. I'm going as a representative of MSFC (Michigan Small Farm Council).
I'm trying to develop a decent resume and cover letter to get to the powers that be who (whom?) form the committees. I'm having writer's block...

These public meetings are extremely fascinating to attend. You might be surprised at the topics covered. Everything from the Michigan Wine Industry to low water on the Mississippi affecting crop movement to the ag banks supporting GMO crops and livestock.

I think I'll invite the commissioners to Chickenstock.

PS, more letters support backyard flocks will certainly help. Mention my name.

Hate to ask, (again) but who would be the best to send any letters too at this point? My ADHD kicking in!

 

[Farmerboy16]

Where I work, there is a neighboring farm that breeds Jacob and Shetland sheep. Very nice setup. If I was ever going to have sheep, it would be Jacob or Icelandics.

Bella really like the Christmas tree branch, so I will give her more and give the rest to the steers and Maybelle.

Ohhhhhhhhhh?   Do you know the name of the farm?

Better yet, here is their website.
http://www.hillsidejacobs.com/2.html

 

[ladyrsanti]

Better yet, here is their website.

http://www.hillsidejacobs.com/2.html

Mine are from Sweetgrass where I see Hillside draws from as well. Awesome.

 

[theron]

Better yet, here is their website.

http://www.hillsidejacobs.com/2.html

Those are some very beautiful animals they have. If we had more space, I would love to get some jacob and shetland sheep.

 

[Stacykins]

I know nothing of goats. Do they eat brush other than coniferous trees? I have a pile of maple and hickory brush from the wood loads. It is a boatload to try to grind up.

Absolutely! Goats are not grass grazers like sheep, instead they are browsers. They'd rather eat shrubby trees, weeds, and brush rather than grass alone. They'll eat a lot of things that cattle and sheep won't touch. There are things that are toxic to them, but they can eat some plants that are toxic to other herbivores, such as black walnut (some people actually use black walnut as a natural wormer for goats). That list of plants isn't complete, but it is a good idea of some things they can have.

 

[RaZ]

Hate to ask, (again) but who would be the best to send any letters too at this point? My ADHD kicking in!

Address your letters to the chair of each committee (full committee list can be found on the last page of each GAAMP) http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1567_1599_1605---,00.html

Consider your operation and which set of GAAMPs might apply to you. This process takes place every year.

Manure Management/Utilization
Dr. Dale Rozeboom - Chair
MSU – Dept. of Animal Science
474 West Shaw, Rm 2209
22091 Anthony Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 355-8398
[email protected]

Site Selection
Dr. Wendy Powers-Chair
MSU – Dept. of Animal Science
and Biosystems
and Agricultural Engineering
2209G Anthony Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1225
(517) 432-3849
[email protected]

Care of Farm Animals
Dr. Janice Swanson -
Chair
MSU Animal Science
2265A Anthony Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824
[email protected]
(517) 432-4134

Pesticide Utilization/Pest Control
Dr. Larry Olsen-Chair
Entomology Department
Michigan State University
18B Food Safety &
Toxicology
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-355-8421
[email protected]

 

[RaZ]

Absolutely! Goats are not grass grazers like sheep, instead they are browsers. They'd rather eat shrubby trees, weeds, and brush rather than grass alone.

Good info. Now who has a goat or 2 that wants to visit my brush piles?