Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[snowflake]

@mundamnsel

I don't believe it. Last week saw what was probably the most beautiful, fully arced rainbow, with a double rainbow starting, that I have ever seen.

What are the odds one would see another..one week later???!! Yep, just had another, fully arced. And this time the double, while very light, was ALSO fully arced!!!

CONGRATS!! that is awsome

 

[aart]

Quote: Yeah, it stinks for sure, but it's the way of the world and has been forever.

 

[RTFchickens]

OK I didn't know where to post this, but I thought my fellow Michiganders might be able to help me. 

I was free-ranging my chickens when I first got them outside, and it wasn't really an issue (about 3 other people right by me have free-range chickens, they're everywhere), until they started spending a lot of time in my neighbor's yard. They old man who lives there liked them, I talked to him, he said they were fine. 

Apparently his wife disagreed. 

Long story short, I got a notice from my township that she complained and I was in violation of the ordinance and had to cage them. No problem. It took me some time, but I have done that. Right now they're spending a week in their new luxury coop (replacing a smaller one)  while I finish the simple fence that I hope will keep them in. 

So I've been looking online, all over, trying to find the zoning ordinance. Hard to stay within the rules if I don't know them right?

Well, apparently they're not online. Anywhere. Contacted the township. They can answer direct questions, but can't give me a copy. They don't have a single paper copy that they can give me, they refused. 

Is there some complaint I can file? I can't even figure out WHAT rules I'm supposed to be following in my own township! 

BTW, I'm in Fruitport.

Hi, while I'm no expert on the zoning issues, I have learned a few things based on my own experiences.
I would speak directly to the zoning administrator. I would ask him what the rules are based on your personal zoning. If they refuse to give you a copy of their rules, you could request a freedom of information document which they legally must give you.
I'm not an attorney, just a fellow citizen who thinks township rules in general stink.
@Wingless is a great resource when it comes to issues like this. You may also find some useful info on the Michigan Right to Farm thread, and the Michigan Small Farm Counsel. The MSFC is not a Back Yard Chicken group, but many of the members are also BYC members who made and/or joined MSFC. Good luck! Unfortunately you and the rest of us are what big Ag and most townships don't want. They want you to go to the store and buy your food vs raising and growing your own.

 

[thechickenflock]

WARNING POTENTIALLY GRAPHIC IMAGE















Okay, so yesterday one of my little 10 week old pullets was attacked by a cooper's hawk. The only visible damage is the missing chunk of her head, she is acting fine and was put in solitary for the night with a friend so I could monitor her food and water intake. She is eating, drinking and pooping fine , I have so far applied vetericyn to it 3 times, one of them being right before this photo was taken. Advice? Should I keep going with the vetericyn? Should I keep her separated? (She isn't being picked on).


Thank you guys for all your help past and present!

 

[SillyChicken]

Okay, so yesterday one of my little 10 week old pullets was attacked by a cooper's hawk. The only visible damage is the missing chunk of her head, she is acting fine and was put in solitary for the night with a friend so I could monitor her food and water intake. She is eating, drinking and pooping fine , I have so far applied vetericyn to it 3 times, one of them being right before this photo was taken. Advice? Should I keep going with the vetericyn? Should I keep her separated? (She isn't being picked on).


Thank you guys for all your help past and present!

Doesn't look like much to worry about. If it were mine I would spray with a little blue Kote (careful not to get into eyes and nose) and just keep an eye on it.

 

[thechickenflock]

Doesn't look like much to worry about. If it were mine I would spray with a little blue Kote (careful not to get into eyes and nose) and just keep an eye on it.

Can I use the blue kote on top of the vetericyn? I have both, but never used them both

 

[1muttsfan]

If you are putting her back in the flock, just use the blue kote.

 

[uchytil]

OK I didn't know where to post this, but I thought my fellow Michiganders might be able to help me.

I was free-ranging my chickens when I first got them outside, and it wasn't really an issue (about 3 other people right by me have free-range chickens, they're everywhere), until they started spending a lot of time in my neighbor's yard. They old man who lives there liked them, I talked to him, he said they were fine.

Apparently his wife disagreed.

Long story short, I got a notice from my township that she complained and I was in violation of the ordinance and had to cage them. No problem. It took me some time, but I have done that. Right now they're spending a week in their new luxury coop (replacing a smaller one) while I finish the simple fence that I hope will keep them in.

So I've been looking online, all over, trying to find the zoning ordinance. Hard to stay within the rules if I don't know them right?

Well, apparently they're not online. Anywhere. Contacted the township. They can answer direct questions, but can't give me a copy. They don't have a single paper copy that they can give me, they refused.

Is there some complaint I can file? I can't even figure out WHAT rules I'm supposed to be following in my own township!

BTW, I'm in Fruitport.

I'd go to the town office and demand a copy of the ordinance(s) that they are referring to. That's what they get paid for. I pay my taxes directly to my township and have asked questions face to face with the various offices there. Be it, zoning, permits, road work, etc. There is no way they can site something that does not exist?

 

[uchytil]

Finally... it took me 3 days to catch up on the posts that I missed. I was out for a bit, had surgery on my stomach/esophagus Sept 23rd to repair a hernia & reflux/gerd issues. It's helped some & I'm back to work now & back to eating soft foods, though liquids still seem to agree with me better. Anyways, enough about that. I haven't talked chickens in far too long & need to get to it! LOL.

So my 1 egg eater chicken that I had separated is no longer a problem. I couldn't break her of her egg eating no matter what I tried, & frankly she was a ***** right from the start. Dominance queen. When our pullets & banties (where she was serving her sentence) grew old enough & started laying eggs themselves... she was eating their eggs. I ended up throwing her into the pen with the cornish cross meaties. I didn't know what to do with her... Winter was coming up, the meaties were going to the processor, & I'll be darned if I have to baby her all through the winter in a separate cage when she wasn't even putting out the eggs. So, she went to the processor with all the meaties & is now chillin in my freezer. Darn, it really sucks. I REALLY wanted this bird to work & paid decent money for her, she just was a "bad egg" right from the start. I had her for 3 months & maybe got 6-7 eggs total from her, & she ate WAY more than she laid. All well, it's done with now & I'll replace her next spring.

So with that, we are down her & all our meaties now too! PHEW! I was going to have to get out a loan to cover all the feed costs. I'm glad that's done for now. Though I still teased DH the other day when we were walking into the farm store... "I'm sure we have enough time to get in another meatie batch done before winter hits". He gave me a "you're lucky I don't smack women" kind of look. LOL. I knew it'd get him going... I'm not in the mood to do another batch either!

Our tractor has been busted the past month. Driving DH nuts. The garden needs turned over, the driveway needs grated, the wood needs hauled up so he can cut & split it, etc etc etc. Oh the woes of a man without a tractor. We dropped off the starter last week to be rebuilt & I picked it up yesterday. Hopefully he can slap it back on there & get to it now.

Though I haven't been out to see the chickens in over 3 weeks, my family tells me that they think the Polish is getting her head feathers plucked out. Ugh. I reckon I'm healed from my surgery enough now that I'd better get out there & see what's going on.

Lastly, I received this information through my daughter's 4H contact. Though it's not strictly for 4H people. It looks interesting. Michigan Poultry Science Teen & Adult Leaders Workshop from MSU. Participants will learn new project ideas, explore poultry management information, and enhance their knowledge in the poultry project. Register by Oct. 22
http://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?folder=4HPoultry2014

I wish you a full, and speedy, recovery! Welcome back!

 

[1muttsfan]

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown...ally-modified-soy-corn/#.VD8QM_oUx7M.facebook