Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[fuzzybutt love]

I read it as an expression of inner strength.

 

[Maah]

What is the absolute best price/place to get dried mealworms for the kiddos?

 

[Nigellas]

Considering… 4 week olds outside *with* a heat lamp?
Thoughts?

 

[jlynnet]

Considering…  4 week olds outside *with* a heat lamp?
Thoughts?

Are they on the heat lamp now? If so take them off. I moved some out about a month ago when it was 40-50 degrees for a few days. They were 5 weeks old at the time and had been off heat since 2 weeks old in my basement. They survived single digit days huddled up without a heat lamp. This will be a good week to get them out. I did put a produce box I got from Costco upside down for them to hide in. The pop door has been open all day and night now too. They love going out in their run.

 

[jerabu]

Narrowed my chicken selections down to only a couple breeds.

It's either going to be RIR's or Australorps.

Any pros or cons to either breed in Michigan weather, in an unheated coop?

 

[Elyssia001]

Inspiration quote i found at meijer in the picture section:

That's beautiful, fuzzybutt love. Thank you for sharing.

 

[SillyChicken]

Narrowed my chicken selections down to only a couple breeds.

It's either going to be RIR's or Australorps.

Any pros or cons to either breed in Michigan weather, in an unheated coop?

I've not had either so hopefully someone else can help

 

[jlynnet]

It's opening day here too! I opened the coop up. Lots of dust bathing going on. Happy chickens. Hopefully no hawk attacks.

 

[tori8780]

Narrowed my chicken selections down to only a couple breeds.

It's either going to be RIR's or Australorps.

Any pros or cons to either breed in Michigan weather, in an unheated coop?

I have a couple australorps that have done beautifully this winter. They have very small combs and are a heavier, fluffy breed. They are both very gentle and sweet, which I appreciate in my chickens I dont have any experience with RIRs, sorry!

edited to add my coop is unheated and they did just fine this winter

 

[uchytil]

Wow super busy...got to eat lunch today for a change and saw some interesting posts...

Culling is a responsibility we keepers have. Cervical separation is the best way. It's harder for some people but just like cleaning the house - sometimes it just has to be done!

Goats- Why wouldn't someone want goats? The deer do enough destruction without the goat's help, lol!

Maple Syrup. OK, simple answers to simple sugar. No, it's not cost effective to use propane, or natural gas, or buy wood. But, for a hobbyist whom feels it would be fun to make some - go for it! Big sugar bushes get government grants, tax breaks, and all kinds of other incentives so they can use gas, fuel oil, or wood fired evaporators, pumps, filters, reverse osmosis, and other users of energy, and sell for the market rate and still make money.

Here's what I do to make it free (if you think sweat equity is free) - tree services give away wood, the power company clears power lines and leaves wood ( just ask the land owner first), free pallets? Oak is your best bet but apple, cherry, maple, ash, even pine and poplar will make sap boil. I cut on my property but split by hand so I guess I have to factor in some gas/oil for the chainsaw. In any case there are ways around paying for wood. Once you make a quart you'll be able to gauge how much wood to stack for next year.

I mentioned it before but one more time - If the sap has ice on it toss the ice. You now have a more concentrated sap (higher sugar) and guess what? It takes less wood, and time, to get some sugar.