Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

LOVE split pea soup!!!   save the bone from my spiral hams just for that purpose   .  Had lots of damage from the ice storm, my two front trees lost many huge branches, one is a maple the other is a poplar, both at least 2.5 wide.  Not sure if they will survive this damage.  I hope someone will buy the maple, it is tall, straight and will make some nice cabinet boards for someone.  But after getting hit by lightning...then this ice storm, well...it doesn't have many branches left.  
One of my EE's is gurgling at times...no gaping, no signs of gunk in eyes, nose area...been like this for two weeks.  She runs out to eat treats, get water, etc...but still thinking I should maybe buy some Durmycin just in case?

I had the same thing earlier this summer with a couple of my pullets getting secondary respiratory infections after they had Fowl Pox. I treated 2x a day with 1/2 cc injection of Tylan but unfortunately I could only save one of the three birds that came down with it. Their symptoms at first was gurgling that turned into a wet wheezing and you could hear the fluid in their lungs every time they took a breath. My blue EE lasted almost a month, I thought she was over it and I stopped giving her the injections and she died a few days later. I hope you can treat her and get it under control. I would suggest Tylan 50 as it is stronger than Duramycin.

 

[Candy442]

I had the same thing earlier this summer with a couple of my pullets getting secondary respiratory infections after they had Fowl Pox. I treated 2x a day with 1/2 cc injection of Tylan but unfortunately I could only save one of the three birds that came down with it. Their symptoms at first was gurgling that turned into a wet wheezing and you could hear the fluid in their lungs every time they took a breath. My blue EE lasted almost a month, I thought she was over it and I stopped giving her the injections and she died a few days later. I hope you can treat her and get it under control. I would suggest Tylan 50 as it is stronger than Duramycin.

I was thinking it may be a form of MG after reading some of the posts about the symptoms. She is the only one that has this sound and it is intermittent. She and the other EE started a mild molt about two months ago and she does look like she has lost some weight. She has had this noise for a month now and it has me wondering since none of my other 12 birds have any sounds like this. I read that Duramycin is better for suspected MG from one post. Or maybe I should try worming? Over eight current layers, I am getting 4-6 eggs a day (both EE's have stopped laying completely for the last two months) so I really hate to do a worming, but maybe I should start there? I just got all these birds this year, all born around April through June, so they are pretty young. I am using no artificial heat or lights in the coop. It is all natural for these guys other than having the opportunity to free range from am to dusk (most of them hate the snow so we shovel a path to the dirt areas near the house foundation and in front of their run in the full sun

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I appreciate your answer because as I said she is down and around eating, chasing for goodies, and drinking water. It has been unseasonably cold and the ice storm is creating more moisture than we should have, but their coop is very dry thank goodness! It actually feels pretty nice in there considering the temps we have had recently.

Just not sure where to start...without taking her to the vet and there are no chicken vets other than MSU I would think.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

From what I've read, I don't think it sounds like she has MG. she should also be showing other typical symptoms like coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing, swollen eyes, and ocular/nasal discharge. Not to mention that it is a relatively infectious disease so I would think that it should have spread to most of your flock.

I would start treating with an antibiotic right away, whether its a Tetracycline or Tylosin. If you use injections, then you won't have to treat the whole flock. I would also be giving them probiotics once you treat with an antibiotic.

 

[gladahmae]

I have a nice large pot of split pea soup simmering to can today. Luckily I caught my mom before she went to Honey Baked Ham Co & asked her to get a "bone in" ham for XMAS dinner. While she can't stand split pea soup, my stepdad & I LOVE it. So this batch is for the 2 of us. I think my sister saved her ham bone too for me, so looks like I'll be able to get another batch done soon; so dad & I shall be happy campers for the rest of the year

Years ago I worked at heavenly ham, which honey baked has since bought out. We used to sell just ham bones for $5 or $6 from the hams we cut up for sandwiches. They'd be frozen in the big subzero freezer.

We also used to sell the left-over hams that had been frozen for shipping in mid January. We used to sell them for $25 each. I'm sure if they're still doing that it's more $ but just thought I'd mention it.

 

[RaZ]

Scalloped potatoes & ham. YUMMY! One of my favorites, too. Hmmm..out of the honey baked; BUT, do have a venison ham & some potatoes here...that just might be a dinner plan

And what, pray tell is a "venison ham"?

Strange weather we are having. It is 50 degrees in the sun and 45 degrees in the shade, according to my weather gizmos. It looks like a good day to move some firewood. I have a lot of seasoned firewood if anyone near the city needs some. Just PM me.

Speaking of hunting for ones food, I think I'll try peanut stuffed squirrel tonight. I hear they taste like cat.

 

[snowflake]

We have friends that moved to MI and live out in the wilds off the grid. They actually just drove back to OK last week after shoveling their way out of the woods because the solar wouldn't work with the cloudy skies to keep their house warm. They will head back in the spring and put in wind turbines to supplement their power. Mother nature is thumbing her nose at them I think - lol!

windmills are getting a lot of heat right now do to bird,eagle killings. they might want to try a wood burner if they are in the woods heat and hot water....thermal heat and cool (under ground) not sure how it works, wind is not always dependable in winter either


RAZ, shame on you

 

[preciouskitty]

@RaZ
Processor smokes part of the deer (rump, I think), and, I kid you not, it tastes just like PORK ham (just a bit different texture ). I am sure Opa knows what I am talking about

One our resident squirrels almost became dinner a bit ago; but I stopped DH...this little brat gets on the porch steps & has been gnawing on the riser wood. Has gnawed about an 1" in one area. But, the little guy is Kitty's friend. They scratch at each other thru the glass doors

14 pints of soup currently in pressure cooker & enough left for my lunch/dinner today (seeing as how I put most the cookies away, I guess I'll have a "real" meal today )

Birds are currently all out enjoying the sun & a little natural food!

@gladahmae
Ya know, never really thought about that; my mom is really close to Honey Baked; think I may have her go see if she can get me a few; would still like to make some 16 Bean Soup. I am out of that one in the pantry, too. Thanks!!

 

[Opa]

Never been a fan of split pea soup, however, stick that hambone in with a pot of Great Northern White beans and you have a meal worth putting on the table. For a slightly different variation on taste I often buy smoked ham hocks for cooking with beans. The are readily available in most grocery store and the price isn't too bad.

Hunting this morning was a bust. I did have a small basket 8 point in range but I would have let him walk even when it would have been legal to shoot. Watched several does heading my way that suddenly turned, left the property to continue westward in a ditch. Couldn't understand what had made them turn until we quit for the morning and found that they were avoiding another hunter. It seems that the farmer nephew had brought him and said hunt anywhere you want. Nice enough guy, but I told him to not come back again. I informed him that it had never been the nephew's farm, that he has just been trying to take over, and that the farmer has restated that he never gave the hunting rights to the nephew. I expect that I will be hearing the nephew complain before too long.

After we got home and ate pulled smoked pork sandwiches, David disappeared. When I looked outside I saw that he was cleaning the chicken coops for me. While I am extremely grateful, I sure will be glad when I can go back to doing my own chores.

 

[snowflake]

Opa sorry you didn't get any thing, DH hasn't had a decent shot all season, neighbor must have got a hand gon and LOT"S of amo for Christmas, he has been target practicing all day, DH said he won't see a thing with that going on, he went out anyway . love this weather, wish it would stay a little longer, walk with the dog was very pleasant this AM

 

[RTFchickens]

Preciouskitty
Do you precook your peasoup before pressure canning it?
We used to can the soup after cooking it, but tried it without once, and it had a much nicer flavor, and texture uncooked. The pressure cooker cooks while it cans...