Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Folly's place]

Y2, have you had any wild sick birds around recently? Specifically, wrens with goopy eyes and nostrils, sick?
That's likely Mycoplasma gallisepticum, very contagious and not curable. If I see one wild bird like that, I remove wild bird feeders and ask the neighbors to do the same, immediately. Those wrens all die and hopefully before infecting my flock. The bird feeders aren't accessable to the chickens, ever.
I agree that if you were considering culling and starting over, now is a good time.
Consider having a fecal run, so looking forward, you know what intestinal parasites are lurking at your place.
Nasal and throat swabs, sent to the MSU Path lab, can ID possible respiratory infections, especially if you want to keep these birds. Look up online, and call for advice there. Dr. Fulton is terrific!
Mary

 

[RaZ]

I am at my wits end. I can't believe the conditions of the brooders and the neglect of the chicks.
Several customers have complained, yet nothing changes. The brooders stink. There isn't enough litter in the brooders. Feed and water run out and are not replaced during the day. Several chicks have died while employees are directed to other duties. I'm told that "this happens" and we "don't have time" to care for the birds. Even worse, is when chicks are crushed by negligent employees setting feed or water troughs on top of chicks in the brooders. I've been told that those chicks are "just too stupid to move away".
There is no excuse for that!

Sure, this store is understaffed. Still, that is no excuse. This is unacceptable. I've been reassigned to cashier function and not allowed to leave the front area until the end of my shift. Then I can check on the chicks. By then, several have died. That doesn't matter to the wanna-bes who are vying for the manager job.

Office politics are a terrible thing. And the livestock suffers the most. No wonder this store has such a high turn-over rate. I'm ready to quit myself.

I found this this after closing when I could leave the front. Several other brooders were out of food or water. Goddammit! I'm pi$$ed.

 

[aart]

Goddammit! I'm pi$$ed.

Yikes!! I would be too!!

 

[aart]

7 chicks out of 8 eggs, don't think the last one will hatch.
5 males and 2 females

 

[chickflick]

Do you have breaks? Maybe sneak over there and take care of them then? That is so sad, and heartless.

 

[uchytil]

@uchytil You could ask how much the township is spending to persecute Hidden Creek. It's your tax money

None yet. The twp is pretty small and surrounded by farms. They are only doing what they have to when a "neighbor" makes a complaint. This is not the only thing going on around here just the most socially shared. This place is redneck city...lots of shady stuff happening, lol

 

[uchytil]

Leaving for our first camping trip today. Going to Monroe, MI. Grandkids are so excited. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Sounds like fun. Is that a campground setting? I need to scope out some places to haul my trailer and grandkids sometime.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@RaZ
Perhaps they should be reported to the local Humane Society or some other animal protection agency?

I've gone into the local TSC here on a Sunday and the waterers were bone dry first thing in the morning which means they likely didn't have water overnight. I have asked for an employee to take care of it, then waited and watched for an employee to fill them and refused to leave until they did. I even asked where the water was and I told them iwould do it

 

[1muttsfan]

Somebody is dumb at that store all right, but I don't think it is the poultry.

How much do you need that job?

 

[chickflick]

Yes, it was a campground setting. First time we went there. Not much for kids to do. Close to Toledo Zoo, which is pretty cool. My grand kids favorite campground is Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Fremont, In. Lots of stuff for the kids to do. 4 pools. Water Park, Splash Pad, pond with beach. Fishing pond. Lots of parks.