Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Maah]

So, finally getting back on, I swear the animals are going to be the death of me. When we went to do chores last night, my horse had managed to tangle himself in the wire fence...Thank God it was not plugged in!!! So then one of the others took off on a run, he followed and ripped down the fencing, he didn't get hurt, how I don't know... In the mean time the mini got loose, she however ran into the sharp edge on a stablizer foot for a hay feeder by the trees, managed to do a pretty major number on her neck. I would say a gaping whole at least 4"x6" ughhhh I swear. Not too much blood but lots of skin missing. I figure I shouldn't post the pics here LOL On a lighter note birds are all happy and healthy... I got to be there when one of the girls laid her egg today and picked it up before it even dried! Exciting haha

Wow... ! Sounds like an exciting evening, but except for getting the egg, not exciting in a good way. Hope your mini heals okay.

 

[Opa]

Went to Tractor Supply yesterday for feed and they have all their chicks marked down to $1. Looked at them going to the feed. Looked at them longer as I went to check out. Somehow managed to get out of there with only the 100 pounds of feed that I went for. Miracles do happen.


The crossword puzzle is done, the news has all be read, still an hour before I need to give Granny her meds, and it's still to dark to watch out the windows for wildlife. I hate this stupid time change.

 

[taprock]

Just that therapy has helped decrease meltdowns and her insights have not only helped our house run smoother, but also helped me understand his needs better than any OT or PT was able to.

So my house has a sand table, water table, rice tub, lots of play dough.... We have a large bathtub and only keep the pool because Clark is a fish. He loves the sensory input from water.

Yes, from years 4 -8 meltdowns were normal all day. I remember the first holiday we didn't have to drag him out screaming, it was incredible. We had a bathtub of oatmeal, spandex bag, weighted blanket and heavy wagons for pulling around the yard. We started home school because of the SID. All of first grade was done in his underwear standing at the kitchen table, otherwise there was too many distractions. My son also has Apraxia of speech and didn't talk until he was almost 5 so that added to the fun.

The crossword puzzle is done, the news has all be read, still an hour before I need to give Granny her meds, and it's still to dark to watch out the windows for wildlife. I hate this stupid time change.

I have always been envious of those who can get up early - before sunrise. I think of all I could get done but when it actually comes to happening.... well it doesn't!

Dh just got his workman's comp recommendation back and it looks like he will have surgery in his future. The thing is they may just put him on restrictions for 6 months first and then the surgery if it doesn't improve. If he really needs surgery I want him to have it now. If he can't move, lift or do anything that will leave it all up to me around the house.

And I had so many projects planned for him..... he just didn't know it yet.

 

[Brethren49619]

Put 24 eggs into lockdown on Monday night, various breeds and mixes. This is a test run of my new incubator as well as fertility. Refused to candle this time, no touching except to remove them from the auto turner. This morning, two have pipped, and one of those rocking like crazy.

It's my day off today. Guess what I'll be doing? LOL! Keeping my fingers crossed to see what actually hatches. Fun, no matter what.
And a BO decided to go broody about a week ago. Perfect timing. No need to set up a brooder.

 

[RaZ]

I guess I was a day early, Opa. They were 50% off on Monday. I walked out with 4 Mallards but went back for 2 runners. I'm blaming the cute TSC girl for talking me into them in the first place.

Woke up to white stuff on the ground. I thought we were done with this nonsense. But the sun is shining in a cloudless sky and I better get some chores done. I'll save the crossword until lunch.

 

[snowflake]

Just stopped by to say hello. I am a new member from Suttons Bay, Mich; that is north of Traverse City. Ihave 15 hens and rooster. and I'm thinking of getting Indian runner ducks.

I run a historic farmstay inn where my guests come for historic dinners, classes and overnights. They love my chickens!

