Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[gladahmae]

I don't have any to sell, but i was curious if you tested your hygrometer for accuracy......I am gonna be in the same boat as you soon, i think, when it is time to up the humidity. Did you do a dry hatch up to that point?

Yes, I had been doing a dry hatch up until that point. And I had checked the hygrometer as well. Oh well. Live and learn. Hopefully the next batch goes better.


In regards to the RTFA and GAAMPs stuff, if you click on the first link, you can quickly scroll through things and it appears that the proposed changes are all in RED font. From the looks of things, they were only regulating operations with more than 50 units (5k chickens) until this proposal.....this one includes the "0-49" unit language.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

On a lighter note, i found this older recipe in "food from the heartland", and i thought of it the other day watching corn being harvested:

Corncob Syrup: (for use with waffles and pancakes for those without maple trees)
12 ears corn, 2 quarts water, 2 1/2 cups light brown sugar

Cut kernels from cobs and save in another dish. Break the cobs into smallish pieces and boil with the water for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the water s reduced by half. Strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve.

Combine the 4 cups of liquid you have now with the brown sugar and cook over low heat for 15 min, or until apporoximately as thick as grade A maple syrup. Either pour into sterilized glasses and process in a hot water bath, or keep under refrigeration.

Makes about 2 cups

I wonder if this could be used as a "natural" version of corn syrup to make pecan pie with?

 

[RaZ]

In regards to the RTFA and GAAMPs stuff, if you click on the first link, you can quickly scroll through things and it appears that the proposed changes are all in RED font. From the looks of things, they were only regulating operations with more than 50 units (5k chickens) until this proposal.....this one includes the "0-49" unit language.

The gist is that state law will be negated and local ordinance takes over. There is no consistency from town to town.
That inconsistency is why the law was enacted in the first place.

Think "building code", at one time each place had their own rules for building a house. Now the code is uniform across the state.

 

[kimmie6067]

Anyone in need of a beautiful Icedlandic roo?

Kimmie

 

[fuzzybutt love]

OK, doing my bit. Went to the local feed mill and informed them, copied and sent the links to them so they can get the word out to their customers, this is something that could affect anyone who has a small amount of acerage, not just city people. Consequently, some of their customers potentially.

I am also going to contact anyone i know who has a chicken business in the area, the space requirements and individual township rules could affect them too, and i think they have the right to be informed and attend as well.

 

[RaZ]

Thanks Fuzzy,
The better informed we are and the more people that are made aware of this problem the better we can bolster our defenses.

 

[Farmerboy16]

OK, doing my bit. Went to the local feed mill and informed them, copied and sent the links to them so they can get the word out to their customers, this is something that could affect anyone who has a small amount of acerage, not just city people. Consequently, some of their customers potentially.

I am also going to contact anyone i know who has a chicken business in the area, the space requirements and individual township rules could affect them too, and i think they have the right to be informed and attend as well.

Good idea! I will make a stop at the feed mill tomorrow and in Rockford too.

Can someone type out all the info that I can print out and pass out?

Thanks.

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

As many of you know there are proposed changes being written for the GAAMPs. These changes, if adopted will affect 80% of the state.

There are a few of us attending the Ag Commission and GAAMPs meetings. Comments during these meetings are public record. The meeting of August 22, 2012 is recapped by Mr. Brad Deacon, who reports to the Ag Com Director.

Please contact Mr. Deacon for a copy of the summary and public comments that are available. Also let him know how the proposed changes will affect you and your flock.

The next meeting will be September 12 in Coopersville at 9:00. Let Mr. Deacon know that you want your statement included in the record.

Write or call:

Brad Deacon
Emergency Management &
Administrative Law Coordinator
Michigan Department of Agriculture &
Rural Development
[email protected]
517-241-4085

RaZ... I hope you don't mind... I stole this to spread the word!!!!

 

[caz426]

One method of breaking a broody hen is to place them in a cage with a wire bottom. You them place the cage where you can position a fan to blow underneath it. This will cool the area under the hen creating an atmosphere that is not conducive nesting. You will need keep them there for a couple of days so be sure to provide food and water.

This is good to know and I will try that next if shutting her out of the coop for the day doesn't work. She has tried to get in a few times, but seems to be content hanging with the gang.

 

[ladyrsanti]

So... My brain just tied in a knot. The local ordinances have previously been under a State law? That is now going to disappear in favor of ONLY the ordinances? What State laws used to apply? I thought we were all subject to the ordinances and there was no higher authority where small farms and backyard animals were concerned. I am terribly out of the legal loop and I hate that crap. So I perused those documents but was quickly lost in the legal mumbo-jumbo. It would be VERY helpful to have a simplified version that focuses on what is important to the average citizen, rather than the large commercial farms, to break it down. Who is up to that?

In other news, I took a note from someone on here a few pages back and dumped a bushel of those prolific indigo rose tomatoes into my food mill. So the sauce is evaporating in the oven as I type. Thanks to whoever's idea that was; it was brilliant! I'll go back and give props when I get a chance to sit for a while longer. I've got four roaster pans full and the house smells wonderful! It may take a while because these tomatoes are crap for sauce in terms of juice. They're all water! But they are also very tasty so I hope when all is said and done, I will have a good sauce. The next bushel will be roasted in halves and frozen.