Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[iamfivewire]

resting after a big day of scratching around :

 

[iamfivewire]

. . . . . & one of our non-crested CCLs :

 

[Folly's place]

Nice birds! Mary

 

[thechickenflock]

2 Of them are still alive! they are living in a wood pile under their house.

 

[wannahomestead]

Here' the duckies in their harness to try and keep the weight off their legs.

 

[bigmrg74]

I had another chicken in the tractor this morning, not sure how it got in there, but wasn't happy at all about being in there. Flighty little bugger.

 

[Candy442]

Send those raccoon to the city. We are running out here.
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/2...-remove-10-raccoons-from-overrun-vacant-house

RaZ, they are cute little things...need lots of garbage cans to raid Nobody said we couldn't bring abandoned baby raccoons to CS, right? I will bring them to you then.

 

[1muttsfan]

From the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association (purple hilight mine):

Highly Pathogenic Disease Confirmed in Free-Range Geese
The Michigan departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) announced the state's first confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N2 in the state. The disease was found in free-ranging Canada geese in Macomb County. Avian influenza is a virus that can infect both free-ranging and domestic poultry such as chickens, turkeys, quail and geese.

Three goslings collected in Sterling Heights were delivered to the DNR's Wildlife Disease Laboratory for necropsy. Initial testing was performed at Michigan State University's Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health in Lansing. These tests were positive and the samples were forwarded to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Lab in Ames, Iowa, for final confirmation. MDARD and the DNR received confirmation Saturday, June 6, that the goslings were infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, subtype H5N2.

Michigan is the 21st state to report a case of HPAI since December 2014. In the other 20 states, the virus has been found in captive wild birds or free-ranging birds, backyard flocks, and commercial flocks. Michigan also becomes the 6th state to detect in wild or free-ranging birds only. To date, there are 226 detections of HPAI across the country (affecting approximately 50 million birds), with Iowa and Minnesota experiencing the most cases.

MDARD is interested in collaborating with veterinarians in Macomb and Oakland counties in an effort to do some surveillance and biosecurity education of backyard poultry in the area and help mitigate possible spread of the virus to local flocks.

1. MDARD is seeking to identify all veterinarians in Macomb and Oakland counties who regularly see birds through their client base. They are specifically interested in poultry, and are also interested in monitoring pet bird populations for potential exposure. Since backyard poultry populations are controlled by local ordinances throughout the state, there is no active tracking available for this poultry population.
2. Once identified, MDARD will be providing these veterinarians with the attached talking points and a FAQ document to assist them in communicating with their clients. Updates on Avian Diseases may be found at the MDARD website by visiting the website link below.
3. MDARD would like to work with veterinarians willing to participate in biosecurity monitoring and testing. MDARD would provide testing of potentially exposed birds free of charge. Clients would need to pay the veterinary office for the office visit.

If you or your practice actively see birds (poultry of any kind and also pet birds), please contact Tina Moreno at [email protected] or 517/284-5683 for further information, and please share this message with any other veterinarians that you know who may treat poultry and pet birds in their practices.

Residents who notice the death loss of three or more free-ranging birds should report it to DNR at 517/336-5030. If your domestic flock is experiencing severe illness or multiple death losses, contact MDARD at 800/292-3939 or for after-hours emergencies call 517/373-0440.

For more information, go to Michigan.gov/avianinfluenza or Michigan.gov/aviandiseases.

 

[BigHope888]

How much is every one charging for eggs at farmers markets this year? I was told to raise my prices because of the egg shortage. It that really changing prices already?

I work in a grocery store that I do not wish to name publicly. Our eggs are $1.59 right now, and I think that's the inflated price. They are produced here in MI. I think our price is pretty competitive-we're probably taking a loss, but our customers are buying them, including the party store owners (who probably re-sell them at a profit). The residential customers often comment how expensive eggs are getting. I usually respond, "You could get a chicken..." I've gotten some favorable responses.

I got a late start to the day today.

I found an old puppy harness to get one of my lame pekins up off his/her legs for a while. The other one is looking a bit better today it seems, but I'd still like to rig him/her up too. I only have 1 puppy harness though, so I'll have to think of something.


The chickens are looking more and more adult every day. When should I open up the nest boxes? What material are you all using for nest box curtains?

I hope your little duckies pull through. What's this about opening up the nest boxes? My girls have had nest boxes since I've put them in the "Big Girl" coop. Are we supposed to give them nest boxes or access to only when they're about to lay? I think our chickens are about the same age, btw. Mine are 16 weeks today. And yes they're looking more and more like "chickens." Miss Hazel and Henny Penny are red in the faces now, combs and wattles are getting bright and full. Their (last?) bag of chick feed is getting low, it's undecided if i'll have to get another bag of chick feed or if layer feed will be the next purchase. I've heard that you should wait till you see the first egg to switch to layer feed, that's my plan.

Cleaned goat pens, clean turkey pen, cleaned pig pen, trimmed goat hooves, gave goat's shots - check...time for a Margarita!

Well, here's a challenge that I did not consider when deciding to get chickens. Today I was tinkering in the yard, sweeping and such. The girls were happily free ranging. I hear a "knock knock knock, excuse me?" from the gate of my privacy fence. (GASP!) Well, it was the meter reader who did not want to barge in and scare me, so I let him in, told him that if anyone asks, these are parakeets. He chuckled and said, "As long as it's nothing that's going to bite me, I don't mind." I thanked him for being cool, he went around my house and read my meter while I though of how many billion Marek's, AI, and other viruses were on his shoes, and he went on his way. Yep. Totally didn't consider that. Let's just cross fingers and hope he's as quiet as he says. And that no other meter readers mind. And that his shoes don't bring in viruses. Stop it, brain, STOP IT!

 

[RaZ]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...ng-the-michigan-chicken-stock-picnic-and-swap

I have updated the attendance list. If it is incomplete DO NOT get mad at me. The information is based on what people actually sent to me in a PM or stated on the page itself.