Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Sally PB]

I took down the wind break on half of the run. Glad I left up the stuff on the other half. It's a cold, sleety, snowy, rainy, grey day.

And Widget might be broody. About 2+ weeks earlier than is useful for brooding chicks for me, so I'll have to break her if she is.

 

[chickflick]

I took all the tarps off the run. Beautiful days. Run needed to dry out after all the rain. Unfortunately, the coop is on a downslope. No where else to put it, but hasn't been that much of a problem as it dries out fast. Chickens are out unless really bad weather. They have cover under our covered deck. Egg production is up, Someone laid a really weird shaped egg. Someone is laying a tiny egg.

 

[uchytil]

Several years ago, we bought 5 acres that adjoins our property. It has an old farmhouse with a nearby unattached garage, a huge metal pole barn, and another outbuilding. We had thoughts of fixing up the farmhouse and using it as an air bnb, or renting it out. We bought the place when it went into foreclosure. When the owner left, he also trashed the place and the raccoons moved in. We couldn't access it for a year, so the critters had plenty of time to wreck havoc. And they did.

Well, the roof is past repair. We should have torn it all off and re-roofed it the first year, but we didn't have the money. So now we're looking at have it demolished. I've got RFQs out to a couple places.

The garage near the house is still good enough to store things in and it's about 10-15 feet from the house. So I think it's probably too close to see if the local fire department wants to do a practice burn, but I might call them anyway.

Has anyone had a house torn down? I'm wondering what it'll cost to do it.

I never "paid" someone but I do own 15 acres in Maine and there was a farmhouse and attached barn. My BIL and I tore it down into the old foundation (deep cellar) and covered it with dirt. I kept many of the old wide pine boards and hand hewn beams. This was an old house...1800's. I have heard fire departments (as mentioned) will use them as practice burns. Never hurts to ask.

 

[uchytil]

I took all the tarps off the run. Beautiful days. Run needed to dry out after all the rain. Unfortunately, the coop is on a downslope. No where else to put it, but hasn't been that much of a problem as it dries out fast. Chickens are out unless really bad weather. They have cover under our covered deck. Egg production is up, Someone laid a really weird shaped egg. Someone is laying a tiny egg.

Yep. 90 a few days ago and 30 and snow blizzards yesterday. Cindy flew to Boston to see the grands and her family in Maine so she's missing this frozen mess, lol. I just hope it does not hurt all the blooms that happened during the false summer.

 

[uchytil]

I have to (note: have to) drive to Manistique next week to work at the Thompson State Fish Hatchery. I need to tie some flies for any free time I get. Not really looking forward to this work trip. The UP can be nasty right about now. That's my experience anyway from living in the Soo...

 

[Sally PB]

I just hope it does not hurt all the blooms that happened during the false summer.

I had "daffodil land" last week. Boy do the blooms look bedraggled now.

The forsythia bloomed, but they seem to be ok. My blueberries and fruit trees did NOT bloom, thank goodness. I'm hoping the chilly temps will keep them tightly closed because we're going to have 30s at night again early next week.

 

[Sally PB]

DH just got a "frost warning" on his weather app on his phone for tonight starting at midnight.

I'll be putting the totes back over the pots in the green house. They did fine that way last night.

 

[chickflick]

Sad news. Sam, Opa to his BYC friends, passed away.

 

[chickflick]

Going back to his FB page, he passed two days after Hope and him got married.
RIP Sam.

 

[Dreamzchaser]

So sorry for your friend Sam. Hope that his help in this thread is never forgotten.

Yrs, it has gone down in temperature and I did took the plastics and heater out of coop. Good thing the plates are still on the sides. I had to turn them on. LoveChild had to go with the big girls because he refuses to use his little house and always stayed by the division inside the run.
At least this afternoon they are all out messing up in the garden and the compost area. Egg production is good. 8 out of 10. Sophia has been eggless and another one that skips.

Did some seeds to see if I could recuperate some time and they all came up. So weird for me.