Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[snowflake]

just looked in Ussery's book he does use wood ash also DE or lime, wood ash at no more then 2 parts out of 6 or 7 any dry soil will work does not need to be sand and sift the ash and peat to remove small sticks and lg chunks of coal, although I have read coal has minerals that are good for chickens.......I use a box with 1/4 in hardware cloth to sift my peat and ash, don't forget to wear a mask

 

[fuzzybutt love]

If you do go out bring a blanket, shovel, and your chicken grit/ oyster shell. Better than sand if you get stuck!

 

[taprock]

Nope, I hear that they are the noisiest duck breeds!

We have two female call ducks not that they are loud but they can out talk the dozen guineas.

Only 7" of snow but enough to close schools and get DH called in early.

Unfortunately Benny is still in te basement and he's an early crower.

Last year my son raised turkeys for 4-h and sold rhem for a huge profit. No one did meat chickens. This year tons of kids are signed up to do turkeys so my son decided to do the chickens instead. I know nothing about meat chickens. I need a breed that gains but because it is an auction they have to look good also. Any breed sugestions?

 

[1muttsfan]

Tap, your best bet for meat birds are Cornish crosses. you can keep them looking good by controlling their weight through measured rather than free choice feeding and regular exercise, give them an extra few weeks to grow as they will get there more slowly. They can range with your regular flock until close to fair time, then separate them and finish them off with extra feeding. They will still need to eat a high-nutrient feed.

Around 7" here too, schools delayed 2 hours but as usual in session today - St. Ignace schools rarely close, despite the weather here.

 

[birdman55]

morning everyone I was up till 4am...out to do the chores and start working...man im so tired

 

[misfitmorgan]

Only closings down by us are mio and fairview.....but babies i still have to come to work today lol

 

[uchytil]

Only a few more weeks and we'll be planting taters!

 

[tntchix]

oh really?

 

[tntchix]

8 eggs all in different nest boxes this morning, we are up to 15 layers now over half of flock

but I need a new plan for raising up those boxes. It's tough for me to get down low and reach in being eyeball to eyeball with a rooster, considering my past experience with Loudmouth.

The dog kennel latch on the run is still frozen solid so no getting out to free range yet. Anyone else have this problem?
We got about 3 inches of snow but it's drifted all over, the plows just came through so the roads are clear but they are calling for snow squalls so I am glad I did my running yesterday. Staying in today again.

I am really going to put the inside Christmas stuff away today. The outside can wait til it warms a bit. I want my house back.

My sis in law gave me some advice on moving a certain piece of furniture where the tree was and I am dying to see how it looks there. Need to get busy.

Hope everyone is safe and warm. Thinking of snuggling up with my book later. Think warm thoughts.

 

[misfitmorgan]

My mille fluer stopped laying when we got the cold snap at the begining of the week and they were the only ones laying lol. Hopefully they start again when it warms up next weeks and by was i mean 20s and 30s