Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Dreamzchaser]

I really do not know what to make of all this. I have been asking around for a chicken-sitter but I am not letting another person in my coop for sure now. Not panic but carefully loving my girls.

 

[aart]

I get stopping feeding wild birds to have less around the chickens. But, that aside, if everyone stopped feeding the birds two things would happen to make the AI worse for the wild birds. They would suddenly lose major food supplies; even if they found alternatives, they would use time and energy waiting for the feeders to be refilled before looking for the other sources which would leave them hungry and weakened. The other thing is there would be many fewer food sources total which could mean more birds at each of those.

Yep, just another environmental SNAFU humans have created.

 

[1muttsfan]

I think it's likely that since the beginning of organisms with complex lifestyles there has been parasites of various types that prey on them. They will evolve just as we do, they are just trying to get by just like everybody else.

Big bugs have little bugs
upon their backs to bite them,
Little bugs have smaller bugs,
and so on ad infinitum

 

[RaZ]

I read somewhere (forget the source) that bird feeders are only a fraction of what the birds eat in a day. That makes sense to me since they have been finding food for thousands of years and years. I even see this at my house when I see birds at my feeders and also see them on the native plants in the yard.

My feeders are at the front of my house well over 100 feet from the coop. Not that that really matters when the chickens get to free range. The more I read about this AI thing, the more questions I have. Like does it hit wild turkey, pheasants, or even the song birds? I could probably spend all day researching. I'm afraid that I just don't have the energy to do that right now.

 

[Dreamzchaser]

I could probably spend all day researching. I'm afraid that I just don't have the energy to do that right now.

You are right. The more we try to get info the more distortioned it may become. Still think that patience and security on our part is what is best for now.
Those little birds that were aaround a while back are not around for a while. My girls do not come out unless for 10 min in front oftheir run door and my kitchen door but I will still keep themin their run for the most part.
I have no clue how to mend the relationship with the neighbor to see if their kids will come and get the eggs at least and give them some water. So I more likely not go to Fl unless hub does care for them. I do not want anyone else to come to make sure my girls are safe. I can loose them all and with a lot of pain in my heart, I will be ok but for them to suffer, that I can sure try my best to avoid.

 

[aart]

I read somewhere (forget the source) that bird feeders are only a fraction of what the birds eat in a day.

That might be, tho probably not truly quantified, but the congregation of many birds around feeders is what can hasten the spread of disease...just like deer feeding.

 

[Sally PB]

Is there a "peak" season for AI, like winter is for human flu?

I'm really in a quandary about having my neighbor tend my chickens so I can go on vacation with DH this summer. Ok, really and truly? I don't want to go, and I'm going to be worried and nervous the whole time I'm gone. I doubt it'll be much of a "vacation" for me.

I haven't gone away since I got them, almost 2 years ago. Nobody else has tended them.

 

[saysfaa]

Is there a "peak" season for AI, like winter is for human flu?

I'm really in a quandary about having my neighbor tend my chickens so I can go on vacation with DH this summer. Ok, really and truly? I don't want to go, and I'm going to be worried and nervous the whole time I'm gone. I doubt it'll be much of a "vacation" for me.

I haven't gone away since I got them, almost 2 years ago. Nobody else has tended them.

I can't answer the not wanting to go part but I really think asking the neighbor to put some shoe covers I provided would be enough. And washing hands if the neighbor has birds too.

 

[RaZ]

Slipped and slid to the coop and back earlier but did get 5 eggs today.
Snow didn't start until 2:30 AM and we didn't get much at all. Trouble is, that light fluffy snow is on top of solid ice. Going down the driveway was a barely controlled slide. Coming back up required 4WD and I still slid sideways when I parked. I did put down some of the ice melt I got from the neighbor. A product made here in Michigan called "Hot Pink Deicer". Good stuff but I think I would need to use the whole 50# bag to even make a dent in the ice.

I need to bring in firewood but I'm afraid to even try. I don't want to walk out there with an armload of wood and I don't think the tractor would be much better. I wonder how expensive chains would be for the JD.

 

[GardeningWithMyChickens]

Slipped and slid to the coop and back earlier but did get 5 eggs today.
Snow didn't start until 2:30 AM and we didn't get much at all. Trouble is, that light fluffy snow is on top of solid ice. Going down the driveway was a barely controlled slide. Coming back up required 4WD and I still slid sideways when I parked. I did put down some of the ice melt I got from the neighbor. A product made here in Michigan called "Hot Pink Deicer". Good stuff but I think I would need to use the whole 50# bag to even make a dent in the ice.

I need to bring in firewood but I'm afraid to even try. I don't want to walk out there with an armload of wood and I don't think the tractor would be much better. I wonder how expensive chains would be for the JD.
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Be careful