Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

Poultry lice and mite treatment

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8162.pdf

 

[BigHope888]

Thank you to you, Silly, and wingless! I appreciate all you folks do. I firmly believe a large part of the equation is urban sprawl and have stated as much in previous posts. I am on the fringe of encroachment although driving around here you'd never know it. There are quite a few people who find nice "farms" that are located in troubled waters with regards to, in my opinion, negative change.

I hate, HATE urban sprawl. My town is toward the edge of suburbia. If I just go North a few miles, I'm driving through farmland, and I love it. Urban sprawl clears forests, displaces wildlife, contributes to global warming (aka climate change!), and turns everything natural and unique around into a series of beige boxes-McMansions or strip malls sucking up resources. HAAAATE. Now I have an extra reason. Small politicians, such as city officials, see it as new income taxes for their city...and kiss the butts of anyone-developers, planners, corporations-who will help them bring that extra tax money in. Oh, what's that? A bunch of small business will suffer? Oh, well, Brand X here is going to build a megamart at this location, and bring jobs and income that these small independent people aren't helping to contribute. While I understand the logic, I do not share the viewpoint of a city official.

I'll look into starting a member's page for doing that. I think it was funny that the MDARD website removed the contact information.
But try this: http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1572_2878-8251--,00.html
Please let us know if he responds.
I'm writing a letter today to the governor. I wrote one to the director yesterday and I doubt she will reply.

I've been on a slow boil since the Ag meeting on the 14th when the commissioner began complaining that they don't have the time to do the job that they have been appointed to do. Their lack of respect has turned into an outright rude disdain to Michigan farmers.

Stick with me, I'll make ya famous.

Either that or get you arrested!

I agree, that is pretty funny. I wonder if we could hope that that is a measure of progress on our part? Hopefully they're all flooded with emails demanding that GAAMPs not strip small farm rights. Rock on for writing to the governor. I think I'll write him as well.

nothing in my local news which is Detroit area. probably afraid to touch it.

Yeah, I haven't heard anything either. Fox news is in the background as I type. Publicity stunt, anyone?

They closed the public comments at 5:00 pm yesterday. They only allowed about 8-10 days notice and failed to provide the proposed changes for a few days.

However, the Ag Commissioner meeting is
Wed., Feb. 12, 2014
9:00 a.m.
Constitution Hall, ConCon Room
525 W. Allegan, Lansing

The meeting is open to the public and you have an opportunity to speak there. Just note that you are limited to a mere three (3) minutes. And you can send e-mails directly to the commissioners. Here are the contacts: http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1572_2878-8251--,00.html

And just because that deserves to be reposted.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

We just brought in our hen Bonnie. She is being really beat up, even with a saddle. She also had frost bite and was bullied from the food and water. So she is inside now.

Bonnie

The chicken diaper seems to have turned out and does what it needs to. The only problem I see is when it's time to change it. The buttons are easy when putting on a clean diaper but not so great when taking off a dirty one. I'm thinking snaps may work better.

Hey tap. We just brought in one of our chickens. What is your chicken setup?

 

[taprock]

Peep - Usually injured birds go in a guinea pig cage or carrier depending in size. Pine shavings for bedding and whatever small dishes I have around. Posey is using cat food dishes at the moment. I have her in a small carrier because I didn't want to encourage her to walk.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Peep - Usually injured birds go in a guinea pig cage or carrier depending in size. Pine shavings for bedding and whatever small dishes I have around. Posey is using cat food dishes at the moment. I have her in a small carrier because I didn't want to encourage her to walk.

Ok thank you! She is in a g-pig cage right now. We might go and get shavings tomorrow.

 

[Trefoil]

@Trefoil Looks like they didn't have any time except to send out a "form" letter.

to form letters!

That sure looks like a canned response from Mr. Byrd. He didn't respond at all to your concerns.

Yeah, I was impressed. I guess the governor is too busy as well. Maybe he should be replaced too. I'll try my state reps next.

I brought one of my polish pullets in tonight. This is the 2nd day that when I went out to feed she was sitting by the water and didn't get up. She was the only one not running around and I didn't want to lose her so right now she in with my 3 silkie 8 week olds. The fourth silkie got wiry neck at about 5 week and I've got it separated out and am hand feeding it with supplemental polyvisine (?), selenium, vit E, and gatorade. So far no improvement. I don't want to give up, Any suggestions?

 

[BigHope888]

Hello, Governor, and thank you for your many efforts to protect and enhance our great state. I am writing to ask for your help in an upcoming issue. The MDARD is proposing changes to our existing Generally Accepted Agriculture Management and Practices that would have a far reaching negative effect on entire communities of small farmers, the many feed stores which supply them, local tourists, schools, and citizens. The proposed changes to GAAMPs would prohibit any number of livestock on all properties zoned residential or partially agriculture. Petting zoos, which entertain schools on field trips, would have to close down. 4-H clubs would suffer, as our state's children would be unable to continue to educate themselves with any number of chickens, rabbits, goats, horses, or bees. The feed suppliers that cater to these businesses and educational institutions would suffer and possibly go out of business themselves. Also, individual families who raise chickens on a small level in order to supplement their own tables and perhaps generate a meager income would be unable to help themselves, and would thus seek more foodstamp or cash assistance benefits. I understand you have a vested interest in protecting Michigan jobs, and from your viewpoint that could very well mean protecting the large farms that provide a great deal of tax revenue, but small farms are also important to a great many people, and they bring many benefits to us all. Please do not allow the changes to the GAAMPs that would disallow any number of poultry or livestock on semi residential, or even residential zoned areas. Please do not allow small farms and citizens to be deprived of our rights. Thank you.

Boom.

 

[Trefoil]

I sent a letter to Ms Hanson of the AG commission. Maybe we can get someone on our side.

 

[RaZ]

I sent a letter to Ms Hanson of the AG commission. Maybe we can get someone on our side.

Diane Hanson is the new Chair and she is one of the commissioners who claim to be too busy to attend the meetings. She has also exhibited a large measure of disdain towards small farmers. She was pretty rude to wingless at the last meeting.

I don't think that she is a friend but I hope that I'm wrong.

 

[chickwhispers]

@Trefoil My good friend raises Silkies and she had one with wry neck. This is what she said she'd done for hers...
"Unfortunately yes. I had a girl with it. Treated her with steroid drops from my vet, vitamin E, and Seladin which I got from Rite Aid in pill form. I had to isolate her for a couple months. Fed her scrambled eggs, plain yogurt, with 1/4 teaspoon natural raw cider vinegar. I would mix together and feed 2 a week. Gave her steroid drops 2 a day and 2 drops of vitamin E with the seladin crushed in it. 1/8 tablet to 2 drops of vitamin E. I put that on egg mixture as well. Took several months to get her back to normal."

So sorry about yours. Hope this helps.