Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

I had a super healthy friend that was in the Coast Guard die from Covid recently. He was a medical type (we called him Doc) on our ship.

That sucks.

My recent hospital stay had me having Covid and I was sent to solitary. I was held in isolation for more than 2 weeks. I had no physical symptoms for it. Nor was I treated for it. Other issues were all over the map. A covid test prior to an out-patient procedure was negative but the surgeon read the hospital report (180+ pages) and declared me high-risk and says that I need to go to a big city hospital. I'm left bewildered and confused...And still in untreated pain.

I hope that no one goes through any Covid event. Take care my friends. Get vaccinated and mask up.

 

[RaZ]

I got my SSI today and the first thing I did was gas up so I could go to TSC for critter food and supplies. Got the basic necessities and all critters are good for several weeks (I hope). I also got lucky in that they had 3 bags of damaged water softener salt. 3 $ discounted bags for 7 bucks.

425 pounds of goods to unload and put away. What a challenge that was. But it's all done. Work smarter not harder. Farm life ain't always easy Damn, I'm hurting right now. But I'm happy.

 

[1muttsfan]

It was a tough evening last night, I finally culled the rooster and 5 hens I had set aside. I could not in good conscience rehome them as the girls were egg eaters, but it was so hard to kill them, seems to get harder every year. At least I know that while here they had a good life, happy and well fed with comfortable lodgings. These last few weeks they have spent most of their days outside roaming around. But the weather is getting colder, and I only have one winterized coop, so they had to go

 

[Dreamzchaser]

The VA said I was too young for a booster, lol. Anyway, all the other med appts are zero fun and take away from my time on da farm.

Odd, They scheduled me for December.

 

[Dreamzchaser]

Good day Lovelies!!!
Had a great time at Folly's place. I touch a real horse for the first time in my 60 years,lol It was wierd but nice at the same time. Cannot explained right. Her chickens are so beautiful. They are all free range and so well behaved. No rooster came running after me or anything like that. She has a beautiful color rooster that is so amazing! I really enjoyed that time.

However, nothing that was supposed to be done got done. We chatted and talked and learned so much about each other. I am so blessed by her. She has so much knowledge.

Frankiegirl was there too. She is just one young buck. Smart and beautiful inside and out.

Had a bad night. I totally forgot to take my meds and I was like a dragon all night. It was pouring hard and heavy rain all 96 west until I hit 31 north. Surprised I was not sleepy on the road thinking that I was up since 3am. Came home rushed to pee and get to the girls. They were very upset at me for real. They turned a nest box upseide down and found 5 eggs on the dirt. Got them in the crate in the coop because temp were to go down to 33 overnight. The mama's girls were all in their roost but when they saw me, they all came down to greet me and probably curse me out for leaving them alone all day. Got them back up and collected their eggs too. They all wanted a snack and I did while they were in the roost and hugged them and kissed them good night. I love them so freaking much!

Had plans for this morning but it is so windy outside that makes it feel cold. It is not as cold inside the run. So I re-did the outside nest box, new water and feed and I raked the full run. I have straw in there and they have it all over. So I raked it alll back to the edge to let them scratch on the dirt and threw some scratch on teh dirt. That will keep them busy scratching and bringing the straw back everywhere,lol
Got the hardware cloth to cover one area that I need nad the drill has a fully charged battery but it is so windy (32mph per weather channel) that I am just gonna stay inside and oversee via camera for anything. Had my 4 eggs for the morning and showered. I need to go to the hardware store to check on the snow blade for the Husqvarna mower/tractor. I will follow Michelle's advise and ask them if they can bring it over and attach it for me. But that is looking more like in the afternoon. I am tired and sleepy. I am pretty sure, I will do what my body wants this time.

Thank you all so much!!

 

[aart]

It was a tough evening last night, I finally culled the rooster and 5 hens I had set aside. I could not in good conscience rehome them as the girls were egg eaters, but it was so hard to kill them, seems to get harder every year. At least I know that while here they had a good life, happy and well fed with comfortable lodgings. These last few weeks they have spent most of their days outside roaming around. But the weather is getting colder, and I only have one winterized coop, so they had to go

It does get a bit harder every year, and it's a lot of work too.
I've only butchered 3 birds in the last 2 years, this years cockerels.
And I skimped but just taking breasts and legs....so no plucking or gutting.
Below my previous goals and execution of 6 new pullets every year and the required slaughtering to get numbers down to winter capacity.
Oh, well......grilled up some of the cockerel this week, deeeeelicious.

 

[Sally PB]

I found out that two more homes of neighbors have Covid (4 adults and 3 kids). One adult has been in bed for a week, but the rest seem to be doing ok.

The people at the last house on the road may have gone south for the winter; I'm not sure.

What I do know is that the people who did get the vaccine (DH and me) have not gotten Covid. (That we know of, anyway. No symptoms, or even suspicions of symptoms.)

 

[RaZ]

It was a tough evening last night, I finally culled the rooster and 5 hens I had set aside. I could not in good conscience rehome them as the girls were egg eaters, but it was so hard to kill them, seems to get harder every year. At least I know that while here they had a good life, happy and well fed with comfortable lodgings. These last few weeks they have spent most of their days outside roaming around. But the weather is getting colder, and I only have one winterized coop, so they had to go

IKR Culling a bird or putting a pet to sleep is never easy for anyone with empathy and a love of animals. The possible exception is a mean rooster.

My flock size is consistent, I don't have to downsize for winter. My birds are winter hearty and would rather free range even in nasty weather. They were out all day yesterday even in the heavy rain. They have a lot of cover though, under the porch, under pine trees, under tarped firewood piles, and more. But still they are out at any given time.

I remembered a winterizing trick. Bubble wrap on the windows. Cheap and easy. Doesn't block light very much, just a little diffusion. Going to do my coop today...after I clean the windows of dirt and cobwebs.

 

[RaZ]

Good day Lovelies!!!
Had a great time at Folly's place. I touch a real horse for the first time in my 60 years,lol It was wierd but nice at the same time. Cannot explained right. Her chickens are so beautiful. They are all free range and so well behaved. No rooster came running after me or anything like that. She has a beautiful color rooster that is so amazing! I really enjoyed that time.

However, nothing that was supposed to be done got done. We chatted and talked and learned so much about each other. I am so blessed by her. She has so much knowledge.

---

I got my Chanticleers from Folly a year or 2 ago. Nice birds, even the roosters. Big Boy is huge. He is so good at finding treats for the hens, watching and warning the girls, and he treats the hens very well. Even when mounting them. Little Boy came here as a teenager and a load of hormones. BB keeps him in line but he is a sneak attack breeder of hens that are not in his harem. Woe to him if Big Boy catches him in the act.

It's always nice to visit with fellow BYCers. I sure hope we can have Chicken Stock this next year. Maybe we can have it here. Even if it is a million miles away at the edge of nowhere.

 

[RaZ]

What I do know is that the people who did get the vaccine (DH and me) have not gotten Covid. (That we know of, anyway. No symptoms, or even suspicions of symptoms.)

I was vaccinated and got it when I was IN the hospital. They put me in solitary confinement in a heartbeat. I had no symptoms. After I was paroled another test came back negative. So I don't really know if I had it or not. I guess it affects people differently.