Michigan

[Opa]

After deciding to ignore my internal alarm's call and go back to bed this feels like a more acceptable time to be getting up.

I guess I need to start collecting eggs to put in the incubator. I think I will select the darkest Welsummer eggs for the next 10 days and then start the waiting game. Once I've got those going I must collect eggs to ship to Oklahoma. Two different individuals have contacted me wanting egg so hopefully the hens will cooperate and keep laying.

Sure is brisk this morning but at least that wind has quit. The blossoms are just starting to open on my apple trees so naturally the weather forecasters are calling for frost for the next couple of days. This propensity for cold and wet springs is exactly why I never get to serious about planting anything in the garden until mid May. A few sunny days followed by wet and cold doesn't raise the ground temperatures to promote seed germination. I have a friend who, as soon as we have a few sunny days, gets the the planting bug and puts a good share of his garden in. He usually has to replant quite a few things because either the seeds failed to germinate and rotted, or the plant came up only to be hit hard by killing frost. While I wait until the end of May before planting, if you compare our gardens in mid July his is no further along than mine.

When I went to the first Chickenstock it was with not a little trepidation. Being the shy and withdrawn person that I am I didn't know what to expect. Was driving all the way to the west side of Lansing going to be a waste of a Saturday? Much to my surprise I found the day to be very rewarding. I was able to put faces to the names I had come to know from the thread. Some folks were exactly as I had envisioned them to be while others were a complete surprise. The only commonality was that they all liked having and talking about chickens. They were also just as uncertain as I as to what to expect. The one thing we all found was that this gathering was something that we wanted to repeat.

The event runs from 10am til 3pm and I know that may seem like a lot of time. But the day goes by so quickly that it is difficult to find the time you'd like to talk to everyone. Last year my brother who lives in Muskegon wanted my mother to come to his house for awhile and ask her when she would like to come. She said any time would be fine as long as it was after Chickenstock.

 

[babigyrl22]

I love waking up to coffee and BYC. So we are fighting over Raz i see?

Raz you playboy! I finished spinning my angora bunny's luscious coat and started to knit a baby hat from it. So much fun. I also made cheese this weekend (Farmhouse Cheddar). This is my first attempt at it and it smells wonderful. Just waiting for the rind to form so that I can wax and stick it in the Cheese Cave wine fridge.

I am practicing on a circular needle....I think I'm doing OK.

 

[SillyChicken]

That cheese looks wonderful!!

 

[Opa]

I love waking up to coffee and BYC. So we are fighting over Raz i see?

Raz you playboy! I finished spinning my angora bunny's luscious coat and started to knit a baby hat from it. So much fun. I also made cheese this weekend (Farmhouse Cheddar). This is my first attempt at it and it smells wonderful. Just waiting for the rind to form so that I can wax and stick it in the Cheese Cave wine fridge.

I am practicing on a circular needle....I think I'm doing OK.

Both look wonderful. How large a wheel is the cheese and did you use a press? Also how long do you intend to let it age? waiting on a incubator full of chicks is one thing but waiting a year or two for a cheese to age when it looks so good might be well beyond my ability.

 

[SillyChicken]

Both look wonderful. How large a wheel is the cheese and did you use a press? Also how long do you intend to let it age? waiting on a incubator full of chicks is one thing but waiting a year or two for a cheese to age when it looks so good might be well beyond my ability.

True!!!
But you can eat the cheese, and I'm starving!!

 

[babigyrl22]

Both look wonderful. How large a wheel is the cheese and did you use a press? Also how long do you intend to let it age? waiting on a incubator full of chicks is one thing but waiting a year or two for a cheese to age when it looks so good might be well beyond my ability.

the wheel is 7in by 1.5in ....if I had let my cheese drain longer i may have been able to fit it into the smaller mold. I will age it about 3mo. ...or until I can't stand to wait any longer. LOL

 

[1muttsfan]

Good morning Michigan, snow on the ground here today ( not much though).

Hi hapigrl, glad you joined in! I grew up in East Lansing.

Regardless of the official zone designation, 5's struggle here, probably because even though our temps are warm enough overall for a 5 rating we have bitterly cold spells in the winter and long cold wet springs that do many plants in. I don't plant any perennials rated higher than 4.

Jen how did your hatch go?

 

[taprock]

Opa - I have always admired people who can get up early. I wish I could so I could get some quiet time at the beginning of the day. However I'm one of those people that doesn't wake up much until there is light. I do have a sunrise alarm clock that helps. It reminds me of a favorite quote:

One of the misfortunes of advancing age is that you get out of touch with the sunrise. You take it for granted, and it is over and done with before you settle yourself for the daily routine. That is one reason I think why when we grow older the days seem shorter. We miss the high moments of their beginning. John Buchan

Quote:


Plus, despite my despicable online behavior, in reality I am rather painfully shy, and am perfectly capable of attending chickenstock without ever managing to introduce myself to a single one of you.

Ya'all are intimidating, you know that?

I am super shy in group setting, but the chance to talk "chicken" is overriding it. My DH could have a conversation with a tree. He loves to talk, doesn't matter if he knows you or not or you have anything in common.

So much fun. I also made cheese this weekend (Farmhouse Cheddar). This is my first attempt at it and it smells wonderful. Just waiting for the rind to form so that I can wax and stick it in the Cheese Cave wine fridge.

Beautiful, hope it tastes as good as it looks. How long do you have to wait for Cheddar?


Dreary morning with some white stuff on the ground. I think I'm going to sit with some coffee, a blanket and a book for a while.

 

[Scifisarah]

My husband is actually quite supportive of me, so I was mostly teasing about the complaining. Heck, he even cleans the coop for me and changes their food and water because I am very allergic. Laugh all you want, yes I am allergic to chickens and most other animals although I can't get enough of them. Not sure if it is the chickens, or the dust mites that feed on their discarded feathers. My last two jobs were at a zoo and humane society and I was pretty sick and miserable.

If I don't know you all very well or chat on the forums much so far, do you think it would still be worth the drive out from Rockford/Grand Rapids? I'd probably bring my husband and 2 & 4 year olds to see all the birds.

Sarah and Juise and there was one more..sorry I forgot your screen name...

I have never taken my husband to Chickenstock.

And its quite simple, really.

I dont want him to tell me when its time to leave, that I dont NEED this chicken or that,,,,that we have enough....etc etc etc...

I MAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY take him this year, but I will make sure he has his fishing pole and tackle box so he can go across the road and fish. That way, I can slip some critters in the truck. I really want him to meet those names I always talk to. AND so he can have some of Sam's famous smoked chicken.....

but maybe not. Maybe I wont let him come after all because I plan on buying that brooder from Hillbilly Hen and seriously I have no idea how its going to fit in the truck. THats why I asked her for measurements.

AND you all talk alot. It took me an hour to catch up this morning.

GOOD Morning everyone....

 

[Scifisarah]

It is quite chilly this morning and when I went to check on my two hens to see how their eggs are hatching, I found one chick right next to the mama dead on its side. It looked like it never got a chance to fluff out. Do you think it died of natural causes, or do you think it crawled out from under her and simply chilled to death? Is that a normal type of thing to happen or is she a bad mama hen if she didn't scoot the chick back under her? This was only the 4th of a dozen eggs to hatch, so I am hoping more come along the next day or two.