Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[HollyDuckFarmer]

...]It should be delivered by the end of the week so I am hoping for the weather to improve just a little so we can get started. 

...

That's awesome Opa! So after you get your woods all squared away, just slap the triangle on the back and come help me with mine, alright? LOL

Finally pruned some on my big ol Apple Tree. I am making trellises this year with my green trimmings. Not too optimistic for using the poor dead ash tree limbs, which is unfortunate, as I certainly have too many of those.
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/natural-trellis-instructions-50479.html
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/use-sticks-natural-trellis-37710.html

 

[JackieandChicks]

Good morning, all! My grandson got up early to go on the porch for "Chicken TV" - he wanted to see his older chicks even before breakfast!

 

[RaZ]

The woods at our farm has suffered horribly over the last few years. The majority of our trees were ash and the Emerald ash borer left a woods of standing hulks. Next a tornado came thru creating a twisted war zone that is almost impossible to traverse. Even though I will never live to see the results of my efforts I would like to restore it by replanting a lot of white oaks.

Sounds like a chainsaw party is in the near future. Ash is great firewood.
I'm also a bit green with envy over your new machine.

May I also suggest that when replanting the forest that you consider a couple of other species to go with the white oaks. Purdue has a nice chart of trees for replacing stands of ash. http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/EAB/content/management/homeowners/replacementtrees.html

 

[1muttsfan]

That is a great chart, lots of good suggestions. Personally I would not recommend silver maples (they are not very sturdy trees), and Norway maples are now considered an invasive foreign species, as they are fast-growing and crowd out native trees, they are being removed whenever possible up here. They are truly ugly in the fall when they develop big black blotches on their leaves before the brown leaves fall off. Many of you probably have seen the avenue of trees along Cadotte Avenue on Mackinac Island, leading up to the Grand Hotel. Those Norway Maples, planted many years ago, were cut down several years ago and replaced by native maples. Norway maples were planted originally as they grow quickly and have a pleasing shape, but as many introduced species have not benefited native plants.

While there are relatively few ash trees here, we have many beech and they are now infected with the fungus that causes Beech Snap. I expect many of the beech around my house to disappear in the next few years.

 

[Maah]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101

still freaking out. I accidentally cracked one of her "developing" eggs only to discover a bunch of nothing in there. Only way to know is to wait, sigh. This is a bigger bunch of notes than mine even! Advise to other potential hatchers, BUY A BROODY! I've been looking for a silkie hen for a year now, those things always seem to be broody!!!

@fuzzybutt love, I have 2 white silkie hens right now... about 11 mths old & just started laying last month. One of the hens has already gone broody & is still broody. You may HAVE them if you'd like. You'd just need to come get them. We don't have a rooster & haven't been breeding the silkies since last spring. Since the silkies go broody so often we've decided they need to go to make more room in the coop for the productive hens. You're welcome to them just let me know. (Wayland area, Allegan Co.)

 

[RaZ]

I don't recommend silver or Norway maples either. They also recommended the Linden tree. It is a native but not really a good tree, IMO.
Still it is a decent starting point. I liked the pH ranges and shade tolerances given. That always helps me.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

Just an FYI if any are interested, TSC in Dundee has the following chicks as of last night:
-almost a full bin of BBRed Old English Game
-maybe three Silver Duckwing OEG banties
-a full bin of ISA Brown pullets
-a bin of st run Black Jersey Giants and Freedom Rangers
-a bin of White Leghorn and Black Sex Link pullets
-3/4 of a bin of Cornish X broilers
-a dozen Pekin ducklings

I kinda laughed when I saw the Freedom Rangers in the layer bin with the Giants, since they are obviously a meat breed. I hope no one buys them thinking they'll get a bunch of eggs in six months!

 

[taprock]

The woods at our farm has suffered horribly over the last few years.  The majority of our trees were ash and the Emerald ash borer left a woods of standing hulks.  Next a tornado came thru creating a twisted war zone that is almost impossible to traverse.  Even though I will never live to see the results of my efforts I would like to restore it by replanting a lot of white oaks. 

The best "toys" are the ones that do the job well.
My brother is in the tree buying/lumber business. He said the talk is that it has been cold enough up here this winter to actually kill off the ash borer and they think it will set back it's progress by several years. One of the few positives to a month+ below zero.

 

[Opa]

While it is highly unlikely that I will ever see the full benefit of replanting our woods, I will definitely be looking at the value to wildlife aspect of many species of trees when we start replanting.

One of the reasons for selecting this particular crawler was that it has what is called a forestry package. The cab is protected with bars and screens to insure the operator's safety and on the back is a hydraulically operated attachment called a ripper. It's purpose is to hook into or under tree roots. Once in place you pull forward thereby breaking the root or stump loose. It's a much more effective removal technique than using the blade. Once the root or stump is loose the blade is used to push the debris to where you want it.

A lot of the dead and fallen wood will be cut up before using the crawler. Once the dead trees are removed I will plant brassicas & clovers in the cleared areas. Then as time and money allow we will be planting new trees.

 

[DimondaleBergs]

Happy Saturday Morning To All!
I was just wondering if we could do a roll call of sorts? Just to know where in the great state of Michigan, we are all located We are in Dimondale, Eaton County. Just about 5 minutes south of Lansing For now! LOL We are currently on the hunt for some property as we live just inside the village limits on just about a half acre. I can't WAIT to get more space! LOL I have been momma to fluff butts for just over a year now, and want to add some turkeys and ducks to the mix. LOL