Michigan

[1muttsfan]

Opa, I hope you meant 3 days!

The vernal equinox occured at 1:14 am today, so summer is here

 

[keyt1969]

Keyt, with a 6x6 coop, you probably don't need 8 nest boxes. Why not stick to 4 and lower the price a bit?

Last year and earlier this year we only had 4 in the smaller ones and 6 in the bigger ones but with every one we sold people asked why we didn't have more. I swear, if we do it one way then people want something else. Each one we do is different anyway. Even the one that Robin (RBahmer) got and she was our last customer is different from this one in many ways. The next one we build is for her again though and that one is going to be Aric's biggest yet!

The price has nothing to do with laying boxes at all. It's just convenient since you are cutting the board anyway so it doesn't cost anymore to have 8.The price is for a lot of other reasons besides just labor. Supplies like OSB boards, nails, screws, etc has increased significantly in the last month. Last month a gentleman called from work, showed up here an hour later in his suit and everything. He paid us without even batting an eye about the price. He said he was going to build one but he didn't have time. He figured out the cost and decided it was easier to just buy one, and once he saw how heavy ours are (we had 2 in the yard at the time and he chose the biggest one) and how well put together they are, he handed off the money and loaded it up and drove off to work with it for another several hours.
Also our coops are very heavy (Robin will tell ya!) because they are extremely sturdy. There are many coops on craigslist right now at the same price (a couple are even more!) but the quality isn't half as good. One good wind and they'll be gone. Before we even began building 2 years ago we would go look at coops on craigslist or in different stores. We still do if we see them nearby. Aric takes his time with these making sure than a wind or snowstorm won't break them! Good, steady workmanship along with good supplies equals a heftier price. We've never once had anyone complain because they see the quality! If someone wants something cheaper I can show them a handful of coops on craigslist that won't last them a year.

It's an investment, much like your house.

 

[Opa]

Opa, I hope you meant 3 days!

The vernal equinox occured at 1:14 am today, so summer is here

Thursday, Friday. Once they are done and over it's Saturday and CHICKENSTOCK

For some reason I was thinking tomorrow was the first day of summer. Now that I know that it is now actually summer I don't feel so hot....................yeah, right.

 

[Opa]

I just walked over to the neighbor's, gave him a dozen eggs and checked the status of his raspberries. The bushes are loaded and he doesn't do anything with them so he lets me have them. I thought about going back over to pick tonight but it's still 89 so I think I'll go over at 6am tomorrow. Might be a little cooler.

 

[RBahmer]

Last year and earlier this year we only had 4 in the smaller ones and 6 in the bigger ones but with every one we sold people asked why we didn't have more. I swear, if we do it one way then people want something else. Each one we do is different anyway. Even the one that Robin (RBahmer) got and she was our last customer is different from this one in many ways. The next one we build is for her again though and that one is going to be Aric's biggest yet!

The price has nothing to do with laying boxes at all. It's just convenient since you are cutting the board anyway so it doesn't cost anymore to have 8.The price is for a lot of other reasons besides just labor. Supplies like OSB boards, nails, screws, etc has increased significantly in the last month. Last month a gentleman called from work, showed up here an hour later in his suit and everything. He paid us without even batting an eye about the price. He said he was going to build one but he didn't have time. He figured out the cost and decided it was easier to just buy one, and once he saw how heavy ours are (we had 2 in the yard at the time and he chose the biggest one) and how well put together they are, he handed off the money and loaded it up and drove off to work with it for another several hours.
Also our coops are very heavy (Robin will tell ya!) because they are extremely sturdy. There are many coops on craigslist right now at the same price (a couple are even more!) but the quality isn't half as good. One good wind and they'll be gone. Before we even began building 2 years ago we would go look at coops on craigslist or in different stores. We still do if we see them nearby. Aric takes his time with these making sure than a wind or snowstorm won't break them! Good, steady workmanship along with good supplies equals a heftier price. We've never once had anyone complain because they see the quality! If someone wants something cheaper I can show them a handful of coops on craigslist that won't last them a year.

It's an investment, much like your house.

The craftsman on these coops is excellent. I am completely happy with mine. The one thing that Aric does is he uses screws and not nails which makes for a lot better coop. Looking forward to the next one he builds me.

