Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

I'm debating with myself if I should drive up to Traverse City tomorrow for the Ag Commissioner meeting. That would be 8-9 hours on the road for a 2 hour meeting.

There is nothing about chickens or small farming on the agenda but the discussion could go anywhere. Especially considering that both MDARD and the Farm Bureau have come out publicly in the last week or so AGAINST small farm operations.

 

[preciouskitty]

@chickwhisper

SOOOO sorry about your loss

Ok. It was just downright silly stupid cold this morning. When I got up around 3am, it was -1. Birds seemed fine. Really glad I have that waterer warmer, cuz water would never have made it while I was gone at work for 11 hours today.

Pretty sure all 5 eggs were frozen; though no cracks.

Saw someone ask about frostbite on combs & wattles. Should I/ we being doing anything? I looked over birds when I got home, don't see any apparent "black". And they are all still being wimps & won't leave run since there is "white stuff" on the ground! A few poked their heads out & ate a little snow!

I get to work from home tomorrow, so I'll leave door open all day & see if maybe they get bored enough...

 

[snowflake]

frost bite on combs and wattles is usually caused when they get wet and cold, to much moisture in the coop or wattles in the water font,

 

[ladyrsanti]

Molting chickens seem to get so skittish. Did you ever notice? They run and hide and scream when another hen comes near. She may have been to freaked out to fight for the food dish. I bought some Feather Fix pellets for the girls when they were molting. Seems to help speed things along. Oh, I put in separate bowl in a corner of the coop, sometimes even putting the dish in a nest, just to make it easier for them to get to the food. Give her extra protein, whatever you have. She'll calm down when she's separated and in a dark place. I'm lucky that I have a heated garage to put late molters in. Good luck

Thanks Chickflick. I might be able to rig something in the garage. It's not heated but I could set up the heat lamp in there no problem. This would be when a dog crate would come in super handy. But alas, I have none. I might be able to wheel the chicken tractor in there but it would be a pain with the deep snow drifts. It's currently way behind the barn. But it would be easier to acclimate her to the cold again when it "warms" and she has more feathers. I refuse to put the heat lamp in the new coop. I do have a nice grow out coop in the barn that would work but the extension cord is being used for the stock tank deicer, for the sheep, and I won't add another and risk burning the whole barn down. I've heard the horror stories.

Anyway, she seems normal after spending the afternoon upstairs in our music/chick room. I let her out to change the pee pad in the cage and she was pretty perky, talkative too. I like to hear the talking. That's a good sign. I covered her cage with a sheet to calm her down though because she was obviously looking for a place to roost and spilled her food and water.

 

[chickflick]

 

[snowflake]

I am at work but just got in a new children's picture book I had to share. It is a Jan Brett book called "Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella". It has wonderful illustrations and you can pick out all the breeds. My favorite is the Silkie fairy god mother and the prince appears to be a Phoenix.

where can you get the book, looks like a cute one to have for the grandkids?

There is nothing about chickens or small farming on the agenda but the discussion could go anywhere. Especially considering that both MDARD and the Farm Bureau have come out publicly in the last week or so AGAINST small farm operations.

maybe some one closer can attend, that is a long drive,a lot of gas, not very good road conditions,

 

[Trefoil]

Raz-- Can you remember where you saw their views posted,i.e. against small farms? It would be just like them to pass something when there was no one there to stop or protest it. Maybe its time we got a petition going to send to them. It was small farmers getting together that started farm bureau, maybe they have forgotten that.
So sorry about your losses Chickwhisperer. Farmerboy- I'm so glad you got Pearl- it sounds like you rescued her, she shouldn't have had her first calf until she was 2, I hope there's no lasting damage and you get a nice,healthy calf from her. She looks farther along than 7months, I hope she not, this is just tooooo cold for babies. I've been trying to keep up on the posts but haven't had anything to add, all I can think of is "I hate this weather".

 

[Scifisarah]

You need a chicken diaper!

Hah, I actually have one, but I can not for the life of me get it on. Maybe it is me, or maybe it is how stinking fluffy cochins are, I'm not sure. I usually just give up and decide it is easier to clean the floor.

 

[Scifisarah]

I am at work but just got in a new children's picture book I had to share. It is a Jan Brett book called "Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella". It has wonderful illustrations and you can pick out all the breeds. My favorite is the Silkie fairy god mother and the prince appears to be a Phoenix.

 

[Farmerboy16]

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.

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. 

Yup, that was the news that I was telling you about.
Oh dear, I understand about the slamming on the brakes and everything loose is flying forward part. Had that happen to me too many times to count.

Love your coop!