Michigan

[Mom 2em All]

Good Morning all-

Got my coffee, fed the wild birds, let the chickens out...sitting here holding Little One...pondering some diamond dove or something to keep it company..of course that wouldnt work because soon the chicken would outsize the dove and Id be stuck with another cage and another bird I don't need...so, everyone has been instructed to hold the chick when they are at the computer...lol. That way I can be certain that we will all be very attached to a chick that will turn out to be a roo...and well we all know how that goes.

The weatherman was making jokes about how winter will be here next weekend. And well, I have to say that I have not missed it. I like this mild form very much...I went out and bought peanuts and suet for the wild birds because I am sure they much prefer this mild weather to the nasty cold and snow, as well.

I may take a ride out to Tractor Supply for an extra waterer. I only have one- my other was destroyed by a dog that shall remain nameless. I need another so I can switch them out when they are frozen.

I hope you all have a fabulous day.

ETA:
Sam Im glad you dont eat raccoon. Too many cases of rabies in raccoon in Michigan, I would be afraid that cooking them wouldnt kill it.

ETA another thought:

Turns out that June 23rd is the same day that my mother is leaving for Camp Dearborn with my kids...which would be fine except I drive them and all their supplies out there, because their car wont hold the camp supplies and suitcases AND people. So, I must convince my mother that June 24th would be a much better day for them to go, instead.

 

[AngelaB]

Quote:
My parents have a trail cam in the back of thier yard to see what comes in at night. There are three GIANT ones. The neighbor is on the lookout for them....lol

 

[chickflick]

Quote:
Yes, you must convince your mom that the 24th is so much better. Or, you could tell her that you and the kids must go to chickenstock. It's a bonding thing that you do every year.
Is hunting season over yet??? I want to walk in the back fields and chase that darn hawk away, but don't want to get shot doing it!

 

[Mom 2em All]

YES- chickflick!!!

My husband says that hunting season is over- there is small game only..rabbit squirrel,. etc..but nobody is going to mistake you for a bunny...unless you are (un)dressed all wrong!!

 

[chickflick]

I won't wear my bunny suit today. Thanks, M2

 

[M.sue]

Fed, watered, went to church, came home, made a nice breakfast for everyone and let the girls out to enjoy the sun. This weather is unbelievable...how long will it last?

I think raccoons are cute but they can keep their distance from my place. I've never seen one showing it's teeth but them again I've never gotten that close to one, always kept my distance. A family that lives near my mom found an orphaned one, took it in and had it in the house till they were able to release it and knew that it would be able to survive on it's own.

Here is what I found when I came in from outside. My dog loves pancakes and was patiently waiting to get one!

 

[Mom 2em All]

I've rehabbed raccoons. They are precious as babies- but they bond with humans very easily and it is difficult not to allow it.
They need to spend a couple months preparing to be released after being weaned because they need to fear humans and dogs and other critters. The hardest part, they taught us, was how you put them in a transitional cage and scare them each time you feed them...bang the cage, make lots of noise, etc. Well, once they fear people (cant have them climbing up peoples legs out on a farm, or out on a camping trip...) they still have to have their cages cleaned...so, imagine for a moment, four or six or whatever number- coons that fear people as you are trying to get ahold of them to get them into clean quarters- and they are the size of a pomeranian...teeth and claws..

Also, the roundworm that they are prone to, and most often have are of the type that, if a human gets them, they infect our eyeballs. Squggling around inside our eyes

They are so difficult to properly rehab, that I will only do them as bottle babies. I much prefer the opossum- that fears us all and never bonds to us.

 

[M.sue]

Quote:
YUCK! The family that had the orphan I'm assuming (hoping) they know of this for have done this a couple of times. They have children and I hope they are educated on the risks to the humans. I'd sure hate to see someone loose their sight due to being a temporarly foster parent!

 

[DaughterOfEve]

M.sue :

Fed, watered, went to church, came home, made a nice breakfast for everyone and let the girls out to enjoy the sun. This weather is unbelievable...how long will it last?

I think raccoons are cute but they can keep their distance from my place. I've never seen one showing it's teeth but them again I've never gotten that close to one, always kept my distance. A family that lives near my mom found an orphaned one, took it in and had it in the house till they were able to release it and knew that it would be able to survive on it's own.

Here is what I found when I came in from outside. My dog loves pancakes and was patiently waiting to get one!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/93893_dscf3853.jpg

MSue, That dog waiting for pancakes is adorable!!!. And I love your kitchen. I swear it is the same cabnets and stove as my own place.

okay another sunshine day here so I decide to worm and spray(dust) all the fowl. My DD catches them and holds while I drip the IVMEC on their necks. Anyway she is great at catching the little darlings so she goes in and corners a group and snatches up the BIG roos in turn and brings them out. She doesn't hesitate to catch the big ones but then goes back in to try for the Booted Bantam who was roosted on a stick in the run no less and jerks, hesitates, and falters around while he flaps about from the netting to the stick and back again. I start laughing and ask what in the world she was doing. Her reply, he has bit me before mom! Through my laughter I remind her his beak is not capable of doing that much damage but still I had to go in and nab the little scrapper for her.

What fun and another job done on a very nice day. Winter comes in many forms. One year we get dumped on and next well is a nice relief. Great day to all.​

 

[Opa]

Years ago I was at a friends house with several other firemen. We were relaxing in his backyard, enjoying a few cold ones, when a large coon sauntered across the yard. The friend immediate launched into a tirade about his daughter not being responsible. It seems she had a pet coon and was always forgetting to properly secure its cage. When he attempted to pick it up it took of running so we all joined in the chase. When we finally had it cornered he grabbed it. Immediately the coon turned into a snarling, clawing, biting twenty five pound ball of fury. When he finally got to the cage I opened the cage by removing the several latches on the door. He placed the coon inside the cage and started to return to our chairs. However, before we could get there we were drawn back by the sound of a battle. Two big coons were trying to tear each other apart.

It turns out that we had place a wild coon in the cage with his daughter pet.