Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

Question,,,,if I put garden lime (it is grain like) will the chickens eat it and will it make them sick?? would like to sweeten the soil under the coop

My first question is "why"? Pulverized limestone is added to acidic soil to help raise the pH.
Did you do a soil test first? Do you actually need the lime?

Other than inhaling the dust, it's not known to be harmful to humans, so I guess it would be OK if your chickens picked some up as grit.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

You sure touched a nerve with me! I've worked hard and I've worked smart, but I was always passed over by those who worked "pretty". Or worked politically.
Smile and wink at them and they will go crazy trying to figure out what you know that they don't.

Aaah yes, the politics. Never cared for them, could be another reason. Hmm. And no, guys no prada!!! I'm talking mall brands perhaps, instead of $$$ store. I am a thrift shopper! Though i did score a knockoff purse.... If i ever do well perhaps a few pieces, shh. When i smile too much it seems to be the general assumption that i am thinking naughty things.............? lol For some reason my quirky humor gets me seen as "dingy", though most of the time i am dead serious while working. I am just tired of getting passed over,

So... I have been gone because my kitchen... well...
..oops?
Amazing what they have to do even for a relatively small fire...

am i the only one wondering what the heck you were cooking?

 

[jrsckn]

My first question is "why"? Pulverized limestone is added to acidic soil to help raise the pH.
Did you do a soil test first? Do you actually need the lime?

Other than inhaling the dust, it's not known to be harmful to humans, so I guess it would be OK if your chickens picked some up as grit.

Lime is well known in the dog world to reduce odors in the yard/kennels which is one reason I use it. I also wondered if it would be safe for the chicken yard if it started to smell.

 

[Stacykins]

It is Thanksgiving in August!

Well, not officially. But my father (who is visiting) and I are cooking up a Thanksgiving style dinner since we have some good friends driving to spend the weekend with us, they will arrive this afternoon. So we have a 20lb turkey tom (heritage blue slate, I raised), sweet potato pies, corn on the cob, homemade stuffing, etc.

It'll be worth it, since good company deserves good food!

 

[RaZ]

Lime is well known in the dog world to reduce odors in the yard/kennels which is one reason I use it. I also wondered if it would be safe for the chicken yard if it started to smell.

I did not know that.
I suppose it makes sense in a kennel setting with concentrated urine/poo odours.
I rake my chicken run at least once a week so I've never noticed a bad odour. The coop poop boards get cleaned each day and if I let the bucket sit for a couple of days it will get stinky, but that is because the waste is so concentrated. The floor of my coop is deep litter and that seems to work well for my small flock.

A larger flock is a different matter.

 

[Juise]

I have 3 messy fairies here but none that clean.

Juise, so glad that was the extent of the damage and nothing worse. (can you come over to my place and do the same?) LOL!

Yes, I think the insurance company is not caring very much about all they need to replace, they are just overjoyed that I own and know how to use a fire extinguisher. Apparently most people either do not have one, or have one and have no idea how to use it! I couldn't believe that! This fire was only going for maybe 2 minutes, tops. In that time, it got several feet high and lit the cabinets and wallpaper on fire. Baking soda wasn't putting that puppy out, if we didn't have a fire extinguisher, we'd have been waiting for the fire department to arrive, and I cannot even imagine what it would have become by then. I'm sure I would have lost a lot more that I cared about than just the kettle.

Fuzzy - The before / after pictures were taken weeks apart, hehe, so no, it wasn't the pancake in picture A that combusted.

I was heating oil to make agedashi. I still can't believe it happened, or even know exactly why it happened. I mean, I cook all the time. I've made agedashi a million times, not to mention all the other things that require heating oil. It is an electric stove.

 

[theron]

If anyone is interested, I do have a few Sebastopol goslings for sale.

For Sale: - A pair of curly buffs ($200/for the pair)
- One lavender curly gander ($25; has a slight limp. Might not
be best for breeding)
- One gray curly gander ($125)
- One splash curly gander ($75)

 

[RaZ]

Yes, I think the insurance company is not caring very much about all they need to replace, they are just overjoyed that I own and know how to use a fire extinguisher. Apparently most people either do not have one, or have one and have no idea how to use it! I couldn't believe that! This fire was only going for maybe 2 minutes, tops. In that time, it got several feet high and lit the cabinets and wallpaper on fire. Baking soda wasn't putting that puppy out, if we didn't have a fire extinguisher, we'd have been waiting for the fire department to arrive, and I cannot even imagine what it would have become by then. I'm sure I would have lost a lot more that I cared about than just the kettle.

Glad you had the extinguisher!

There was a discussion last year about having an extinguisher on hand for coops as well. Someone pointed out that having one outside the coop so you didn't have to go into a burning building to find the extinguisher. I thought that was a good idea, so in addition to the ones I have in the house and garage, I put one on the patio that I can grab if needed.

 

[swampducks]

Here's another plug for the northern MI chicken stock to be held Sept 22 in Lovells just east of Grayling. I figure any newbies may not have heard. Just look at my signature below for more info and sign up threads. So far about 8 of us may be coming depending on "stuff". Love to see more of you there!

 

[SillyChicken]

Quote: Good Job Juise!!

You're right about extinguishers. I think people tend to be afraid of them since they don't know what to expect when they go off. If the insurance co gives you grief, remind them that at least you don't have a ton of water damage that usually comes with putting out a fire!!