Michigan

[CricketYang]

I haven't gotten a new bird lately but we did just recently acquire a new barnyard animal and I'm very excited about him!!

His name is Patrick and he is a Jersey bull calf. He looks like a little fawn and apparently will "just follow you around the farm." I've never raised a cow before but I am super happy about it!

I guess I have to get a membership at that other site thats just like BYC but for barnyard animals.. what is it called again??

 

[michickenwrangler]

Awww

Sister Site: Backyard Herds. Link at bottom of all BYC pages

Nice garden shed for sale if anyone needs one

http://centralmich.craigslist.org/grd/2152109077.html

 

[Olive Hill]

Jerseys are such beautiful animals. Congrats on the addition. But please do tell me you have plans in place to have him castrated ASAP. Bulls are not pets, not under any circumstances - especially for those not accustomed to cattle.

 

[SillyChicken]

you also have to be careful that any bovine doesn't become too friendly or familar, they'll get pushy and could actually hurt you. Best for him to maintain a little respect of your personal space.

Aside from that! He's cute as a button!

I had a pet holstine heifer when I was a kid. We could actually ride her. But alas she had to pay her way and parents sold her (cause I refused to eat her).

 

[chickflick]

Nothing like a long walk on cold crisp winter morning! And no one shot at me!

Actually didn't see a soul out there. Enjoyed the frosted brush and trees. It sure is pretty.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

chickflick, you must have taken Opa's advice and did not wear your bunny slippers. It is far too cold for me to venture out, other than to go to the coop and back.

 

[chickflick]

No, didn't wear my pink bunnie slippers! The last couple of years, I find I love walking in the winter. As long as I have my worn out warm coat, hat and mittens on, I'm fine. Summer, I get so hot and sweaty it's not pleasant. I'm like an oven. Winter, I don't overheat and it's so beautiful out! Actually, my hair was wet under the cap! Like to get the dogs to wear boots, but don't think they'll go for it. It looked like someone had sprinkled fairy dust all over. Everything was so sparkly!

 

[Olive Hill]

The frosted trees are beautiful, aren't they? I bet it was a wonderful walk. I may have to do that tomorrow morning out here... I'll take my camera and the schnauzer.

 

[chickflick]

It is beautiful! The folks that owe all the land behind my house have made a trail thru their fields and wooded areas so the neighbors can walk. It's like a magical frozen wonderland! It's like being in another world. So peaceful.

 

[RIRJen]

Hello Olive!!! I called the Lyon company that made my bator and got some know-how on it

SO! The wire grid that mine are on..yeah...they're supposed to sit down into the square holes, not lay across them. (Ok...we don't have a smiley face that's smacking itself in the forehead...so just pretend that it's inserted here LOL) So when I get home from work I get to sit all of them up on end like they're supposed to be.

My humidity is already being a pain and it's playing with me so I can't get it down to a science on how much water to put in every day...so while I was on the phone with the wonderfully helpful woman from Lyon I got the water bottle that attaches to it so it won't be such a pain in the butt.

Wow...this is going to be amazingly easy compared to flipping them by hand and fighting with the humidity on my old bator! I could get used to this...uh oh...watch out cause now it's easy for me to hatch eggs!

A friend of mine has standard cochins and I'm thinking about grabbing up some of his eggs and hatching them out...anyone interested in some chicks? I believe he has splash, blue and black?
I'm obviously going to need another coop

ALSO! Is there anyone in the Lansing area who is accurate at sexing day old (or like week old) chicks? I'd really like to learn how to sex them young so I don't have to waste time and feed on cockrels. I saw an episode of Dirty Jobs where they would squeeze the chick and make it poop and could tell by the vent area? Of course I don't remember all of the episode...I mean who can concentrate on anything else when Mike Rowe is blessing thier TV screen.

(He's going to be one of my future exhusbands...or at least that's what I tell my husband)