Susan Odom
http://hillsidehomestead.com
http://facebook.com/hillsidehomestead

welcome

NICE set up

Hey all! So I am pretty new to this forum and also new to the world of ducks! I am getting 10 within the next few months and I plan on showing them when they get older! I was just wonder where some shows are in Michigan that I could attend? I looked up the fowl fest and will probably be visiting that one this spring!

welcome

I'm a newbie here from the UP. Trying to get a feel for how to get started- we eat eggs like crazy!! (Bought 5 doz eggs last tues and here one wk later there's one left) for a fam of 4 egg eaters we better get our own!! So I'll just be stalking the forums trying to figure things out. Getting my FILs coop and haven't decided whether to get chicks or layers. Meat birds would be nice too

So- Hi!!

pros and cons to both,,, chicks are so much FUN but you have to wait (depending on the breed ) 3 or more months for eggs
pullets cost more to start but you are not feeding them to that age,chicks hand raised may be friendlier to people but that can also depend greatly on the breed.......

you could do some of each , you can never have enough, there are so many breeds and egg colors to chose from
Have fun,and welcome

Wish all of Michigan towns and city did this.... and the entire country....

to all Newbies!!!

This is my 2nd oldest. He was reading a book to the chick. He likes to lay back and let them walk on his chest..... and yes, he picked out his outfit.



(There is an adult on the other side of the baby)
This is my youngest boy.

No one kissed the chicks or let them close to their mouth. everyone washed their hands before and after... and changed clothes just because Mama told them to.

love the picks cute kids and chicks

Yes, that is the older name for it... Not meaning to date anyone or anything, but the new books have it called Sensory Processing Disorder. We pay out of pocket for his sensory therapist. I think she is a godsend! Just that therapy has helped decrease meltdowns and her insights have not only helped our house run smoother, but also helped me understand his needs better than any OT or PT was able to. And she is really great with trying cheap and easy sensory things first. We noticed that when Clark chose to sleep in his beanbag (a small one) that he slept for more than 3-4 hours at night. He would be up the rest of the time. No nap. He is 5 1/2. So not one old enough to keep out of things. Well, in a beanbag, he will sleep 6 or more hours! So, we bought a bigger beanbag and I am in the process of making a beanbag mattress for their bunk bed. Nothing fancy, but I know it sounds crazy to some people, but they have huge sensory needs. I know some more than others. My friend has a son that has massive sensory needs compared to my Clark. lol So my house has a sand table, water table, rice tub, lots of play dough.... We have a large bathtub and only keep the pool because Clark is a fish. He loves the sensory input from water.

Yes, from years 4 -8 meltdowns were normal all day. I remember the first holiday we didn't have to drag him out screaming, it was incredible. We had a bathtub of oatmeal, spandex bag, weighted blanket and heavy wagons for pulling around the yard. We started home school because of the SID. All of first grade was done in his underwear standing at the kitchen table, otherwise there was too many distractions. My son also has Apraxia of speech and didn't talk until he was almost 5 so that added to the fun.
I have always been envious of those who can get up early - before sunrise. I think of all I could get done but when it actually comes to happening.... well it doesn't!

Dh just got his workman's comp recommendation back and it looks like he will have surgery in his future. The thing is they may just put him on restrictions for 6 months first and then the surgery if it doesn't improve. If he really needs surgery I want him to have it now. If he can't move, lift or do anything that will leave it all up to me around the house.

And I had so many projects planned for him..... he just didn't know it yet.

children with special needs are a real challenge and change your life for ever, but they are also a great blessing, teaching us so much

learn to enjoy them you will learn so much about them and your self

 

[fuzzybutt love]

I'm playing around with some colour pallets and planning what to do this year. So many projects, so little time.

I'm still on my green and peach kick. Hard to find green flowers! I want to ask the neighbors for a piece of their hydrangea? bush, it has the big green flowers on it that stay green, not white or pink; and there was 2 cone flowers i was going between. I liked the coconut lime one but i think the green comes out more of the yellow green, and there was another that came out last year? can't remember name but looked more green. Center was green too, so lost the nice contrast of the green and brown though. Both peach AND green are not only hard for me to find, but apparently don't do well in MI for most varieties; i ended up getting an austin rose that claimed to be cold hardy; we'll see? Looks kinda funky to me the stems turned kinda red...

