Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[aart]

We are thinning out the farm and I'm not happy about it at all. My goat herd has been sold and will be picked up Saturday, and the pigs will be sold or sent to the processor along with the rabbits. I will retain just a few chickens and the sheep herd since they don't cost as much, or take up as much of my time. The dogs are staying as well.


Since the goats are being picked up this weekend, I am not sure now if I'll be able to make it to CS15. I'm disappointed in how things are turning out but such is life I guess. Hope everyone has a good time.

Bummer! Hang in there.

 

[RaZ]

Here is a good, albeit long, article regarding the avian influenza and the resulting media storm to go along with it.

The trouble is that most people won't take the time to do any real research for themselves. This paper does a good job and provides the references so you can dig even further.
http://www.grain.org/article/entrie...ndustry-s-central-role-in-the-bird-flu-crisis

 

[1muttsfan]

So sorry to hear that Silly

 

[snowflake]

Raised areas that are about 3" wide running helter skelter with occasional piles of dirt 6" high and 12" in diameter are indicative of mole infestation. Gophers (ground squirrels) create tunnels that are smaller than those made by moles.
Both Hope and Granny have retired for the night and they left the TV on. I'm glad that it Is still on. It can be an exceptionally informative and educational tool. For instance, I just learned that insurance ducks will nest on top of a woman's head. I saw it, so It must be true.

thank you I then have moles. do I need the wire snap traps?

I love the aflax duck, very clever advertisers, it sticks in you mind

so sorry to hear about the necessity to down size, I know you loved your goats

also sorry you can't make CS. our ##'s are dwindling.

 

[glambka]

We are thinning out the farm and I'm not happy about it at all.   My goat herd has been sold and will be picked up Saturday, and the pigs will be sold or sent to the processor along with the rabbits.   I will retain just a few chickens and the sheep herd since they don't cost as much, or take up as much of my time.   The dogs are staying as well. 
  

Since the goats are being picked up this weekend, I am not sure now if I'll be able to make it to CS15.  I'm disappointed in how things are turning out but such is life I guess.   Hope everyone has a good time.

Sorry to hear that, Silly...was hoping to talk to you about that portrait I wants done for my kids of their dogs....especially since they just found out yesterday that Sarge has heart worms and might not make it.

Let me know if you may be able to give me a price.

 

[dyorto]

My chicks are now 4 weeks old. This will be the first night indoor without the heat lamp. They are starting to fly/jump out of my storage bin. How soon can they go in the outdoor coop? And am I supposed to block off the nesting box part of it until they are older? Thanks for any help!!

 

[1muttsfan]

Let them get used to no heat for a few days, then out into the coop. Block off the nest boxes if they start sleeping/pooping in them.

 

[dyorto]

Thank you. They are all huddled together tonight. I feel bad for cutting off their heat! I'm sure they'll be fine though

 

[taprock]

Raz I liked that article very good information. However, to me it seems that our country learned nothing by watching it unfold in Asia. I would have thought their response would have been more prepared. They had a few years to start with information and teaching for the public. Big Ag doesn't usually change unless profit causes it but they obviously weren't prepared either.

Something I haven't read or heard yet is how much of the avian population as in species, are carriers for AI. While we have't gotten that far here in the U.S. They must have some idea from Asia/Europe.

 

[BigHope888]

Sometimes young birds want to sleep in the nest boxes, and they make a mess there when they do. Blocking them off until they are used to roosting usually works well.

Mix your chick feed half and half with layer feed until you have used it up, your birds will be old enough for layer feed if it lasts you a few more weeks.

I was planning on Chickenstock this year, but had to drive to Lansing a week ago, and have to go to Jackson end of next week - too many weekends away and long trips down in a row. I hope you all have a great time, and I will especially miss all the great folks (and the delicious food).

Thanks! Mine never took to sleeping in nest boxes, so I guess it's a non-issue. Phew. And those girls have bottomless-pit type stomachs, like their momma hen (me). So it'll be another bag of chick starter, I'm sure that'll be the last.

Tell us the story and we might just wrap up chicken stock early and go get rowdy on those miscreants. Go and flip their motor home or something.

I've always believed in hanging horse thieves, not sure what we would do to chicken killers, maybe strip them naked and stake them out under the roost in a coop perhaps?

Long story? Let it fly. You're in the right place. Yes, it's got to be hard enough losing a chicken to a hungry predator, and far worse losing her to a stupid human. Imagine the headlines..."Chicken riot in rural Michigan..."

Here is a good, albeit long, article regarding the avian influenza and the resulting media storm to go along with it.

The trouble is that most people won't take the time to do any real research for themselves. This paper does a good job and provides the references so you can dig even further.
http://www.grain.org/article/entrie...ndustry-s-central-role-in-the-bird-flu-crisis

Thank you, as always, for the info. Hope you're doing well.

Thank you. They are all huddled together tonight. I feel bad for cutting off their heat! I'm sure they'll be fine though

I felt bad too! But nah, if they're going to be tough Michigan chickens, they'll need to learn to acclimate to all five seasons in a day. (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, and WhatThe.)

Raz I liked that article very good information. However, to me it seems that our country learned nothing by watching it unfold in Asia. I would have thought their response would have been more prepared. They had a few years to start with information and teaching for the public. Big Ag doesn't usually change unless profit causes it but they obviously weren't prepared either.

Something I haven't read or heard yet is how much of the avian population as in species, are carriers for AI. While we have't gotten that far here in the U.S. They must have some idea from Asia/Europe.

X2.