Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[aart]

So does anyone plant a winter cover crop?

I want to plant something in the backyard which is pretty compacted and shaded all summer long. I'm thinking field peas if I can find some. But I'm open to any crop that can be used as green manure.

I could look this up on my own but I'm being computer lazy...I'm doing stuff outdoors since my back is feeling a little better. TIA

How about clover....would be good for your bees too.

 

[Trefoil]

crown vetch? Its supposed to give nutrients back into the soil.

 

[Trefoil]

Lost my quote

have to check it out, right now i am trying to figure who besides the dnr that i could bring my birds to for verification. I remembered that the guy asked me how i knew angel was a boy- so maybe finer details need another set of eyes? Nature center? The rehab place itself? Not a lot out there local for dove info. I bet the rehabbers see more stages of growth than most, though. I have only one comparison. I don't want to breed them but considering keeping a pair in case i change my mind- ??? Not so many ringnecks in mich just pigeons at auctions and diamonds in the pet stores.

Sorry if I'm behind the times. Most breeders band their birds. You can get the bands from ebay or just about any bird supply place online. You could try this place. http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/

 

[Opa]

So does anyone plant a winter cover crop?

I want to plant something in the backyard which is pretty compacted and shaded all summer long. I'm thinking field peas if I can find some. But I'm open to any crop that can be used as green manure.

I could look this up on my own but I'm being computer lazy...I'm doing stuff outdoors since my back is feeling a little better. TIA

Try planting rye. Grows quick and easy to till under come spring.

I love the variety of egg color you get with Welsummers.

 

[RaZ]

Clover and vetch are both in the Fabaceae family and do help fix nitrogen to the soil.
Rye is good also but I can't get it to take.

I should have mentioned that the back 40 is almost entirely shaded during the summer so getting anything to grow is a challenge. That is why I'm looking at a winter hardy cover crop. In spring, I put down 50 lbs. of a pasture mix that I bought at TSC. It was a mix of perennial and annual rye, clover, vetch and timothy grass. It was supposed to cover up to an acre and be browse tolerant. It sprouted and made for a wonderful, lush lawn...until the first heat wave.

Now that I'm done with my chores for the day, I'll spend some time going through my books and the inter-web for a good cover crop that tolerates shade, heavy clay and animal traffic. I'm still open for suggestions.

 

[1muttsfan]

Sand Hill preservation sells a few brooder greens seed mixes, he is quite knowledgable about plants and might have some suggestions for you.

 

[Grammi]

Grammi is like me Still kicking, just not as high as we once did.

You are so right there!!

 

[Faraday40]

I love the variety of egg color you get with Welsummers.

So pretty! I tried to hatch some this year with no luck. Everything else came out of the incubator like popcorn. I'm guessing they were having an off week when I placed my egg order.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Lost my quote have to check it out, right now i am trying to figure who besides the dnr that i could bring my birds to for verification. I remembered that the guy asked me how i knew angel was a boy- so maybe finer details need another set of eyes? Nature center? The rehab place itself? Not a lot out there local for dove info. I bet the rehabbers see more stages of growth than most, though. I have only one comparison. I don't want to breed them but considering keeping a pair in case i change my mind- ??? Not so many ringnecks in mich just pigeons at auctions and diamonds in the pet stores.

Sorry if I'm behind the times.  Most breeders band their birds.  You can get the bands from ebay or just about any bird supply place online.  You could try this place.  http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/

Thank you, i had a site recommended for bands but wow do they have a lot for little bird meds and nutrition. Going to be poring over this for sure!!!

 

[Stacykins]

So the only critter that came back for the leftovers last night was an owl. A darn big one, too! I actually put a roadkill turkey (killed in front of the house yesterday) by the remains of the cockerel. It seemed to prefer the fresher turkey to last night's kill and ate most of it over the period of the night. All side pictures though, nothing of the face.

So my solution is the cockerel pen gets covered. I like owls, I just don't like them making snacks of my birds that will be snacks for me! My other flock has a poultry netting covered run.