Michigan

[wyliefarms]

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Sorry for your loss. Several years ago we raised pheasants and one flew into the corner of the pen and broke her neck -Freak accident

 

[wyliefarms]

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That is freaky! I have always liked blue herons so much... It makes me uncomfortable when animals eat things they seemingly shouldn't. Like I am quite sure the red tailed hawk that got our call ducks got the neighbor's chihuahua as well. Poor thing.

Wow! I never knew that either! Too bad that he is so well fed and happy there

 

[Boyd]

howdy guys n gals!!! Sorry I don't post on the michigan thread much anymore, but I still follow along

I don't think I'm going to be able to make it to chickenstock on saturday because this lil guy should be coming home

If I send the burgers with Wynette or another member who's close by, could somebody grab the grill in my stead? Purdy please?

 

[Opa]

Boyd, congratulations on the birth of your son. Glad everything has worked out. It's totally understandable that you won't be able to make it, however, it you did come and bring your newest hatch I'm sure the line to take him would be huge.

Dar and several others have volunteered to jump in and take over the cook so just worry about taking care of your wife and baby.

 

[SillyChicken]

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A heron......... that's crazy! At least you found your culprit!

 

[RIRJen]

Morning!

Nice and brisk out there today!

Makes for happy critters! I'm very excited for this weekend because I've located some Speckled Sussex pullets in michigan and will be getting them this weekend!

Now my coop will finally have some chickens in it again!

 

[michickenwrangler]

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A heron......... that's crazy! At least you found your culprit!

How sad! What a way to go.

I know the herons that visit our pond are incredibly patient,waiting almost an half hour to take a step, poised just so. Whenever our rooster sees one, he gets angry and does a fast, furious cluck that we interpret as "Don't you be messin' with my women."

Herons are pretty skittish, maybe put a plastic bag on a brush nearby?

 

[A2SciTeach]

Good morning everyone. Chilly but beautiful! YakLady, sorry about your ducks, but you can't shoot the GBH.

Great blue herons are protected by the United States Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Here's a link to the site where you can read about the protected birds, reasons why they are protected and penalties for harming birds protected by the act.

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=ecrc&topic=waf-ma

Regardless, I trust you were joking about getting out your gun and shooting a migratory bird in order to avenge the killing of your domestic ducks.

 

[bethanyrae]

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I've been to their sale in Eaton County, and they do sell out of their trucks/ trailers, tent awnings, as it's held in a grassy/gravel parking lot of the fairgrounds. ( They don't worry about the grass getting dirty. ) It was a fairly good size one. (pigeons, quail, pheasant, emus, chickens, etc.) It's the only one I've been to, so I don't know how to characterize its size. It grew as the day went on.

The one in Eaton County is being held June 12, and starts at 6am. It's about a half hour south on I-69 from our chickenstock, if you feel like having a really full day!
bethanyrae

 

[iluvcks]

Boyd, your son is absoultly beautiful. Congrats to you and your wife.

I havent posted here in awhile I have been insanely busy. I don't know how many of you remember my problem I am having with my Township. Well the certified letter telling us to get rid of the chickens came about a week ago. I have been in contact with MDA for a couple weeks now. They said I am not covered under the RTFA unless I am following GAAMP. So I had to write a Poultry Operations Guide, I sent MDA a copy and I have a copy. It contains everything. All equipment used, feed, care, manure management. Everything from the day they come come on my lap to the day the die and how deep to bury them. I had to print off the RTFA, and sections of the GAAMP. Those sections are : manure mangement, care for laying hens, dead bodies act and farm markets(for eggs). Everything has to be kept in one binder with the POG. I also keep the daily log of egg production, sales, expenses, and important dates (like births, deaths, and additions to the flock.) I also have all the girls tagged with yellow bands being last years girls and pink is this years. Every number coraspondes with a name. That is in my book and posted in the chicken coop. This all goes to prove that I am an agriculture business (small but a business non the less) So the babies had out grown their brooder awile ago. They started sleeping in the garage, but then at about 10 weeks they wanted to sleep in the coop. The big girls were not happy about it at all. DH had started adding on to the coop but when the Zoning Enforcer stopped over a month ago Allen tore it down. Well MDA told us to put it back up. So for the last two weeks every spare moment has went into this coop. It had to be perfect. The paint was barely dry on the new nest boxes when MDA came to the house yesterday. He talked to us, made notes, took lots of pictures. And said he wishes it was all this easy. He said everything is perfect, he could not suggest one improvement at all. We are now offically covered under GAAMP, which means we are now a farm. Which means NOW we are protected under the RTFA. We should be recieving the letter from Lansing within a few days. At that point we will take it to our Township and as nicely and non confrontational as possible tell them that state law superceeds township law. We are well within our rights to have the chickens, and have no intention of getting rid of them, taking down our page wire fence(its against their ordinance) or moving our coop. (We are on a corner lot and they say we have two front yards) If they would like to pursure this further we'd obviously be sad at that decision. But not quite and sad and angry as the good taxpayers of Bangor township will be when they find out YOU the elected officials are spending their money to take us to court over something that we have a legal right to do. Oh, by the way Mr. Zoning Enforcer I need a permit for putting up an EGG sign in my front yard.

If anyone needs more information on how to fight your local agriculture ordinaces please feel free to PM me. I am so happy. I am finally seeing a light at the end of this tunnel.

I have been so busy and my sons last day of school is Thursday and we get the kids this weekend so I was starting to think I am just way to busy right now for Chickenstock. I was still tossing the idea around when Mom called. My Uncle passed. His family is going to have a memorial dinner for him Saturday. He was cremated.

I am disappointed that I will not meet everyone. Also I said that I would make pies. I don't know anyone who lives close to me who is going. If there is anyone let me know. I would still be happy to make the pies if someone else can take them. Again I am very sorry for the pie inconvience.

Laura, we still want to come visit you and the family this summer.

I am sorry for all the losses,

and welcome to all the new folks here.