Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[trailrider330]

Do tractor supply or such places sell welsummers? Or would I have to seek out a special place for that?

Townline Hatchery in Zeeland use to raise them, but they must have gotten rid of their birds about 3 years or so ago. If you know what you are looking for, you should be pretty accurately able to sex chicks in the brooder based on markings, just not sure where you can go around here to find them anymore.

 

[trailrider330]

There is a pullorum tester workshop this Saturday at MSU. http://msue.anr.msu.edu/events/cert..._campaign=Poultry+March+2017&utm_medium=email

Bummer! Wish I would have known this sooner. Have they ever offered this on a Saturday before? It seems like it's generally during the week, which is difficult for those of us who work and don't have vacation days. Last year I called MSU and had suggested they offer it on a Saturday, but was told that was not likely to happen. Go figure!

If anyone notices this workshop being offered on a Saturday again, please let us know.

 

[Folly's place]

I had Welsummers from Cackle that were fine, but their Wheaton French Marans are great! Mary

 

[RaZ]

Bummer! Wish I would have known this sooner. Have they ever offered this on a Saturday before? It seems like it's generally during the week, which is difficult for those of us who work and don't have vacation days. Last year I called MSU and had suggested they offer it on a Saturday, but was told that was not likely to happen. Go figure!

If anyone notices this workshop being offered on a Saturday again, please let us know.

I posted that link soon after I received it. Most notices have very little lead time. By design???

 

[yochickiemomma]

We had sleet and freezing rain overnight that change to snow about 8:30 this morning, and since have gotten at least 10 inches of snow, plus it's still snowing like crazy. Winter is definitely back.  Not tempted by chicks At All.

Im In the northern part of the LP and we got hit pretty hard too but only about 5"

 

[Folly's place]

We've only got about an inch of the white stuff here, but it was WINDY last night, and driving home not so much fun. Mary

 

[1muttsfan]

12+ inches since yesterday am, thank goodness we have a tractor

 

[jasonvanorder]

We got maybe an inch but the ground was just warm enough to cause it to melt a bit then freeze into ice overnight. Not a fun drive this morning

 

[gladahmae]

Well we sort-of made it through winter. I ended up losing another duck, but I also figured out that duck eggs make me sick, so I don't know if I'm going to keep the 2 I have at this point. I was so excited about them last year AND ended up with a trio, so I'm kind of disappointed that I can't actually eat the eggs (or hatch any eggs since the drake was the first one to go.) We haven't had an egg laid since December. Yeah. Out of 30+ birds, over half of which were ISAs purchased last spring, WITH supplemental lighting starting at 3am every day.....no eggs. And that's 2 years in a row that we've gotten ISAs that didn't lay until the FOLLOWING year. I'm kind of over them.

I'm completely debating doing a full flock turn-over and getting the birds I *want* for looks instead of just the "high production" breeds that don't seem to be working out for me. And of course I can't find anyone in Michigan who has what I want for a price that I can stomach. I doubt I can talk my dear darling husband into $200+ worth of chicks as a starting point. If anyone knows of someone in MI with good LF wyandottes, I'd love to have a good flock of those. Everything I have seen so far is very hatchery-looking.


Can it be spring already though?? I was all ready to order my greenhouse plastic and then we got 6in of crap. I'm so, so, so very tired of this white stuff.

 

[yochickiemomma]

I drove the old suburban this morning that thing will go just about anywhere w snow tires on it. Unfortunately I had to drive it because my dog had a swollen leg and had to go to the vet and she doesn't fit comfortably in the front seat of my S10.