Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Living the Simple Life]

Quote: John:

What rabbits are your brining to CS? We may be looking for some...unless I can convince DH to hold off for another year....of course, that could easily turning into another year...I am trying to convince myself to just take the plunge.....

 

[Living the Simple Life]

Quote: John:

What rabbits are your brining to CS? We may be looking for some...unless I can convince DH to hold off for another year....of course, that could easily turning into another year...I am trying to convince myself to just take the plunge.....
That should read "bringing"....never thought about brining a rabbit...brining then bbq....hmmm...I may have to do some research on this.

 

[minniefarm]

Interesting post as I am struggling with this right now. My girls (hopefully anyway) are just about 6 weeks old and I want to move them outside because I feel like they're too crowded in the brooder. I put a light out there last night so as to check this a.m. what the temp. was. It was 54 degrees, and the low last night was supposed to be about 31, and will be around that for the next 10 days anyway. At any rate, seems like I'm safe putting the outside, yes?

I would think so. My chicks are in my basement, which is 50 degrees consistently. They very rarely go under the ecoglow for warmth now. I have no other heat source for them. They are 4 weeks now. I am planning on putting them out in the coop in 2 weeks. I'm hoping it hits 50+ today so I can take them out to the garden playpen for a while. Keeps them safe, contained and outside during the day.

 

[ladyrsanti]

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[HollyDuckFarmer]

I sure did!! It was yummy ! Are you going to sell any this year?

I saw free sap on CL-- Saginaw maybe? No free pallets (everybody seems to be charging this year! Whats up with that!) or Runners either. My hatches are do far failing miserably this year... Only one actually made it out and I had to help it along. Anyway that one didn't make the night. So I ended up getting 3 Pekins for my 2 Old Ladies to co-parent. Almost 2 weeks into the adoption and so far so good. Only thing is that the Moms want to keep them outside, but I think I know better to allow that. LOL hey RaZ, I saw that you are a Sempter, or male seamstress, did you ever post any pics of your feed bags? I've been seeing purses + wallets and Etsy and o my poor checkbook. Them creative people amaze me!

 

[Nigellas]

This is my 3rd year pining for ducks. I'm thinking I should just do it. Maybe just 2? Any suggestions on what kind? Nothing too loud, we have close neighbors. I think Muscovies would be a good fit for our situation (no natural water source, nothing too loud), though I am hopeful for duck eggs too, and I know they aren't a good choice for that. Any other ideas? Or are ducks a terrible idea? They will not be free-range, (don't want to deal with the runny duck poop and my barefoot kids) the run space I can devote to them would be about 5 x 20, and I have an XL dog house (3x5) that I was thinking of using for them....

 

[1muttsfan]

When talking about keeping animals for any purpose, there are still minimum care requirements that don't constitute "spoiling" - such as providing for minimal requirements for food, water, and shelter (including proper temperature). Your young birds would likely benifit from heat supplied when the temps go down at night. Young animals that are too cold grow more slowly and have less immunity to illness, and probably also just feel cold at times, probably survivable but not what might be considered a good quality of life.

 

[RaZ]

No, I have not posted any photos of my crafty stuff. I should do that. I also should get busy and start making some. So many projects so little time...plus I get easily distracted these days. (I can't say that I've heard a male sewer called a Sempter though.)

I am applying to sell at the local Farmer's Market and trying to get ready for that. They have a new governing body this year and it is pretty political in nature. They seem to be moving away from farm goods into the arena of arts and crafts.

I'm also getting my paperwork in order for MAEAP certification and my upcoming trial. Add in the Ag Commissioner's meeting and GAAMPs committee meetings next week, I have a pretty full plate. I need to clone some helpers or something.

 

[RaZ]

Spring cleaning has commenced...
I found a few quarts of canned beets so I am making pickled eggs this afternoon while I do battle with Demon Dust Bunnies and dog fur tumble weeds.

I have not been able to collect a single egg all day...every time I go out there is a different hen sitting on the nest. Four comfy nestboxes and they all have to use the same one.

 

[wanaBfarmer]

This is my 3rd year pining for ducks. I'm thinking I should just do it. Maybe just 2? Any suggestions on what kind? Nothing too loud, we have close neighbors. I think Muscovies would be a good fit for our situation (no natural water source, nothing too loud), though I am hopeful for duck eggs too, and I know they aren't a good choice for that. Any other ideas? Or are ducks a terrible idea? They will not be free-range, (don't want to deal with the runny duck poop and my barefoot kids) the run space I can devote to them would be about 5 x 20, and I have an XL dog house (3x5) that I was thinking of using for them....

I had 2 ducks for the last 4 years and they were very entertaining,but messy like you said. We did let ours roam the yard and had a run and house for them that we kept them in at night. They pooped alot inside the house so you are going to want to clean that regularly, it wasn't as bad in summer especially when my female would make a nest and lay eggs. I think she kept the male out for the most part. Again if you aren't free ranging (sp?) then your house and run might be a little messier than mine. I can't tell you what breeds mine were because they were a TSC impulse buy, the male was all white and would get a little aggressive in the spring and summer. I think he was just protecting his lady. They were both pretty quiet though, only getting loud when they got seperated or saw me coming with food in the morning.
Sadly they are no more though, somthing killed my male about a week ago and the female was just wondering around looking for him, she went to a friends house with several more ducks and a huge pond. They said she is doing great and very happy.
Ducks are pretty good pets I think, they are just a little messy, but if you can deal with that then I think you'll be happy.