Michigan

[Olive Hill]

I used to but I've found that I much prefer using sawdust. It produces a much better and denser smoke than you get with larger pieces of wood. It's also less prone to flareup. I also like the variety of flavors I can get by using sawdust in wood species not common to this area like mesquite and pecan.

I'll have to give that a try sometime.

 

[chicken grandma]

Went to the grocery store and wound up being escorted around by wheelchair. I was about 2/3's done when I started getting light-headed and then felt a sharp pain behind my right ear like someone stabbed me with a knife. Had to have someone come and pick me up and drive me home. On another subject I am waiting rather impatiently to hear from Meyer Hatchery if my chicks have shipped. Today is hatch day and as it is noon I thought I would have heard something by now. Guess I just really want those cuties to get here soon.

Bianca - I hope you are feeling better and this is nothing serious!

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi Jen

Maybe if we gang up and sweet talk Muttsfan, she will raise us a couple of sweet banties?

I wouldn't mind, but Little Boy Blue does not seem to have his mojo working. If it warms up a little maybe I will separate him and his two girlfriends and see what happens.

I have ordered either 3, 4 or 5 dozen b(don't ask ) bantam cochin eggs in brown red, lemon blue, frizzled mixed colors, and birchen to put in the bator on saturday. If anyone is intereted.

[COLOR=800080]It'd be nice if you can save them but they are nigh to impossible to transplant. I'm pretty sure the pink must be native, too as they grow in the woods here and I don't think anyone would have thought to plant any on purpose in a swamp.[/COLOR]

 

The pinks are usually in most areas. The yellows will grow in drier areas, the are all over in my woods.

I

 Is this what you are talking about? Cypripedium acaule 
There are 6 natives in Michigan, pink, yellow, red and reddish-brown or purple. They like wetlands but are often found in wooded areas.
If you do find some and move them, don't tell anyone. They are on the  "threatened" list.

They are indeed threatened, but you can dig them up on private property.

Well, another bath for the two banties.  Sure hard to get rid of those fowl mites.  I think this is their fourth bath.  Put on ivermectin last week, but still there are lots of mites.  Especially hard to get them out of the Polish's crest.  These things are teeny tiny babies, so maybe a couple of more baths and get them all gone.  Krisrose did go to TSC and get some pyrmethrin and we're gonna try that.  Fuzzy, you said 2 parts prymethrin to 1 part water, right??  One drop on banties.  Krisrose was concerned that it was too strong for the banties.  Put some bag balm on their poor lil heads to soothe and hopefully smother them darn things.  Getting tired of bathing and cleaning their coop.  Lots of work, but those poor chix are so miserable.  The other banty is a favorelle.  Use to be one of Krisrose's house chickens.  When Lacy died, I got Sophie.  She's now an outdoor chicken and loving it.  So, Krisrose is over here making sure I'm taking care of "her" chix. 

Nova, hope you get rid of the leg mites easier than these blasted fowl mites. 

Mites and lice lay eggs that hatch out over a long period of time. You have to keep retreating to kill the newly hatched ones, sometimes for 4 to 6 weeks.

 

[chicken grandma]

Snowflake, I have had very good luck using chamomile tea bags, and so have the two people to which I have in the past recommended it. One of them had already been to the doctor and taking medication, but was frustrated with how slowly it was working. He used the tea for a day and it cleared immediately. This was my father-in-law, and he afterward declared that he would never be going to the doctor for pink eye again.

When I did it, I needed only to do it 3 times or so over the period of one day and it was gone. There is only one thing I have seen rid a person of pink eye faster, and unless you've got some breastmilk handy, I would try the tea.

If you want to give it a try, first be sure that chamomile is the only ingredient in your tea, I should not wish to place peppermint on my eye! Make yourself a cup of chamomile tea, remove the tea bag, and gently squeeze some of the excess water from it. Hold it on your eye for 10 minutes or so, and repeat the process every few hours or so. The way I had learned to do this was with the tea bag as hot as you can stand it, but I have since read that many people use it after has cooled. Personally, I found that the heat was in itself a relief. You can, of course, also drink the tea.

Juise - I have used Lipton tea bags also in exactly the same way and had the same results!

 

[chicken grandma]

I placed my order for a 3/12 hatch date back on Dec. 1st. Got an e-mail that they have been shipped and should arrive tomorrow or the next day, yeah! I ordered 4 EE's, 2 WEL's, 2 DOM's, and 2 GLW's. Can hardly wait for them to arrive, brooder is all set and ready for them.

Bianca - be very diligent to track your chicks and get them home and in the brooder. RaZ lost some chicks en route recently and he can probably tell you how best to track them.

 

[Bianca67]

Chicken Grandma - still feeling lightheaded but no more stabbing pain.
Meyer Hatchery has a USPS tracking link right on their website. At 5:34 pm they were accepted at the Mansfield OH annex.

 

[Olive Hill]

I know we've got quite a few busy working moms here so thought I'd share one of my favorite, simple breakfasts that uses up eggs like they're going out of style.

Ham & Egg Cupcakes



1) Line a cupcake pan with ham slices.
2) Break an egg into each ham-lined cup.
3) Bake at 350 until done to your liking. (I cook mine until the eggs are cooked through, but you could do over-easy if you prefer.)
4) Let cool, pop into a ziploc and store in the fridge.

In the morning we just nuke 'em for a few seconds to heat them up and eat. The kids can even easily take them "on the run" if we're running behind because when the eggs are cooked through they're basically a finger food. I like to top mine with mashed avocado. Scrumptious! And it gets the kids' day off on the right foot since they're packed with protein. Both my girls like to eat two cupcakes and a banana.

 

[snowflake]

Juise - I have used Lipton tea bags also in exactly the same way and had the same results!

My husband did try black tea before he went to the Doc. Was hoping the chamomile works better. he did have a very bad case though, his eye swelled so bad I thought he had gotten bit by something. mine is so mild I think the tea is helping. Thanks again juise

 

[Mish]

Just heard a happy story about a rooster I re-homed last year. He saved the flock.

The Father went out to the coop to let everyone out in the morning and found an almost dead raccoon and the roo with just some missing feathers and light scratches. He locks the coop at night and thinks the raccoon must have already been in there. The rooster must get his smarts and toughness from Mom - Isa Brown, because Dad is a very sweet, meek, Silkie.

 

[chicken grandma]

Olive - those egg and ham combinations look fantastic! Thank you for sharing that!!

I think I might even make those when I have company.
If anyone in the W. Michigan area has enough eggs to sell to a regular customer please let me know. I will stop in and buy eggs whenever you have extra. Thanks, Nancy