Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[fuzzybutt love]

well, eggs I bought last friday still aren't here, tracking hasn't updated since the 11th, but says they should be delivered by today. My mail person has already delivered today's mail. Contemplating calling the PO and seeing if it came on their afternoon delivery truck and if so, if I could come pick it up. Anyone done this?

I haven't, but i would suggest pick up at the post office if possible! You can ask them to call you in the early a.m. too, to pick them up directly instead of having the post man deliver them, and then you get them quicker.

 

[SillyChicken]

People also don't realize that rabbits are included in with farm animals and not classified as allowed pets - dogs and cats only!

What is farm bureau's involvement with all this?

 

[fuzzybutt love]

rabbits? Maybe that's what my mom meant when she said the breeders would be in trouble too.

 

[Wynette]

Reading this, it is clear to me that a bunch of folks will be caught unprepared, if we could somehow get their attention maybe we'd have a better chance of shooting this down, then we could go in and add another category for the small "farms"? (We really need a name for what we do)?

Hobby farms?

 

[chickflick]

Rabbits, too??? Wow. I have two living in my chicken run.
I have several chickens that are molting. Egg production is way down.

For those who are looking for jobs. The TSC in Davison, on Lapeer Rd in front of the Meijer is slated to open in January. So, heads up!

 

[RaZ]

It is a matter of education...
I can't have "farm" animals here but I can have rabbits because they are "pets". Each community creates their own definition which is why local rule should not be reverted to.

I also have bees which are protected under MRTFA but I haven't gone there yet.

I'm working on a GIS analysis of exactly where in Michigan the agriculture zones are and how the population of the state is affected. This is taking some time to crunch the data. (This data is provided by the state, I just have to run it through ARC-MAP.)

As far as our animals are concerned, what small creatures are practical for our backyards?
What are the pros and cons of keeping:
1) chickens
2) ducks
3) dwarf/pygmy goats
4) rabbits
5) other critters that may be considered part of the traditional food network?

I would like to develop a baseline set of guidelines that can help keep our rights, promote good animal husbandry, while also being considerate of our neighbors. There are a lot of factors to consider and I do not fault the Agriculture Commissioners for being behind the curve when it comes to backyard "farming", those folks have a lot on their plates to consider. We have an opportunity to be proactive.

Post your ideas/thoughts or PM them to me.

 

[RaZ]

Hobby farms?

Somebody posted on the MI RTF thread that there are IRS considerations in using "hobby" in a business application. I suggested "Entrepreneur Farms" as an alternative.

(I just hate that word because I can never spell it correctly.

)

 

[greenmimama]

I got 2 eggs today!!, they got a lot of fresh air and light yesterday, wonder if that had anything to do with it?

My chicks are looking good, still trying to figure out what kinds they are, but will have to take some pics later.

 

[ladyrsanti]

Somebody posted on the MI RTF thread that there are IRS considerations in using "hobby" in a business application. I suggested "Entrepreneur Farms" as an alternative.

(I just hate that word because I can never spell it correctly.

)

I like it better than "hobby". What I do on my teensy tiny "farm" is not a hobby. I'm supplementing our food costs by raising as much as I can myself. I grow food for my family and for my chickens and chickens for eggs and meat (someday). It's like the clothesline I built. I didn't build it out of nostalgia. Electric and gas is expensive, dang it!

 

[taprock]

Taprock, here are my little silkies - boys or girls?

They look like girls. I don't see streamers like Teri here. Streamers would be boy. Do they need homes?

taprock, I wish you were closer, I have more quart size jars than I will ever use. A friend left over a hundred with me when she moved.

That's a lot of jars! I broke down and bought some pints today for jam but choked at bit at the price of quarts.

I want to thank everyone for their prayers for my former DIL's unborn baby. Pauline went to a Perinatalogist and he said the baby will be fine!!!