 

[NovaAman]

Ok...
We've had a few family loses, several bird loses to coons, me and VJs mom most recently. Raz is still working on his menagerie, recently adding a skunk! And several more mallards. Mom2's Dh had a nail stuck in his foot, had to spend several days in the hospital getting abused. Olive lost most oh her garden tto critters that end in ole. And the puppy who got the mole. Been a lot of plant swap planning....lots of hatching. Mom is uggo-less... For the moment... RaZ city council is deciding on the chicken issue. Um... Butterflies... New members.... Chickenstock count down... Fuzzy may have finally beat the bumble foot... Juise's chicks test came back negative.... Hmmmm... I am sure there is more that I could come up with... Aside from people threatening other people with chickens, the ugly ones that is, and the general bs-ing... Getting mouthy.... But, this is edited broad spectrum from the last few weeks... Lol. Sorry, my brain is to fried from the heat.

 

[NovaAman]

I just walked over to the neighbor's, gave him a dozen eggs and checked the status of his raspberries.  The bushes are loaded and he doesn't do anything with them so he lets me have them.  I thought about going back over to pick tonight but it's still 89 so I think I'll go over at 6am tomorrow.  Might be a little cooler. 

supposed to be cooler and rainy here tomorrow! Oh, I hope!

 

[chickflick]

Last year and earlier this year we only had 4 in the smaller ones and 6 in the bigger ones but with every one we sold people asked why we didn't have more. I swear, if we do it one way then people want something else. Each one we do is different anyway. Even the one that Robin (RBahmer) got and she was our last customer is different from this one in many ways. The next one we build is for her again though and that one is going to be Aric's biggest yet!

The price has nothing to do with laying boxes at all. It's just convenient since you are cutting the board anyway so it doesn't cost anymore to have 8.The price is for a lot of other reasons besides just labor. Supplies like OSB boards, nails, screws, etc has increased significantly in the last month. Last month a gentleman called from work, showed up here an hour later in his suit and everything. He paid us without even batting an eye about the price. He said he was going to build one but he didn't have time. He figured out the cost and decided it was easier to just buy one, and once he saw how heavy ours are (we had 2 in the yard at the time and he chose the biggest one) and how well put together they are, he handed off the money and loaded it up and drove off to work with it for another several hours.
Also our coops are very heavy (Robin will tell ya!) because they are extremely sturdy. There are many coops on craigslist right now at the same price (a couple are even more!) but the quality isn't half as good. One good wind and they'll be gone. Before we even began building 2 years ago we would go look at coops on craigslist or in different stores. We still do if we see them nearby. Aric takes his time with these making sure than a wind or snowstorm won't break them! Good, steady workmanship along with good supplies equals a heftier price. We've never once had anyone complain because they see the quality! If someone wants something cheaper I can show them a handful of coops on craigslist that won't last them a year.

It's an investment, much like your house.

I'm sure they are built very well. I didn't mean to imply that they weren't. Just with a 6x6 coop, you can only have a few birds and "they" say 1 nest for every 4 birds. The labor alone is worth the price of the coop.

 

[vjwilmoth]

Okay...here we go!

With the rain coming down, reading is the only endeavor that makes much sense to me. In the book I'm currently reading the protagonist speaks about a veterinarian who has a taxidermy shop in one half of his building and the vet clinic in the other. He has a single sign to advertise both that is probably on of the best signs I've hear of. "Either way you get your dog back"

That is seriously wrong and very, very hilarious. Happy First day of Summer!!!! I think it was hot enough!

This city manager we have is a real horse's... Well anyway, when the city was incorporated, it was laid out in half acre plots or better just so people could have gardens and chickens. Then plots were divided to a small as 35 feet wide. So they site the 40' rule when they want to enact some silly ordinance. They did the same thing with bees.
What I found silly was the 10 square foot per chicken comment. This same guy wants the coops to be on concrete slabs and has never heard of a chicken tractor.
We just started getting the rain. It got so dark that the street lights came on. I think the couch and a book are calling out to me. No wood working as I still haven't got the garage cleared out to get to the tools. Slobitis has me in it's foul grip and my procrastination has flared up.

That just seems dirty. I am really rooting for you on the ordinance! It's too bad we can't all gang up on your city council!