Some of you have d'uccles, right? We have one of those and 2 silkies. I know it'll be near fall before we know the gender of our silkies. When does a d'uccle start showing signs? Is it as delayed?

I have them, they mature quick. You should know within 3 weeks of birth, the roos will have red combs. The hatchery ones more quick than the breeder, i have had both. One of my hatchery boys thought he was mature at the 3 weeks, tried to mount and crow! Kinda funny, but not......I thought the roos were fairly nice though, only the early maturing one ever did anything bad, and that was kicking my ankle a few times but he allowed to be picked up so i just picked him up and held him to eye level (not close though! ) and had a stern talk. LOL. He outgrew it quickly. My other 2 and the one i have now were such softies, though only the naught one and the breeder one i have now were ever human friendly. The girls are mean to my hens though, my EE hens are huge compared to them and the littles still terrify them! LOL. I can't upload pics, but there are some on my profile. I wish i could share, but my birds have the CRD/ foamy eye during the winter. At some point when things get more settled down for me i want to get the denaguard and try the long-term dosing to see if it clears it up, in the US it is said to only reduce symptoms but in England it is said to cure, but has to be taken for quite some time to do so..........?

Thoughts on TSC coops; i have been eye-ing one and have a raincheck for one, the medium brown woodstained one with the little house, without the add on nestbox; I am wanting it for my girl that's going to be a house pet, but for now it has to be outside until i get the place; I already know that there needs to be a solid floor for me to trust my birds in it, but i was looking at the wire and wondering if a coon could pull it out?
Those over price coops don't look sturdy for the elements to me, but to have a large indoor bird and look good to a potential landlord i think i need a VERY nice cage, to show that i'm not going to trash the place. (I've seen animal damage in rented units, it's amazing what some people let their pets do to a place. Ruins it for the rest of us) I could build one sturdy, but probably not "pretty" LOL
I'm keeping my pet hen's last daughter, she's a winter raised pullet that don't know what "outside" is since they refused to wander into the snow, the d'uccle trio (Because they are tiny) and perhaps one other pullet. If anyone had a chocolate pullet i would be willing to pay the $$$ for her, i know the prices... But the d'uccles have a home for when i can't have the roo . So just 2 girls in there, not crowded.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Oh, and there will be chicken diapers for when i'm home. Just "because," LOL So they won't be stuck all day in there.

I will take the name of crazy bird lady with honor Always wanted a cockatoo, too expensive. Same size, and these ones will give me breakfast! Bwa ha ha ha ha ha!

 

[cuppycake]

Here we were all excited for spring and winter comes back last night. My husband got into an accident on the interstate this morning on his way to work. He's totally fine and says the truck is too, the other person not so much. Then he told me about how when the police talked to the other driver she said her neck and knee hurt but those were prior injuries. So good thing she said that to everyone so she can't come back later and try to sue us for injuries or something.

I was going to go spend the day shopping after doing morning chores but now I'm not so sure I want to be out and about.

 

[ladyrsanti]

Here we were all excited for spring and winter comes back last night. My husband got into an accident on the interstate this morning on his way to work. He's totally fine and says the truck is too, the other person not so much. Then he told me about how when the police talked to the other driver she said her neck and knee hurt but those were prior injuries. So good thing she said that to everyone so she can't come back later and try to sue us for injuries or something.

I was going to go spend the day shopping after doing morning chores but now I'm not so sure I want to be out and about.

Geeze! Glad everyone was okay. I have nightmares about my husband getting in an accident on the freeway. His drive to work is about 35miles one way and when you think about it, twice a day, five days a week... So far the worst that has happened is that he nodded off one morning and scraped an orange barrel (that was years ago when he commuted from Bedford to Ypsi or Canton or Jackson to Canton... can't remember which job exactly but one of those commutes anyway. He, not my kids, will be the lone cause of gray hair.