Michigan

[chicken grandma]

That photo is priceless Jaime! thanks for making me smile!

Olive, thank you! I may try it once I get the o.k from our vet to put them together. Maybe tomorrow evening. Is evening better?

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Quote:
I agree!

Congrats to the winners! And thank you to whomever nominated me. It is an honor.

Babigyrl, congrats on the new babies! Love the pics. My Shug is being a good mama too. Don't you love seeing the moms with the babies?

Mom2,

Your daughters are beautiful.

York, you are just wonderful for helping Mom2 like that

Chickflick, glad the procedure went well and you are feeling better.

 

[NovaAman]

I just filled out a questionaire for my kid's school... OMG! They asked some totally intrusive questions. I didn't have to answer what I didn't want to, but they asked how much money i earn, how fat i am (ok, it was my weight) how much/often i exercised... The thing is, its for the outdoor discovery center. A study... Well, I am sorry, but what does my income have to do with how much exercise my kids or i get? And what does my weight have to do with the outdoor discovery center? Just crazy. I answered everything but those questions. Didn't feel that was their business.

Well, I am taking care of the neighbors chick and rabbits for 2 days. Man... I am allergic to rabbits big time... BUT I don't mind helping them, his gramps passed away... But the reason I am telling you this is to tell you how funny these little rabbits are! I am feeding the snake rabbits, (yes snake rabbits, raises them for the snake, ie snake rabbits) and they are so friendly, they are sticking their feet and head out of the door while I am putting in brocolli and pears that I just can't help going AAAWWW... They are so sweet! To bad they make my eyeballs water and itch and swell up or I'd steal them and pretend they got loose and to heck with the darn snake.

I didn't make it thru Zeeland today. My head was hurting so bad by the time I was done delivering that I just wanted to lay down. The sun seemed to hit me in the eye thru the driver side window the whole day!

Well bed time is here. Have a great nite.

 

[yorkchick]

Thanks everyone for your kind words about me taking the geese. But I feel a little silly getting all the praise. I'm not "just wonderful." I'm "just lucky." I'm pretty convinced that I just lucked into the three most wonderful geese ever. OK, you're right, technically I have no other geese to compare them to. But I'm not wrong!

I checked on them several times last night after dark, in their pen. Each time they explained to me how the door was supposed to be open. I let them out just before dawn today, then went to my long, long day of work. (Only three days a week but they are killer days...) When I got home there were just a few rays of daylight left. I went to shut up the chickens and Henry goose actually followed me into the chicken coop! He said, "Humans been mighty scarce all day, I'm going with you!" The chickens, who were all on their roosts by then, had conniptions. Especially the two Sebright youngsters that roost right near the door. "Monster! Monster!"

I thought they might not go into their pen tonight, since last night they didn't realize they were going to be shut in and I thought it might not be so easy tonight. They declined to follow me in, but I'd seen a trick in one of my poultry magazines lately--hold two sticks out at an angle in front of you, one in each hand, and herd them. Worked really swell. They do not want to walk under either stick. So they just mosey in the direction you want. (So far I have not seen a speed other than mosey).

Still mostly eating grass, not much of a dent in the crumble (grumble! have to say that every time now). But thank you Olive Hill for your expertise. I will look into getting some hay for them this winter. What sort of protein concentrate do you feed?

Anyway, just two more days of work until I can spend more quality time with them. Work sure gets in the way of living.

 

[RaZ]

yorkchick,
If you need some hay, let me know. I have around 40 bales left. I would be happy to let you have some.

I'm in the A2 area a few times a week and it would be no problem to throw them intro the bed of the truck.

 

[Farmer Andy]

Yorkchick- I said it before, and I'll say it again. You really have a gift for writing. Please keep the wonderful stories coming.

 

[Olive Hill]

I feed a custom ground mix, but you have to buy in bulk from most mills to get custom mixes. 300 lbs is usually the bare minimum and with a small flock you don't need to buy that much at a time. For a small flock, if you're feeding primarily grass hay a Flock Raiser type from your local TSC/Feed Store should be sufficient. Just make sure you offer gravel/grit through the winter when they're eating hay. Once the ground freezes and the snow flies they won't be able to find their own.

 

[M.sue]

Quote:
I have taken them after they get hit when they are still fresh. I just call the police to get a tag. If they were on my property, I wouldn't bother. We butcher our own, so we wouldn't need the tag to get it butcherd or to donate.

My husband got a doe last night, and we donated it. It goes to the Michigan Food Bank

My Dh is an avid hunter. He & another guy have permission to hunt airport property to keep the herd down which is a hazard when on or near the runways. They get unlimited tags and their hunt period is extended. Usually by the end of the season they start having difficultly getting rid of the last few tagged ones. I always mentioned that maybe they should donate it to a Homeless shelter or something. FDA regulations are getting pickier & pickier. I'll have to tell them and look into it further because it is a shame to waste it. They never have had to waste any but pretty darn close once or twice!

 

[Mom 2em All]

Quote:
They ARE the most wonderful geese...really. They are they are. AND they are the luckiest geese because they now have you, and you are wonderful.

I laughed out loud at them explaining to you how the door was supposed to be open...many many times they told me, sometimes nice, and sometimes quite loudly, that the gate should be OPEN, so they could eat the grass in the FRONT yard. Henry used to be a lawn ornament when he was little. I even said I should buy some goose clothes from whereever people buy those fake geese clothes on their porches....but once he got a mind of his own, and wasnt so easy to pick up and relocate, we stayed in the back yard.

The inspector was back. Snoopy little beady-eyed person. The new neighbor/house-owner has finished busting up all the concrete in the yard patio, hauled most of it away and dug out a big square area which I assume is for a new patio. I walked out to my illegal shed **Im just a criminal. Its a fiberglass ? walk-in storage unit that came from an airplane cargo hold- no rat wall, so I am not supposed to have it there.** and he waved. Waved like we are buddies.

I guess the wave meant, "good job. You listened to me." I didn't wave back, but I nodded.

I start work at 7 today, makes for a rushed morning. Its time to wake up my sleepy girls. They were up late last night- not sure why nobody could go to bed until late. I was also awake late. Makes for a groggy morning. Coffee is my only hope.

Everyone have a wonderful day.

Hillbilly hen

thanks. I appreciate that.

 

[SillyChicken]

M.sue :

Quote:
I have taken them after they get hit when they are still fresh. I just call the police to get a tag. If they were on my property, I wouldn't bother. We butcher our own, so we wouldn't need the tag to get it butcherd or to donate.

My husband got a doe last night, and we donated it. It goes to the Michigan Food Bank

My Dh is an avid hunter. He & another guy have permission to hunt airport property to keep the herd down which is a hazard when on or near the runways. They get unlimited tags and their hunt period is extended. Usually by the end of the season they start having difficultly getting rid of the last few tagged ones. I always mentioned that maybe they should donate it to a Homeless shelter or something. FDA regulations are getting pickier & pickier. I'll have to tell them and look into it further because it is a shame to waste it. They never have had to waste any but pretty darn close once or twice!​

They could donate the deer they don't want to the "Hunters for the Hungry" program.... except I don't think they'll take road kills.