Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[preciouskitty]

The deer are staying deep in the woods this year, so I'm glad we will have a freezer full of chicken!

The deer just started really moving again the other night around here..in fact, think I'm gonna sit tonight; hadn't seen or heard any for over 2 weeks.
Luckily DH has already gotten 3, so we only need 2 more to fulfill our needs. Any others will go to the local food bank & families in need....

Hopefully you'll notice the same thing & you can get some red meat to go with all that chicken

 

[RTFchickens]

We have an explosion of acorns. The deer aren't touching the corn or apples when their bellies are full of acorn. I hope they start moving, but in our experience they prefer the acorn :-(

 

[preciouskitty]

We have an explosion of acorns. The deer aren't touching the corn or apples when their bellies are full of acorn. I hope they start moving, but in our experience they prefer the acorn :-(

I guess I'm pretty lucky as there is oak tree dropping TONS of acorns right in my hunting spot in the backyard. You know, I honestly didn't know that they preferred those over the other "treats" we leave them (this city girl just started hunting 5 years ago!!)!

 

[Opa]

On Wednesday I spent several hours splitting firewood. Rather than working alone I had my 90 yr old friend go to the woods with me. While I handled the logs, he operated the log splitter. It didn't save me a much time but it made him feel productive. I reminded him that I wasn't going to do his work, only help him do it.

Granny's mobility limits what she is able to do. I've often heard her telling friends that while she can't do much, at least she is still able to wash the dishes. Often we find the dishes aren't quite clean, but we just quietly rewash them without saying anything.

Years ago, the last year I kept a boat in a marina for my parents, I went to take the boat out of the water for the season. It was my intent to back the trailer in to the water, get in the boat and drive it on. As soon as the trailer was placed my father drove the boat on and got it hung up.. As I was taking the boat off the trailer he kept apologizing for being old and helpless. As I started to drive the boat on I deliberately allowed the wind to cause me to miss. After two more attempts I got the boat on commenting on how difficult it was. I later overheard him telling my mother about how hard it had been and that even Sam had trouble loading it.

The point is that the elderly need to keep their dignity and image of self worth. Once that is taken away from them they feel useless and fade away much quicker.

I had intended to add this summer's hatchlings to the main flock last night. I've found that there a fewer problems with night intergration. However, the level in my recliner also operated my eyelids so it will have to wait until tonight.

Well I'm off to the farm to haul the split wood from the woods. There is a 8x20' room adjacent to the basement wood burner that I have filled and have started stacking wood in the unused side of his garage. I want to get that filled so that none of the winter supply of wood will be out in the weather.

 

[uchytil]

Tractor Supply gets their birds from Townline.

So does FF&H. They are not vaccinated for Marek's. If you are lucky enough to live close to Zeeland you can go there and get vaccinated chicks. The only chicks I buy from FF&H and TC are meaties.

 

[uchytil]

Looks like a mess next week here in the west. I've got to hurry and spilt a few cords of cherry for maple season next spring and get it under cover. Yay winter! This should light a fire under the deer and get them moving...

 

[SillyChicken]

yep, the rut is starting... deer will be moving more for sure!

I wanted to share a photo I took this morning of the field next to my place... this wasn't even half of them!


I gave up finding the kind of coffee table I wanted so I started making my own and in the size we want. I like the industrial combined with raw wood look, so I picked up some galvanized pipe (black iron was more $$).. and I put together a frame...

My DF has a bunch of rough cut walnut and oak slabs 2" thick he's giving to me to make the table. I should be able to make a few end tables as well. I have about 150$ in pipe parts. I may add another brace in the center.. as I wasn't expecting to get something that heavy at first for the top and shelf underneath... but can't pass it up!

 

[aart]

yep, the rut is starting... deer will be moving more for sure!

I wanted to share a photo I took this morning of the field next to my place... this wasn't even half of them!


I gave up finding the kind of coffee table I wanted so I started making my own and in the size we want. I like the industrial combined with raw wood look, so I picked up some galvanized pipe (black iron was more $$).. and I put together a frame...

My DF has a bunch of rough cut walnut and oak slabs 2" thick he's giving to me to make the table. I should be able to make a few end tables as well. I have about 150$ in pipe parts. I may add another brace in the center.. as I wasn't expecting to get something that heavy at first for the top and shelf underneath... but can't pass it up!

Are those sandhill cranes?

Very cool frameworks!


I saw a couple little bucks in my small back field this last week, rarely see bucks in field-they seem to stay in the woods.
Saw a little 4 pointer mingling with the young does out by the fire pit. ...and another *4* pointer a few days ago but he had lost one of his horns.
Had a velveted 6 point a month or two ago, he was very jittery and didn't stay long, come right up to the chicken run to not for long.
Must be the big boys are pushing the littles out of the woods?

 

[Maah]

So our buff orpington cockerel is over 8 mths old. I sure hope he starts to figure out his job & has it sufficiently in effect by early spring. So far... no interest whatsoever, not a single fertile egg yet. I'd like to hatch some eggs again. Not that I was planning on hatching right now, I'm just impatient to see some progress in my plans. He doesn't even seem interested! I think he likes being "one of the girls". He doesn't even crow! Ya, I know... quietest rooster I've ever had. :/ I'm sure he'll get around to it when he's ready. He needs to mature more. But but but... I didn't get to hatch this last spring since our brahma rooster passed last winter. I've got the itch & I'm looking forward to hatching again! Hmm... he needs to "do his job" to pay rent. That just sounds wrong on so many levels. I'm glad y'all are chicken folk too & won't take it the wrong way. Sheesh. Usually I'm having the "pay your rent" talk with the hens. I don't think I've ever needed to have that talk with the boys before (usually they're overly enthused about their job & willing to work for free... even volunteer to put in overtime. lol). Yes, I know I have the whole flipping winter to wait yet until I should even be thinking about firing up the incubator. I just hope it's not as long of a winter as last year.

A crow... just some crowing in the morning & it would make me feel better buddy. Get on it.

There isn't a shortage of roosters around. They're a dime a dozen & if I need to I will go to "chicken manpower" (BYC peeps) & get pick up a more than willing intern.

 

[Maah]

Those are way cool Silly. I get excited when I see a pair in my back field... but to see a whole field full. Wow.