Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[aart]

I finally have hopes of spring. The Arctic Buntings are starting to group up and I've had a House Sparrow around the chicken yard the past two mornings, even though it was -20 again today.

Opa when do you do your apple tree pruning? I figure I'm a few weeks behind you.

This week Odin has gone to work with me. He has been a popular guy. Here he is taking a quick nap. Kid's are so funny and really know so little about chickens. Here are a few things I heard: he isn't a chicken like we eat, they are different, Are roosters really boys?, do roosters poop?, can he fly? What is crowing? I did have one young man who explained incubation perfectly.

That is SO cool.......are you the boss there? What do you do about poops?
I want to show this to our librarian.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hope the eggs are fertile - and didn't get too cold! We are all ready for spring up here for sure - below zero again tonight.

 

[RaZ]

I finally have hopes of spring. The Arctic Buntings are starting to group up and I've had a House Sparrow around the chicken yard the past two mornings, even though it was -20 again today.

Opa when do you do your apple tree pruning? I figure I'm a few weeks behind you.

This week Odin has gone to work with me. He has been a popular guy. Here he is taking a quick nap. Kid's are so funny and really know so little about chickens. Here are a few things I heard: he isn't a chicken like we eat, they are different, Are roosters really boys?, do roosters poop?, can he fly? What is crowing? I did have one young man who explained incubation perfectly.

The northern cardinals are singing their spring song. The squirrels are in full mating mode. So spring is near. At least down here.

You should talk up your programme some more, Tap. You are doing fantastic work with the kids. Brag a little bit about it. We all need to hear about the good that you are doing. Don't be shy.

Hope the eggs are fertile - and didn't get too cold! We are all ready for spring up here for sure - below zero again tonight.

Looking at my weather station right now. It say 7 degrees with a wind chill of zero.The full moon shining on the iced over snow sure does look pretty. But I'm ready for spring.
I have to make a trip to TSC tomorrow. Got the list written and chicks are NOT on it.

 

[PDPercherons]

22 pages behind, I'm ashamed of myself. Working like you wouldn't believe takes a toll on your daily life. My youngest batch of mainly Andi's is feathering out. They're still living upstairs however. I ended up canceling my order of chicks and a good idea. With this freezing weather it wasn't in my conscience to risk lives of even chicks to the mail system and weather this time of year. No reorder right now as I have chicks I incubated. The 16 January chicks moved to my barn. Cold but I keep the heat lamp and a couple bales as draft blockers. They're doing well and the stall space is better for them than the water tank was. I spy a few cockerels, but seem blessed to have mostly pullets. Ended up selling my Polish roo and 2 of my EE hens just because. Kept 1 because I'm awful fond of Hawk. She's just kind of cool like that. Warmer weather is coming. My Hamburgs are molting quickly and look horrendous. They're antisocial and moved themselves to live in my barn months ago. Yet the hens in the coop are still molting very slowly. Slowly enough that they still provide eggs. Maybe it's the difference in lighting, a lamp, and feed. Had my rooster in the house for 2 weeks due to frostbite. That was something else. Glad he's back out where he belongs. The horses are shedding. It is coming you guys. Patience.

 

[Stacykins]

Looks like I'm not the only one active this early in the morning. Night shift isn't too busy tonight. But because I typed that, just watch, it'll become a little crazier!

I should have peepers in the incubator when I get home in the morning. A few had pipped by the time I left. At least the brooder is mostly set up, already!

 

[birdman55]

morning everyone....last bird zipping....its having a hard time and is actually starting to fluff out...so i might have to intervene....going to give it a couple of more hours to see what happens...will keep everyone posted...have a great day

 

[aart]

Spent yesterday peeling and chopping ice off paths, driveway and run.....planning for flooding in the coming thaw, but sure looking forward to some mild temps!!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Jackie i like the wide shoulders and short bodies. Is this the first hatch you've done with this cross?

Yes.  And I now have her with my lavender Amerucana rooster so I know who the dad is  Doing a test hatch now for fertility. 

Nice!


I saw a flock of doves that had clearly come from down south a couple days ago. Too fat and robust for here, and hadn't dispersed yet. The few that had stayed in MI i know where they perch. Heard birdsong that sunny day as well; hope!!! I am late getting my rose order in but even the austin people sent out a "bad weather" forgiveness.

 

[taprock]

That is SO cool.......are you the boss there? What do you do about poops?
I want to show this to our librarian.

I'm the Youth Librarian. My boss is wonderful and she loved him, took him for rides on the cart and brought him treats. We have lots of Clorox wipes and drop cloths.

 

[BigHope888]

Spent yesterday peeling and chopping ice off paths, driveway and run.....planning for flooding in the coming thaw, but sure looking forward to some mild temps!!

Spent yesterday peeling and chopping ice off paths, driveway and run.....planning for flooding in the coming thaw, but sure looking forward to some mild temps!!

I plan to shovel all the snow away from the foundation of my house. Basement is known to flood. : ( That's a problem I don't need with baby chicks in the brooder down there. Anyhoo, shoveling is a price I'm willing to pay for this impending Spring warmup. I can hear songbirds that I haven't heard all winter as I type-it's coming!

I'm the Youth Librarian. My boss is wonderful and she loved him, took him for rides on the cart and brought him treats. We have lots of Clorox wipes and drop cloths.

That is awesome.

And a question for my lovely locals: Do chickens eat Japanese beetles? I have read several articles online claiming that they do, but I'd like some verification from the Michiganians. Overturning the ordinance has stalled-life happens, you know how it goes. But I would like to resume my local "chicken fight" and if I could say that chickens do in fact eat Japanese beetles, that would help. I think every gardener hates them, and a LOT of people in this town have beautiful gardens. I'm also deciding where to plant my basil; in the backyard in the ground where chickens could protect it, or in the front where I would have to guard it with cheesecloth. But then it might get eaten by the chickens. Hey, do chickens eat basil?