I need to vent on behalf of my own sweet mother. She has lived in her house for 45 years. She is disabled, and so is my stepfather. She has known the neighbor next door since he was four years old- he is now 49. He never moved out, and his parent moved to a house on the lake about seven years ago.

Mom2 - I am so sorry about this drama you and your mom are going through. That just seem asinign for them to try and make a "law" like that. I hope you can help your mom through the depression part of this and she will be able to find enjoyment in her birds again.

Wow...56 members/families are signed up for Chickenstock so far!

I can't wait! And I think DH is either looking forward to it or at the very least, curious. I know this because he calls it ChickenStock and not, "That bird thing with those internet people."

Bad neighbors!

That's not a bird bath, it's a water-filled gazing bowl. The one over there is a decorative fountain. Give the birds a citation for misuse of garden decorations.


Well, here's something nice.

Glambka has donated two prizes for the Chickenstock raffle that I'll bring Saturday:


She is always looking for eggs, especially turkey eggs so if anyone has some to give I'll bring them back for her.

Those eggs are gorgeous!!!

I have a couple pictures for you.
After last nights storm this is Pippin, I have taken to calling him Pip squeak because of his ridiculous crow... or rather squeak.



And last is Toser. He/She is part Cochin and Part Welsummer. If yous see anything that would say he or she to you let me know. We are at 5 months now with no crow no egg and I have no clue on sex. One day I think boy the next girl.


Stay cool today! I think I will work in the basement today!

First of all Happy Anniversary!!! I love your polish's wet hair-go. And I'd bet that last chicken is a pullet. You know, since I have like 3 whole months experience with chickens.

Happy Anniversary!!!! I hope to make it to 30! We just had #12 this year...pluggin' along.

Today I have some friends coming over for a duel birthday celebration!!! I share my birthday today with a girl that I met in 1st grade. We were born in the same hospital, almost in the same room, an hour apart!!!
We talked about having a bon fire... but who wants to make more heat in this craziness??? I hope it cools off well tonight.

Happy Birthday BYFM!!!

But did they say it would be five different breeds in five different chickens?

The roo you posted looks very game-y, but it's hard to tell in that shot. What kind of comb does he have?

I assumed you weren't asking about her, but the little light brown one is an ISA Brown, I think the golden one could be a campine. The other two still look like mutts to me... but I'm sure there's just a breed I don't know about.

VJ, The blues are boys. The whites, pretty sure are girls at this point, heehee, and the black is kinda iffy, is already got comb development, but not near as much as those blues. The combs on the blues are just to big already to not be boys.

Got a dozen eggs today. Have 2 new layers today. I think Belle Mai laid her first egg today. It is the exact same size and color of Leila's eggs.. Was a bit bloody on the shell. AND I also got a nearly white egg! And why is that something to get excited about? Well... I haven't had a white egg layer since Miss Legs got dogged.

Mom, to bad your mom is... Well, to bad she doesn't stand up for herself... She should have asked to see a copy of the ordinance she was being sited for. She doesn't have to pay a fine does she? She could ask to see the ordinance when she/you goes to deal with it...

I'm pretty sure the blues are boys too. They have wattles already. The white, black and partridge don't have any at all. The black has that tiny ball of a comb and the white and partridge are flat. Here's a good pic of the blue's wattle size....at only 8 weeks.

Happy anniversary, kimmie and Taprock!!!


I know it's not everyones cup of tea.. but I finished a drawing today, thought I'd share. Entering it in a fan contest, wish me luck!

Silly - That is fantastic! Whether people care for the subject matter or not is beside the point really. You are an incredible artist! You should connect with my DH, Brad at CS...he's an incredible artist as well. I wish I could draw even a tiny bit as good as he can. All 3 of our boys inherited his artistic ability as well. I can sing though.

Update on the sugar and iodine mixture, all i can say is WOW! I wish i had pictures of the before and after. (don't put it on an open wound, or it will burn, being left on like this)
I left it on a couple days and today i took off the bandage. My girl before had pink on the bottom of her foot (EE) i thought was supposed to be there, turns out the bottom of her foot is supposed to be a dull yellow! So that means the foot that "healed itself" of the minor bumblefoot still had a bit in there, though there was no scab. Today i put the salve on BOTH feet and bandaged.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS for anyone treating bumblefoot in the beginning stages. (Or for one like mine, that just isn't healing well but has formed the non-bumble scab)

I decided to continue on with the penicillin shots, so this will be a 10 day course, starting at .75 ml and working up to 1 ml for the last 5 days.

