Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[taprock]

Darn. Shes been in the house since yesterday... Will she still loose that part of the comb?

It will kind of dry up or crust up and eventually fall off. It doesn't appear to hurt tham at that point. Just watch for when it actually comes off. There can be a spot of blood which could get them picked on. I have a little guy who is going to look dubbed. He picked the one spot in the coop I know has a draft and it's the only place he will roost. He's a bantam so he can sneak into places the big birds can't.

Today's wind and snow found a way in the coop. The roosts were covered in snow, a bad way to get frostbite. I plugged the spot the snow came in, the foam insulation had been blown out. I didn't know how to dry the roosts so I just flipped them so the dry side of the 2x4 is now up. The wind is supposed to change directions in the night so I hope the snow doesn't blow more insulation around. Have I mentioned how much I hate winter?

 

[chickwhispers]

@taprock Have you had any lose tips when they were gray?

 

[Living the Simple Life]

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

I'm starting to get worn out with all of the chicken politics of late and I need a diversion. I need a bit of motivation to fire up my woodshop and start making some things.

How many people would be interested in bluebird houses, wren boxes, wood duck boxes or any other type of bird or bat house?  

I would definitely be interested ia a bat house or two.

 

[Our Roost]

Living the Simple Life, bird feeder maybe? My father was a craftsman and woodworker by trade. Simply amazed us with some of the things he built and also restored during his life. I remember him replicating a log cabin bird feeder with a chimney fill spout and wooden cork stopper to ward off rain and the like. It was simply a work of art and better than a Lincoln log home. We installed it on a pole at our cottage home near Tawas Michigan. We frequented there when ever time allowed. Dad would fill it with sunflower seeds when visiting and before leaving for home and treat the wild birds and woodpeckers that amused him. Unfortunately squirrels loved sunflower seeds more than the birds did and destruction and war broke out between my father and the squirrels! Slowly but surely he watched the chimney get eaten away and the wooden cork fill stopper disapeared. He fashioned a screen cap to detur and ward off the little buggers only to have them gnaw another opening via the food tray. The windows began to get eaten out and blite set in. His battle was like the Alamo last stand! It truly was sad and a disheartening scene. I offered to fill it one last time and he said to me " let them hunt for acorns". I really had to laugh and so did he!

 

[preciouskitty]

I get a "Word for the Day" emailed each morning.

Today's word: "pettifogging"
One of the definitions "meanly petty"

Seems apropos for a lot of the discussion re: members of certain councils, boards, etc....not naming any names, of course

Woohoo...off to 'Bama tomorrow....

 

[chickwhispers]

I get a "Word for the Day" emailed each morning.

Today's word: "pettifogging"
One of the definitions "meanly petty"

Seems apropos for a lot of the discussion re: members of certain councils, boards, etc....not naming any names, of course

Woohoo...off to 'Bama tomorrow....

I wish I had that word for a job I had a few years back!

Safe and Warm Travels!!!

 

[RaZ]

My father was a craftsman and woodworker by trade. Simply amazed us with some of the things he built and also restored during his life.

That made me think of my grandfather and the little bench he built for me. That was 50 years ago. Yikes, I'm old

He made it from scraps he had on hand, built it on the back porch while I watched. I think the best part was him straightening bent nails and reusing them.


I still have it. About 10 years ago I made an exact copy for my Mom and another that I modified for myself.
Just like Grandpap's, mine has a "flaw" in it.

 

[taprock]

@taprock Have you had any lose tips when they were gray?

I'm not sure what you mean by gray, maybe it's what I call white.

Here are some frost bite pictures from past and present that might help.


This is B.B. who lost his tips last winter. His wattles are a bit white and crusty but haven't turned black at this point. The heated dog dish for water has caused lots of wattle problems this year.


This is Dell this year who will end up looking dubbed. He is small enough to sneak into a spot I had blocked off.



Stevie this year. The white I'm not sure if he will lose or not. The one tip turning black he will lose.


Pippin's wattles were all white and swollen a couple weeks ago and almost back to normal now.



This was my guinea the first year with birds. She roosted in the eaves and it was drafty. This was right after it happened.

This was after about a month. She eventually lost the toe and but could still walk ok as the "bulb" spot on her foot developed even bigger.

The ones that have faired the best this year are Orloff, Ameraucana and amazingly enough the Basque who has huge comb and wattles. They are all in the same coop so I am not sure how they are all so different unless it is just how each breed fairs.

 

[annagarret]

It will kind of dry up or crust up and eventually fall off. It doesn't appear to hurt tham at that point. Just watch for when it actually comes off. There can be a spot of blood which could get them picked on. I have a little guy who is going to look dubbed. He picked the one spot in the coop I know has a draft and it's the only place he will roost. He's a bantam so he can sneak into places the big birds can't.

Today's wind and snow found a way in the coop. The roosts were covered in snow, a bad way to get frostbite. I plugged the spot the snow came in, the foam insulation had been blown out. I didn't know how to dry the roosts so I just flipped them so the dry side of the 2x4 is now up. The wind is supposed to change directions in the night so I hope the snow doesn't blow more insulation around. Have I mentioned how much I hate winter?

I know....it feels like we are trapped in January!

 

[gladahmae]

Just like Grandpap's, mine has a "flaw" in it.

That's better called "Customization" RaZ!

The snow is drifted up so high in the back yard that there are between 6 and 12in of fence sticking up above the snow. Strangely enough, my dogs have not decided that they can simply step OVER it yet. Granted, they don't really have a reason to leave the yard, but I do worry about it. Our old-man dog (he's 10) would stick around, but our younger dog would certainly find something to chase and take off. ADDED to that is the fact that within a week of me putting his ID tag on his collar, he stuck his head through the fence somewhere in the yard and got his tags (ID, Rabies, AND license) STUCK and ripped them off his collar. So he has no tags. Super. We won't have them back until April probably.