Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Stacykins]

very interesting? I saw someone on craigs list doing that, $15 a share and I thought she said 1 gallon of milk a week, The cost of driving to were she was would cost as much or more then the milk, sure would like to try some real fresh goats milk and cow for that matter, I was so tempted to buy one off of craigs list last week but I need to learn more about the care and feeding first. I think I could handle a goat, not sure about a cow.

Some people offer it by the gallon, half gal, quart, etc. whatever you need and they have available It is definitely yummy stuff! Thankfully, the woman is literally only fifteen minutes away. That is a shame the closest to you is so far. The one-time buy in fee for me was 15$ (the lease) and the monthly upkeep is 12$, so 6$ a gallon of milk basically.

If you do get goats, just know that you shouldn't have just one. They are herd animals, so a goat kept solo is a very stressed and LOUD goat. A lot of new goat owners often get a pair of does, or a single doe and a wether (a castrated male, no smell, inexpensive, and a good companion).

 

[ladyrsanti]

So I've been keeping my chickens cooped up in the morning to get them used to laying their eggs in their nest boxes. It's what I read and heard from others that worked. I still open their run for them so they can get their fresh air but would like to keep the eggs in the coop rather than the barn or the yard. But my poor Custard, she was going to hurt herself this morning trying to get out. She'd get up in the windows and then get up on top of the nest box roof (no easy feat given the angle) so she could look out those windows. She was frantic. Back and forth, back and forth, up and down. So I finally caved and opened the door. Custard tore out and made a bee line for the hay feeder she so loves to lay her eggs in. Five minutes later, she had her egg. The other chickens never even realized the door was open.

 

[NovaAman]

Oh, hillbilly, sorry things are getting worse for you. How far are you from Holland?

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Oh, hillbilly, sorry things are getting worse for you. How far are you from Holland?

Thanks Nova, I am guessing I am about 2 hours away.

 

[chickflick]

I'm so sorry to hear that, Laura!! I know how much you love your chickens. I'm sorry you're not feeling good. Wish we were closer and I could help you. I'll keep you in my prayers.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Thanks Rose

I just need to rest more but too much to do before winter gets here. It has been a hard choice to make.

 

[NovaAman]

Yesterday I did coop cleaning... I moved Skeeter, nestbox and all, because I had to get the poop out from around that box. There are roosts over the top... Anyway, I never put her back in the corner, I just left her in the other corner. She was still there last night when I closed up the coop. HOWEVER, at some point in time between 9 pm last night, and 8 am this morning, she got out of that nestbox, abandoning her eggs, and moved to the other nest box in the original corner, and she was PITHED off. I snatched her eggs up, they were quite cool, and put them under her, and NOW I am crossing my fingers that they didn't quit. I feel so bad... I should have moved her back to the other corner, but she seemed quite content since I moved her nestbox and all... SO, I am thinking she may have gotten out to eat and couldn't get back in since where I moved the nest box too, was on top of another nest box of the same size, so no place to stand to climb back in the hole... OH MAN! How long can they go with out her sitting on them before they quit? I also asked on another thread... but no one knows... LOL Maybe not the best thread to ask on...

 

[taprock]

congratulations!! Tap, what all do you dry? have you done beens and tomatoes? I have an old plastic dehydrator ,with a crack in the top but it still woks well, thought I would try a little spice on the tomatoes..


my little hen that is injured?? is still not back to normal,, Nova didn't you have a hen that had a bad leg then got sick and died? this hen is 9weeks old from CS, so I think about 9 weeks. her foot is curled up and she isn't walking. otherwise seems fine eats, drinks, poo's, don't know if she injured her hip? or if she is sick. doesn't look like I would imagine Meriks to look like? eyes are clear how fast does that usually develop symptoms? eyes are clear. Can't afford to take her to the vet right now that would cost as much as that nice coop up here.

I dried dill, oregano, anise hyssop, white and regular sage, couple kinds of basil, thyme, chives, tomatoes, bananas, jalapeno, green and yellow peppers, lemon peel, white and yellow onion.

I did once have a hen who had a stroke and lost some use of a leg. At least I think it was a stroke, she did recover but it took a while. I say a stroke because there were no disease symptoms

 

[BobBry]

Soooo cute Bob. But umm, I gave you the Marans, not Rose LOL Congrats

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME MUST BE A ROBIN. Mia culpa, I KNEW that. I even had to look it up cause the first time i sent you a P.M. i didn't know if it was Robin, or Robyn. I'll blame

Oh Robin! You've turned it to a Rose instead of a thorn! Heehee! Lol

I Knew the minute I met Robin She was a sweetie.

Love the chick pics, Bobby they are soo cute.... how do you like the shreded paper? looks like that is what you are using...I thought it would gunk up to much with the moister,. looks good in your pics

We had a little discussion about that quite some time ago. I said I used it, and liked it. Others thought it would "gunk up" (like that expression) too much. It has not done so in the hen house,,very little water there. I mix it with pine chips/shavings. Course I never had chicks, with their feed & water in there either.

Totally love the window Patience and her babies have. Their own safe look at life before they start exploring! Not a bad hatch. Enjoy them little ones.

There is another like it on the other side of the coop. I need to add another that will provide light and access, at the rear of the coop. SOON!

Just curious. Would you give stale pretzels to your chickens?

No, too much salt ???

Sure, and maybe a flat beer to go with them.

I too was wondering what a flat beer was, and how it came about.

.by snowflake

Hi all, it's been a while since I last posted. The symptoms of my disease has kicked in pretty bad lately and I have had to make the decision to sell off my flock. If anyone is interested in the following please pm me.

Sorry you are not feeling well. I'm still planning to bring some high bush cranberry over to you. Just thought they would be more likely to survive the transplant better if I waited till they are dormant.

Thanks Rose

I just need to rest more but too much to do before winter gets here. It has been a hard choice to make.

I'll be happy to spend some time at your place, and do some of those things piling up, before winter makes itself a cold blast. Maybe some others, living hereabouts could make it too ???? PM me. others..

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Any one near Zeeland need a coop? This sucker is on Holland's Craigslist for $200
http://holland.craigslist.org/grd/3219454581.html

For real... TWO HUNDRED BUCKS! Oh... man... As you can see, it is a converted playset.

Now THAT is using your resources, cute!

OK not it,,she is holding it out behind or under her, kind of curled toes,but will put them around my finger if I put my finger under her foot. Maybe I will go down and massage her hip a little then afternoon, doesn't put any weight on that side

Feel her leg joints for swelling and warmth, what side is it?