Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

Fuzzy - that reminds me of a question I had! And I'm sure the answer isn't complicated but do I feed my hens and Roos the same thing? They are all together and I have no plans to separate or get rid of the roos.
 
Glad to have found the new thread, and to see so much chicken talk!

Taprock ( or anyone else) - How big were your chickens that went to freezer camp? How much is lost after being dressed out? I have a couple that will surely will be going if the attitude does not change. I just don't want to do it too early and really have nothing to show for it.
 
Come post your uggos on the new UGGO FAN PAGE!!!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/697508/uggo-fan-page
love.gif
lau.gif
 
VJ, there is a possibility of gout if the roos eat the hen's laying feed. They do no lay eggs, so it builds up in their bodies. The problems can occur also if the roo is getting high protein and extra salt, as i understand it.
I never even knew birds got gout, until i reccomended someone to feed canned fish to give their birds a boost in the winter! (both high protein AND the salt) whew. I was corrected..........So all in moderation, i guess. I just want to let people know the possibilities, just in case.

I have not tried purina flock raiser (I do not like purina and do not trust them, i fed my cat it for many years and last year he started puking, every time i feed him any kind of purina product, wet or dry, even labled different, every kind of purina owned food sickens him. :( ) Needless to say, i have a mistrust. Kinda stinks, because the fancy feast chicken and liver was his favorite treat. (owned by purina, still makes him sick)

I am an odd one out, i feed the manna pro showbird formula to my birds, it is a concentrated pellet feed that you give 1-2 Tb per bird, then i supplement with oyster shell and as much scratch as they want. I have tried other brands flock raiser, even the kent, and though i supplemented with oyster shell my hens got thin shells. Don't know why, i don't know anyone else who has this issue.
 
Last edited:
Howdy folks, I'm finally home from Lansing and the Ag Com. meeting.
If you have ever been to a city council meeting, it is conducted pretty much the same way. Agenda business first and public comments at the end.

Of interest was the discussion of the pending Farm Bill with a representative from the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture and the regional manager for Senator Stabenow. Plus the director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
If you are not aware of this bill you should check what it is about. I think that even us backyard farmers can see how we might be affected. There are several correlations that can be drawn.

For public comments, a fellow BYCer spoke first about how by weakening the GAAMPs will likely disenfranchise around 15% of Michigan residents. She was articulate and well reasoned. The Ag Com Director said that she didn't see how anyone would be disenfranchised by weakening the law.

I was next to speak and made it very clear that I am facing the possibility of being disenfranchised within the next month. I described how some local ordinances are violating the letter and spirit of the RTF law and some folks are being aggressively prosecuted based on potential changes that may occur. I explained that allowing each city or township to impose their own rules/laws under a weaken RTF law would likely have serious consequences to anyone with chickens or even backyard gardens.

I was questioned about my case and I explained the situation. Some of the commissioners stated that "they can't do that". Some further discussion took place which was conversational to a point and educational as well. I kind of closed my comments by saying that we may be backyard farmers today, but we may also be growing the next generation of farmers to feed our people. Starting small can only help in learning the ins and outs of large scale agriculture. Taking away our right to feed ourselves would be a dis-service to the citizens as a whole.

A third person also commented on the proposed GAAMP changes, but it was hard to hear her so I don't really know if was for or against the changes.

After the meeting adjourned, a reporter for MIRS asked for my contact info and if I could provide pictures of my birds. I also showed her my local paper article and I think she is interested in a story.

Bottom line here, folks, is that any weakening of the RFT will likely have a negative affect on all of us. Even if you are currently legal with your flock. I ask that you get familiar with the original statute and the proposed changes. Then write to the Ag Commission and/or attend the next meeting on August 22.

PM me if you want more information, have questions or want to help.
I appreciate your support thus far and so do the people who have been working on this prior to my involvement.
 
Howdy all, I was told about the new thread by Chicken Grandma, alot of you already know me, some probably don't...I ain't been here in a long while. I'm in mid-Michigan and up to 32 chickens from 4 (I know-it's a miracle how that happens huh?)
I still have my originals, a couple of them are broody right now.
My17 Dominiques I ordered this spring are now at 18 weeks! Some alot more mature than others, it's very visable. I lost a couple as babies from pasty butt.
My 7 pure Canadian Chanteclers I got from Jim Hall, lost one egg, the other 6 are magnificent and soon to be 10 weeks old, 2 are roosters and 4 are pullets.
I picked up my first pig, an American Guinea Hog, what a Charmer he is. He's now at 16 weeks old.
Well, toodles, I'll try to come around more often, been working on building chicken tractors for people. fun on the farm.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom