Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[SillyChicken]

51 days till spring!

 

[jlynnet]

I don't think the groundhog will come out this weekend! Too darn cold! I've got a few roosters with some frostbite. It's mostly the ones who stay outside unless I lock them up. I've lost one hen this month. One of my older layers. Tonight they will go in lockdown until Thursday.

 

[gladahmae]

51 days till spring!

seems like a lifetime away right now! I've started saving milk jugs for my winter sowing though.....should probably get going on that project and get some daisies and cone flowers sown and jugs outdoors before it's too late!






Spent WAY more time than i normally would taking care of the birds this afternoon. I looked the hens in their coop on Saturday, and I locked the pullets in THEIR coop today. Not like they were coming out anyway......with all the wind/drifting snow managed to build up and drift in my covered run. SO, today i closed their pop door and made them some mash (i usually don't add water to it, but today I did) and put it in the coop, blocked off a vent area that was letting snow in the coop, added shavings, and collected their frozen eggs. I'm seeing a few modifications I'll need to make to that coop next year if I'm going to have layers in it over the winter: mainly insulating the outside wall (which is the egg-access door in the summer) where the nest boxes are.

I kind of want to get a snowblower for my path out to the coops and keeping the one run clear for next year. Either that or I'm going to have to spend some money and make a 'winterizable' run for the big coop before next winter.

 

[Amy PT]

Heard from hubby that they were able to get the barn fire out quickly and without too much damage, not sure what exactly that means but all I could think of this morning is poor firemen and poor cows.

I hope all involved - 4 legged and 2 - are okay today.

Here I have been advising everyone on the frostbite and I have had a girl with one of the worst cases without knowing it.

And I'm sure you can imagine the excitement in my voice when I say it is 1 out and snowing again. Everyone up here is getting a bit stir crazy. I know of three parties planned for last weekend to get people out, and of course all were canceled because of the weather.

Poor guinea. Hope she pulls through. The party statement is such a cruel/funny irony.

I went to the coop with some cardboard and determination. I managed to plug up some of the drafts, and get the coop temp to raise 10 degrees. So glad. Our girls have spent 2 different cold snaps on our enclosed porch, but they weren't happy there. I think we're good for now.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Worst of the storm just hit coopersville. I drove out there to the birds with mostly clear roads, but the road itself was so plugged shut that there were literally chest deep places with a trail through from some other unfortunate traveler. They finally called out a tractor on my walk back, but the original roads...Oy.

Please don't go anywhere if it's not an emergency. I'm no sissy, i ought to have been a mail lady. This is scaring even me! I can't see a car length in front of me even here in town. Add the drifts, and.......

I am also worried about my favorite hen. She's back to having yellow caps on her poos, instead of the white. Seems in good spirits but idk what it is. None of the others i think are doing it.? She laid an egg for me while i was in there again. She has been waiting for me, then rushes in and does it..... would be touching except that's what her momma did before she had heat stroke and died They know, somehow. I'm hoping it is related to the cold and the crd, and not fatty liver. I might do an emergency incubation, just in case.....

 

[uchytil]

Worst of the storm just hit coopersville. I drove out there to the birds with mostly clear roads, but the road itself was so plugged shut that there were literally chest deep places with a trail through from some other unfortunate traveler. They finally called out a tractor on my walk back, but the original roads...Oy.

Please don't go anywhere if it's not an emergency. I'm no sissy, i ought to have been a mail lady. This is scaring even me! I can't see a car length in front of me even here in town. Add the drifts, and.......

I am also worried about my favorite hen. She's back to having yellow caps on her poos, instead of the white. Seems in good spirits but idk what it is. None of the others i think are doing it.? She laid an egg for me while i was in there again. She has been waiting for me, then rushes in and does it..... would be touching except that's what her momma did before she had heat stroke and died They know, somehow. I'm hoping it is related to the cold and the crd, and not fatty liver. I might do an emergency incubation, just in case.....

Not 96? Friday night I drove home from GR and 96 was like a 2 track at midnight!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

No, back road. But literally blowing shut within the hour i was out with the birds........The snow kicked up around noon, and with the wind...... Can't see anything!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

I heard there was a huge pile up on 44 over by the highway? I'm probably going to be one of the FEW to make it in to work tonight; only because it's only a couple blocks from my house...

 

[gladahmae]

Anyone planning on meat birds this spring/summer? We're trying to decide on how many to order, where to get them from this year (pricing changed from where we got them last year) and all that. Didn't know if anyone else had already done the research and wanted to share their information.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

Anyone planning on meat birds this spring/summer? We're trying to decide on how many to order, where to get them from this year (pricing changed from where we got them last year) and all that. Didn't know if anyone else had already done the research and wanted to share their information.

I get my CornishX from Meyer Hatchery, my first shipment will come in March 26th. They increased their price for 2014 but I am still buying from them, I'm also getting some BLRWyandottes and a few BlkAustralorps in that order. I am way too pleased with their customer service and quality of birds to shop elsewhere.