Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[morrisonmanor]

So, so sorry about your loss. Last winter I had the exact thing happen to my flock. I never did find out who's dog it was. I feel you pain and heartache. I hope some make it through. My entire flock and 1 rabbit were killed.

 

[Opa]

I think that this is one morning that I will have to work a little harder than usual to think positively about the coming day. I awoke at 3am unable to get back to sleep. So that's a negative. Then I noticed my old dog was squatting in the family room rather than asking to go outside. Another negative. So I quickly picked her up before the throw rung she was standing on got wet. So chalk up a positive.

I learned something new. So add another positive. What I learned is that it is possible for a dog to urinate while being carried. Informative but not necessarily a positive acquisition. Only after carrying her outside did I discover the trail from the family room thru the kitchen, out thru the living room to the front door. Another on the minus side. Also found found that it wasn't as bad as it could have been since a large percentage soak my shirt tail as I carried her by my side. Positive? Kind of shaky but I'll count it as a plus to keep the day from becoming too bad.

When I went to the front door to let her back in I found that sometime during the night she had taken a dump right in front of it. Got to put that in the negative column. However since I was barefoot when I had carried her to the door in the dark and somehow didn't step in it I will have to weight that heavily on the plus side.

I've finished 3 crossword puzzle while consuming two cups of coffee and I'm now working on my third so add another positive. I had intended to go hunting this morning but last night a customer called asking for help this morning so that's another negative. Of course I'll be paid for my efforts so another on the positive side.

The temperature gauge is currently reading 3 degrees and I'm sure it will continue to fall before sunrise, so that is definitely another minus for the day. However had I not had the client call I would be sitting in my deer blind trying to stay warm so I think I just might have to count that as another plus.

I guess where all this mental meandering is headed is to the conclusion that each day has both good and bad and sometimes it takes a little more effort to realize the good. So put for the effort. It pays dividends.

 

[ladyrsanti]

Sorry to hear about the massacre. I hope you or someone gets a hold of those dogs and has them dealt with and that your injured chickens pull through. That's a lot of stress for this time of year, what with the cold temps and all. Try and take it easy. Roll with it as much as possible.

Daron, your cow is beautiful. Is that the good news you texted me about but didn't follow up with? I have an old flip phone with a number pad so texting isn't easy and my plan charges by the text. I know, I'm way behind on technology. Good luck with the birth. I plan to buy a couple of more glass jars so we can keep a set with you. That was a great idea. The funny part of DH breaking the third jar was that he broke it in the rental car he was driving while his was in the shop after the deer "attack". Something ran out in front of him after he picked up the milk that evening and he hit the brakes sending the jars lurching forward. I had to laugh. I mean, sad that he wasted a half gallon of milk but funny because it's SO something he would do in a car that wasn't his. He said it had a slightly funky odor when he returned the car to the rental agency, lol. What did he learn? Always secure your milk in the vehicle.

Congrats on the coop of the week. I've always loved that coop, well-deserved.

I'm so pleased with the amount of light my chickens are getting in their new coop. This time of year, last year, they were spending almost all their days in the barn. Even with the lights on in the barn, it's like a cave. I wouldn't even attempt to take a picture without a flash in there. But I went out yesterday and took a picture in the new coop and didn't even remotely come close to needing a flash. Sooooooo relieved they're getting good, natural light. No frostbite yet (had that problem last year when it got cold like this). I get in there and I don't want to go back out into the cold and wind. I've just got a rubber bucket for water, on the cinder block. Still need to get the poop boards in though.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

I'm so sorry chickenwhispers. I hope your remaining flock will recover

 

[taprock]

I am so sorry chickwhispers. I remember that unreal feeling of crying and surveying damage. Being the bad guy I say call the police. It will not change things for you now but it may be something you need to do for the future. Our neighbors dogs killed some birds and they paid for everything, however they never keep their dogs home until after we called the police and they talked to them. I hope your remaining girls make it. Chickens are resilient.

Opa, aging pets are a heartbreaker.

We are at the "warm" temp of 12. It is the first in three days DH hasn't been called in the wee hours. Yesterday's appointment for my son went well. It seems he doesn't have new allergies but that his deviated septum is much worse, to the point the dr's scope wouldn't go in all the way. So more appointments to see a ENT about possible surgery. My son says "mom I only want it done if I get to stay overnight in the hospital". After his appendix last year he thinks the hospital is a great place to be, and to be fair they made it too fun as he was the only pediatric patient when he was in.

I'm not sure if I am opening coops today or not. The wind isn't bad now but it is supposed to pick up. I'm working so I won't be home to close them up if it starts blowing.

 

[chickwhispers]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers. I am going take pictures of all of it but haven't decided what I am going to do next. I have to go to town for more Vetricyn. I may stop and file a report at the sheriffs office. And I am going up the road to the place with the German Shepherd. To show them what their dog did. Maybe they'll get a stronger chain or put up a kennel or something. But I doubt it. For now the remaing hens will be cooped up until all panels of the run are in place and they are well. I know dogs are doing what comes naturally but if you have a big powerful dog it should be controlled. What if my grandkids were outside. Would they have gone for them? Just scary.

 

[snowflake]

I am so sorry Chickenwhisper.

love pearl, she is so sweet, wish I had the $$ and energy to put up fence, I would get a milker.

 

[RTFchickens]

Chickenwhispers I'm so so sorry for your loss!!!
I hope the surviving do ok!

 

[lbrykowski2011]

Chickwhispers- so sorry for your loss. Mine free range and i hear a dog that barks about a mile away, I always worry if 1 day he were to get loose cuz sometimes it happens. My neighbor's dog once a yr or so would get away when the cable would snap. I think more often in the cold temps too and she even had a coated metal chain, medium dog. I'm lucky he never bothered the chickens, but she always kept him chained and once in awhile he would just get that break of freedom. Def talk to them and let them know what happened and by their response you should know how to handle it.

ladyrsanti-that coop is so nice, the windows and space. Plenty of room to roam in these temps n be inside. Chicken Paradise

Opa-I think you had something on a bully chicken. I put Ruby back in the coop the night before after treating everyone and when i let them out in the morning, I hung around for awhile. Sure enough it was 1 chicken goin after her constantly, would follow her n the coop and run and peck anybody on her way by. The roo stayed by Ruby, but the other girl was a bit relentless. Don't know why after months of being together, but Ruby is way smaller. So i have Ivory(EE) in the kennel in the garage now for a time out. How long do u think I should wait to put her back in and see how she does? Thanks, Lana

 

[gladahmae]

When he had our dog issue in July the police dispatcher said to call animal control. He came out and made a report, and the owner got a big fat ticket when he picked the dog up (someone else caught it and took it in because after it got into the chickens it got into a porcupine.) I am so sorry for your loss of chickens. It really stinks when that happens.