Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[lbrykowski2011]

Hope to see some of you at Fowl Fest Saturday. Anyone? Also, I've still got Belgian d'Uccle bantam males to go, and one black Ameracauna cockrel. Mary

Me and my hubby are going. I have only had a few chickens for a few mos. so hoping to go learn some and maybe get a few more, if they sell any there. I learn so much from here.

 

[Stacykins]

I'm getting back in the saddle again!!!

It has been about ten years since I've ridden a horse. Well, I knew my neighbor 1/4 a mile away with a big horse boarding farm did lessons, English not Western. But what I didn't know is that they have a horse that can handle a heavier rider. I wasn't planning on any lessons until I lose a lot of my fluff (working on it). So I will be starting weekly lessons! I'll have to go back to square one, since it has been so long, but it'll be awesome! I

And her prices for a lesson are ultra reasonable, $35 an hour! To put this into perspective, when I was a teen and taking lessons, the place I was at cost $80 an hour. I can budget $35 a week easily, especially for something I enjoy so much.

My father, who used to ride all the time as a young man (my grandmother had a Morgan mare), is thinking of starting up lessons again, too. The few times I've seen him ride, he is a natural, even after years of no practice. Once, he even rode on horseback to Petra with some other Navy officers! I wish they had digital cameras back then, because pictures of that trip would have been amaaazing.

 

[RaZ]

Ditto!
Maybe if I plant enough of them around my yard with a ton of mulch the birds will stay away from my neighbor's

Sounds good on paper, the reality is that even a small flock will decimate a hosta garden in the time it takes to turn around twice.
Mulch is a playground for them. Especially when it is in a forbidden garden.

I think it best if we try to keep our chickens in our own yards. I've learned that even the best neighbor can turn on you in an heartbeat. And my chickens never left the yard!

If you would like to protect your neighbor's garden, you can try laying wire fencing flat on the ground around the base of the plants, deters scratching, or cover them with bird netting.

Fencing on the ground might deter the scratching but the plants will still get eaten. I used black plastic fencing around my hosta bed after losing it the first year I had walking garbage disposals, I mean chickens. You can get it in green or black and is barely visible.

Where and when is fowl fest? I would like to go
I think. Never been

I think it is at the same place as last year.

The Birch Run exit 136 on I-75. On the west side of the freeway.

ETA: This is their website. http://www.fowlfest.org/

 

[preciouskitty]

Quote:
I am perfectly cool with them decimating anything in my yard; keep my garden fenced off. The only way to keep them out of neighbor's yard is to run a fence all the way down our lot line...between us we share about 11 acres; plus the 80 acres of woods & marsh behind us. They actually like the chickens alot! AND, a fence would take away the ability for their labs to share our acreage & run around like goof balls! BUT, we may have to put something up...because, you are right, in the time it takes me to run next door when I see a few of them have secretly snuck over thru the marsh (which a fence wouldn't help with)..man, they make a mess (I have caught them while just in the mulch...only got one hosta leaf last time). Neighbor & I are discussing solution; at the moment, birds are spending a little more time in their pen...

 

[RaZ]

This came to my inbox. If you have FB, you can vote to help this farmer get a commercial during the Super Bowl.
https://www.smallbusinessbiggame.com/MN/Locally-Laid-Egg-Company/382873

 

[Trefoil]

I know that I don't post often...well rarely, however I do follow and learn. I came across this and thought immediately of everyone here that may appreciate this.

Quote: If I remember right, the neighbor is landscaping for a special event. If so, then the easiest way to protect without limiting your chickens and her dogs is to buy 2' fencing or the cheap garden fencing,temporary posts and fence off her valuables. I use the 2'fencing and it works because I'm fencing everything out,not in. Its not too expensive and its re useable. Good luck

 

[mara1]

Hi everyone
sorry for losses anyone has had and congrats to all victories. Been under the weather.
Hoping to go to fowl fest Sun. also.

 

[gaitngirl]

Hey all! The foster dogs (well, the ringleader anyway) killed another of my Muscovy ducks. A young drake this time that flew over or into the dog pen area. My son and I had clipped the girls wings after the last two losses but hadn't been able to do all of the boys yet. I heard it happen right after they went out this morning and ran out but it was too late. I took the drake's body and soaked it in cold water, bagged it, and he's in the fridge. I've never processed poultry before - I don't even know if I should being as the dog killed him. He hasn't been bled out - his neck was broken, I think. There is a bite mark on his neck and his leg.
Does anyone know if it's too late to process him? He's been kept cold since it happened . . .

 

[gaitngirl]

Never mind - from what I'm reading, it looks like he should have been bled out or soaked in a salt solution. I will give him a proper burial

.

 

[RTFchickens]

Gaitngirl, sorry about your duck :-(