Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[NorthwoodsChick]

I've been getting one or two eggs a day now for over a week, unfortunately most of them are frozen by the time I get to them. And this has been an unusually warm winter. That's why I don't bother with lights, why tried to increase laying when most of the eggs end up unusable.

sorry to hear that. How many nests do you have available to them? Any chance you can limit them to just 1 nest to keep eggs warmer until more resume laying?

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

It seems early for bird migration in the UP but I spied a norther harrier hawk in a dead tree behind the coop. Spatch, my rooster, was alarmed standing in the open while all the hens were huddled under a potted tree on my porch. As soon as I let my dogs out the hawk took off toward the marsh. I’ve seen this hawk for a couple of years perched in that very same tree before I had chickens, and he always took off toward the same marsh.
He’s no larger than my 3-4 lb EE I think they mainly go for rodents but do I need to worry about attacks with that hawk breed? Just looking to understand the hawk breed, and it appears ftom what I read that they could go for rodents and birds but all of my chickens are big meaty 6-10 lb heffers (except Karen the EE). I understand there is always a risk because my chickens free range. They stay near the coop, driveway, or house in winter, and have hiding places.

 

[aart]

but do I need to worry about attacks with that hawk breed?

Might depend on how hungry it is...and what else is available to eat.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Might depend on how hungry it is...and what else is available to eat.

True there. Maybe one of the 10,000 hare will look more attractive.
I’ll have to watch this hawks patterns close. The last 2 yrs he hung around for about 2-3 weeks then goes elsewhere, so hopefully he finds a mate and moves on.

 

[RaZ]

Two eggs for me today. That makes 6 eggs this week. If I get a frozen egg I'll let it thaw and then give to the pups for a treat. They seem to enjoy them.

I had 2 more MRIs done today. It was a a rainy, foggy drive to the MRI place this morning. Had one last week and the drive there was also rainy. Every time I have an MRI it seems to rain. My weather station says that I got 0.83 inches of rain at the homestead so far today. The ducks don't mind but the hens are as mad as....well you know!

Yesterday was such a nice day. I had the old car and motorcycle out of the barn and ran them both for a good while. I'm getting anxious for riding and car show season.

 

[1muttsfan]

Once eggs freeze in the coop, you should consider them contaminated and not suitable for human food, freezing also ruins the texture of the egg. However, if you thawed them and fed them immediately back to pets or maybe the chickens that would probably be okay.

I've never heard of harriers bothering chickens but as Aart says that may depend on how hungry they are

 

[saysfaa]

How can eggs be contaminated due to freezing if the shell is not cracked?

Out of curiosity. I've had one egg frozen so I'm not concerned about it.

I checked for cracks, then shelled it immediately and marveled at the novelty. Then ate it. But the odds I'll have another one are very low. I visit the chickens often enough it just isn't much of a risk.

 

[1muttsfan]

When they freeze the shells usually crack due to the expansion of the water inside the egg, and the inside of the egg is exposed to bacteria. Frozen eggs that don't look cracked probably are.

 

[chickflick]

Yesterday was such a nice day. I had the old car and motorcycle out of the barn and ran them both for a good while. I'm getting anxious for riding and car show season.

My son is working the sound at the auto show in Chicago. Said, great, you get to see the show for free. He said he's more interested in the old cars.

 

[RaZ]

I always enjoyed the auto shows. I attended many in Detroit over the years. Those million dollar displays are staggering. But since I got the old car I much prefer the classic car shows and cruises. The classic owners are really nice people.

Yesterday after my MRI I took the Jeep to the muffler shop for an exhaust repair. They have stainless steel tips that I think I'll be putting on my car this spring. SS isn't as shiny as chrome but it shouldn't rust like my chrome tips have. They are pricey though. One tip costs more than the entire Jeep repair bill. And I need 2 of them. It will look pretty cool...and that's what counts.

Winston has topped 30 pounds and he is only 16/17 weeks old. He is going to be a big solid dog, I think. We are still working some basic training things.