Michigan

[tororider]

I think I am going to have to put an incandescant lightbulb in the coop, I had to break up the frozen water this morning.

Don't you know it is warmer than usual, its global warming, hehe. Wait a couple weeks and we will be back in the 50s for a couple days, just long enough for the golf courses to open for a few days.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Hey Wynette I am not sure what copper marens are but we can work something out I am sure.

Chix in GA welcome to the BYC and the MI thread, I was just in Escanaba about 2 hours ago. I am in Brampton on M35, I will tell ya we are getting snow 9 inches over night and at least another 8 since then. You can't even see coming by the lake. a 20 minute drive took over an hour. What a mess.


I am with you Vicki, family is here or I would be where it is warmer. A friend keeps telling me to move to SC, I tell her ya right, poison snakes and gators no way. I will take the cold and snow first LOL.

But in this real world we all might not have a choice. We sure are in an econmic challange here in MI and if that big car plant closes, well I am just going to keep MI and all that are here in my prayers because we sure need them.

Stay warm ya all.

 

[Chickenpal]

Hi All,
Congratulations on the deer Opa, and I always liked Walter Brennen.
Sorry about the lost chicken out there also. I have lost some of mine and they are all just as special to me.
We used to live in the UP also. We have been in Gould City, Blaney Park, Gulliver, Manistique, and Ispeming!!! I always loved the availability of fishing all year. Just didn't like the job situation up there. My father used to have a cabin just off US2 a little west of Blaney park corner. We used to love it up there for smelt and salmon and suckers. But it got where it was harder to get in to.
We haven't gotten any deer yet. God willing, we will. Our chickens are all doing well. Gave them speghetti today and they loved it!!! Good luck all with your birds. Don't freeze too much.

 

[Opa]

I think that winter is definitely here. I've found that I have had to initiate a few changes to accommadate the changing weather. Not only is water freezing an issue but so is food in feeders freezing up a problem. I had to relocate one of my 5gal feeders where rain or snow won't get to it. Water would get in the bottom tray and wick up into the feed. In my large pen, I bought a 50# Kuhl range feeder, and that solved the outdoor feed problem for the majority of my birds. Speaking of buying, I have been purchasing the majority of my equipment from Cutler Supply. Excellent people to deal with, quick shipping, will meet or beat any advertised price, but most importantly, they are a MICHIGAN company. As the economy in this state continues to deteriorate, we need to try and spend our money locally. Thought I'd let my beard grow for winter.

 

[vicki2x2]

I agree Opa, they are great! I bought my incubator through them, they were cheaper than anyone else and it arrived the very next day!! I also ordered a bunch of supplies and then picked it up at a swap meet and saved money on the shipping costs. Cutlers rocks!!

We spent the day working on wiring the barn, something that I have been nagging err asking for, for several years. It is almost done, we will finish up tomorrow. We also got out all the heated dog bowls I bought for the chickens and started getting them set up so the girls will have warm water!! WOOO HOO!! Now, if I could just get water run to the barn, I would be all set!! However, we did do something that is almost as good. We filled a horse stock tank with water and plug the heater in, now I just have to dip the bucket in and fill waters instead of hauling bucket after bucket from the house. Then every few weeks, we will hook up the hose, refill the stock tank, drain the hose and put it back in the basement. I really don't like winter, but these little things make it much easier!!

 

[Opa]

Quote:
Sorry for not answering this sooner but old people get distracted easily and then forget. My sons all called me Dad. My oldest son was born in Germany, when I was stationed there in the Army. Because of that he has always had an interest in all things German. When his daughter (my first grandchild) was born he asked if I would mind if when she started talking she called me the German name for Gramps "Opa". When my stepsons married and had children they asked if it would be okay if their children called me Opa as well. Now why was your father Buppa?

 

[Opa]

I think maybe I should shave. Since announcing that I was growing a beard for the winter no one has posted anything. Perhaps the new persona has scared people off. I made a horrible discovery a little while ago. My two buff orpington pullets (18 & 21 wks) have not been truly accepted by the rest of the flock yet. They mostly have stayed together away from the others. Anytime they would try to join the group they would be chased off. Nothing real serious, just wouldn't let them be with the group. Since I have started letting them into the garden, each night I have checked to make sure that everyone has gotten into the coop. A bed check so to speak. Except last night I didn't check. Today when I got in from hunting I went out to check on them; water, feed, eggs, etc. That's when I discovered that the smaller one had gotten locked out. It got down to 10 degrees last night. I found her laying under the ramp to the popout door. It's always sad when anything dies, but when it is possibly due to something you did or didn't do, it makes you feel like a complete jerk.

 

[wyliefarms]

Opa,

Sorry about your loss. I have forgotten in the past to do a "final inspection" on the birds or got home late, and found that a varmit got in the coop or such. I always feel terrible knowing that I caused it. But life does go on and there will always be new chickens to welcome to the coop.

Opa- with the weather we have been having, I think a beard is a must! It is so cold way to early! I remember still picking brocolli not too many summers ago this late into November.

We have a pony I want to sell too. She is a cute little thing. The kids aren't interested in riding her. The kids want to keep her, but I am tired of feeding in the cold weather already and we have several months of this left!

Sarah

 

[Opa]

This afternoon as I sat in my deer blind thinking about how the other chickens had constantly harassed the buffs, I watched several does just out of range in the field in front of me. One large doe didn't want the other near what ever it was she was eating. As she would lash out with her front hooves it reminded me that Mother Nature isn't particularily kind.

 

[shelleyb1969]

I'm very sorry to hear that, Opa. Accidents happen. Sometimes we get so caught up with our daily activities that we forget to do everything that we need to...mistakes happen. I hope your other girl finds her spot in the flock.