I'm so glad to hear things are improving...FINALLY!!!!

pssssstt....guess what's happening on my diningroom table...

Oh lord!

Are you bring chicks to CS as well as your older silkies? Oh, just how old are the silkies you'll be bringing and how much for them? And do you know if they are boys or girls?

dontcha hate when that happens!

Morning! Its already a balmy 81 here. Looks like a pool day for me!

Anyway, my pullet is worse today. She's still eating drinking and walking around, still skeets, and even thinner today than yesterday. I know it doesn't take long for a bird to lose weight. I am bringing her in to the kitchen in the cat carrier. Give her special attention to get her weight back up. If a day or two in the kitchen doesn't help, I am afraid I will have to cull her. I am going to take some of the poopy feathers to the vet this morning, get a worm check. I'd hate to miss that and attribute this all to heat. These are free range birds... who knows what they find to eat, and since snails, crickets, earthworms carry....

Well off to get stuff done while its still relatively nice out.

I hope your pullet pulls through!

If anyone is interested I plan on bringing some Cuckoo Marans chicks and some older white Silkie chicks to CS. I Have too many white ones to keep them all.

Same question for you...how old are your silkies and how much? And do you know if they are boys or girls? I'm thinking I might want to add some. My only white silkie is so small and scrawny after pulling through that crop issue early one. It's at least half the size of the others! It seems spunky but I'm wondering if I should have a back up.

Good Morning Michigan!​

Well, it's finally arrived, the better weather that is. Sadly, it's supposed to cool off and rain on the weekend, so I guess we won't be taking the boat out. Why does all the good weather occur during the week?

The momma goat is finally getting better. But the crows are a serious problem. First it was eggs, now they are killing adolescent ducklings. We have lost about 15 so far. "He Who Must Be Obeyed" is furious.

Off to romp with the dog - have a great day everyone, try and keep cool. It looks like it won't get over 77 here. NICE!

Hi Total! That's too bad about crows getting your ducks...crows?! Really? That's crazy.

Hey guys!!!! If It seems like I have fallen off the face of the Earth, I haven't!

Boy, over 2000 post since I checked this thread last!!!!! I am not going to bother reading them all! Nova!!! Can you do a recap for me? Pretty please with cherry on top?
Loads of things have been happening here at my little Golden Willow Farm.
I have been picking strawberries at Krupp Farms for 3 weeks now. Its my 7th season to work at that farm, we will be picking the last strawberries on this weekend, then switch to Raspberries. The owner is a great boss to work with!
Been milking Bella, and making butter! The raw milk is very good!

Bunch of other things too, but will post them tonight when I get back from work. I am dreading to go to work for its too hot. Hate the heat!
Catch you guys later!

Hi Farmerboy!!!

Ok...
We've had a few family loses, several bird loses to coons, me and VJs mom most recently. Raz is still working on his menagerie, recently adding a skunk! And several more mallards. Mom2's Dh had a nail stuck in his foot, had to spend several days in the hospital getting abused. Olive lost most oh her garden tto critters that end in ole. And the puppy who got the mole. Been a lot of plant swap planning....lots of hatching. Mom is uggo-less... For the moment... RaZ city council is deciding on the chicken issue. Um... Butterflies... New members.... Chickenstock count down... Fuzzy may have finally beat the bumble foot... Juise's chicks test came back negative.... Hmmmm... I am sure there is more that I could come up with... Aside from people threatening other people with chickens, the ugly ones that is, and the general bs-ing... Getting mouthy.... But, this is edited broad spectrum from the last few weeks... Lol. Sorry, my brain is to fried from the heat.

Okay, I almost spit out my lemonade when I was reading this. You should seriously just give a weekly recap.




Now my butt hurts from sitting here so long in this really hard chair. I'm going to go veg out with the kiddos. I won't be around much tomorrow so you all behave yourselves!

 

[kimmie6067]

So excited I think I figured out what six of my chicks are Barnevelder here's a pic