Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

Sorry to disagree, but raw meat diets come with the hefty risk of food-born infections such as salmonella - especially for animals that are malnourished and likely to have decreased immune system function. Not to mention the risk to puppies with immature and inexperienced immune systems.

 

[Bianca67]

One of my hens thinks she is a duck (big egg)

 

[mrcush]

So I turned the timer light to come on at dusk and stay on for about an hour or so and my girls are back up on the roost instead of sleeping in they're nesting boxes! Must have been to dark for them to get to the roost.

 

[snowflake]

So I've been playing around with different treats for our girls and have learned so far they love my homemade suet, warm oatmeal and popcorn! Any other suggestions would be great!

I put split pea's and sunflower seeds mixed in with scratch,

I found it!!!
Thank goodness for the seach this thread feature!

do you cook that or feed raw? just curious
Quote:Momma is lucky you got her when you did she is very thin, you may need to give her calcium supplements, everything she had has gone to the pups, poor thing
I like the brindle too

Opa, very nice photo, you should have it framed
Do any of you horse people give sweet feet to the chickens? Wondered if they would like it

Mine will eat anything I throw to them, not picky at all

 

[NovaAman]

Sorry to disagree, but raw meat diets come with the hefty risk of food-born infections such as salmonella - especially for animals that are malnourished and likely to have decreased immune system function. Not to mention the risk to puppies with immature and inexperienced immune systems.

I wouldn't feed raw meat to puppies. However, I think fresh raw meat to the mother alone... And while it is true that both ecoli and salmonella, by purchasing good quality meats and storing and using with in 2-3 days of purchase, you will run less of a risk of either of these as a potential problem. Never feed feed a raw foods diet to puppies under 4 weeks of age, and then only slowly ween them from nursing, and then slowly start them on to it. All in all, you will have to make your own decision on it. Research it. I never had a dog get sick from either salmanella or ecoli and I have had a dog of one kind or another for the last 20 years.

 

[BobBry]

I'm saddened to learn of lost goats, Abused animals of any kind, chickens preyed upon, Injured/infi,rmed friends or family. I'm pleased to learn of fish caught, opportunities seized, Puppies rescued, lessons learned, help offered, offenses forgiven, "goodness".

MY fishing trip ended well. I got home.... Almost four hours late, after wife and son worried a lot. Actually, I sorta did too. Briefly, Perch are biting. White Lake is about six miles end to end. Boat ramp is 12 blocks from our house. I left home at 3 pm expecting to return at 5:30 ish. At about 17:00 I up anchored and headed back up the lake... 6 mi. Who fishes at the end of the lake they live near????? I was shocked when the outboard slowed and stopped as if out of gas. Almost. I thought I had checked it and had enough for the trip. Wind was in my favor, blowing me homeward at about .4 mph according to the GPS. I had a flash of brilliance. The trolling motor, Slow but better than .4, Not used all year, it refused to work now. (then) Common wind !!! Thinking, Regretting, Flash again. Tilt the gas can, outtake is at the end. --- Worked. Set speed at 5 MPH and crawled the length of lake to within half a mile of ramp. Motor quit for real that time. Only a paddle in boat . No wind now. Cleared space in bow, started paddling. progressed slowly s l o w l y . toward ramp. Breeze , gentle, came up impeding progress. Paddled harder. Hurt more. I don't do that stuff much any more. Noted less progress ramp-ward. --Ono progress. Not the breeze ! Outboard is down, stuck in sandy bottom. Not used to the direct route to ramp, I was hung up in water much shallower than expected. (lake level is down at least 4 feet from 3 years ago. Hadn't fished much this year. Tilted outboard up and again made progress, using paddle as a pole to push boat. When 10 - 15 yards from shore, (head lamp luckily stuffed in pocket when leaving house, why ?) Now well after dark. Knew I couldn't make the ramp. Too T I R E D . Wind, no longer a breeze is in my face, when my face is facing where I want to go. I'm drifting back, no no no. Free some anchor line and pitch it overboard. I'm stopped, sorta. Soooooo t i r e d. Want to lie down. How am I going to get to shore ? Depth now makes polling out of question. I switch light to red and flash dit dit dit, dah dah ddah, dit dit dit; repeatedly, toward the homes on the top of the hill above the shore. four or five minutes and I realize the futility.

Hell, who would even know what that meant nowadays? ( ( I really do know who.)

Some of my most enjoyable times have been had while fishing.

I concentrate on finding a way out of this mess I've put myself in.

Hands freezing, sweat dripping into my eyes, water 41 degrees, insulated hunting suit doing a great job.

Idea, throw anchor toward shore and pull boat after it. 15 pounds. more sweat, BUT it's working !! Six foot by six foot stretch. Pay out more line. Optimistic thought. I get a bit more distance with the longer line.. Each labored throw and pull drags the boat closer to the pitch black cattail covered shore.

Then, the boat does not move, too shallow, I don't screw this chance up. over the side I go. Icy water fills my left boot immediately but not the right . I have the bow line in my hand and pull the boat toward shore. It's Beaching. !! Suddenly the Holiday lites in the yards above look more cheerful.

I strain at the bow line. My heavy, size 13, boots dig into the mud. Inch by inch i pull the boat up on the beach. Lungs burn. Arms don't want to bend any more. The long ago ruptured bicep in each arm reminds me of how stupid I am.

I pay out 20 feet more of anchor line and am satisfied the boat will remain all night on the beach even if the wind increases lots.

I struggle through the cattails and mud toward the picnic area fire pit someone has constructed above the high water line.

Lights from the houses on the hill top beacon and i force myself to place one foot in front of the other. Five, ten thirty feet. I stop and gasp for breath. The heavier left boot seems to stick in the beach sand. I force myself onward. Ten yards more, 30, 50. I rest at the bottom of the hill.

The driveway is blacktop paved. Easier to walk on but the hill is steep and i stop every ten yards or less to bend over and breathe deeply. Lungs burn, heart pounds and I'm dizzy. I would sit but am sure Would fall and roll down the steep slope. I flash my light at the house and struggle on. Flash light, lean forward, step, flash, lean step. I'm right below the deck two stories above, I see a man inside looking at me I flash the light at him. He comes out onto the deck. Don't remember what he said. I pleaded for help in a shaky almost cry. He said he would call my son.

He did. I finished the final ten yards to the top of the hill by the front of the house. Mr ... Came out and offered drink and for me to come into the house. I, covered with mud just sat on the steps and thanked him, Resting, resting resting.

I, as you can tell, made it home.

 

[NovaAman]

Oh what a trial! I am glad you are safe home!

 

[BobBry]

Felt I had to post before I lost it. I'll edit later, maybe.

 

[NovaAman]

I thought it was very well told post.

 

[1muttsfan]

I have seen dogs die of food poisoning before - one dog I knew died of salmonella from eating raw contaminated eggs.

If you feed the dam raw meat that has bacteria in it, the puppies WILL be exposed by their mother licking them and herself. You can not tell if meat has bacteria on it just by looking or smelling it. Ground meat is more dangerous, as it has a much larger surface area for bacteria to grow on.