Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

I have hardware cloth the bottom 2-3 feet, and chicken wire on the upper part - saves considerably on cost, and I do not believe a weasel can climb through or chew up chicken wire if it is that high off the ground.

 

[Opa]

Coop and run security is a must is you want to attempt to keep your birds secure. While buried hardware cloth around the perimeter and the first 2' of the fence is a very good idea. Hardware cloth is expensive and burying it under the entire run is totally unnecessary and serves no real purpose. It is extremely unlikely that a predator is going to burrow down 12" and then inward 2 or more feet to get into the run. Use the money that would have been spent on that wire for other improvements or even more birds.

 

[RaZ]

Has anyone used standard chain link fence on the ground? It would be less expensive than hardware cloth.

 

[RTFchickens]

RAZ, we used hardware cloth too... I'm curious to hear if anyone has used the chain link...

 

[ladyrsanti]

Butter made from raw milk is better than store-bought imho. I will sometimes culture the cream before "churning" (blender) to make cultured butter, giving it a little extra something.

Anyway, I've been out of town, up around the 45th parallel this weekend. Spent time at the dunes (despite the roadblocks), wineries and such. My favorite spot was the Northern Michigan Asylum. LOVE abandoned historical buildings and here was a whole campus of 'em - took lots-o pictures.

Michigan love.

 

[Folly's place]

Hi Kathi, so very sorry for your loss. My coop is very secure; hardware cloth stapled and screwed in on all openings, doors with snap latches, and a concrete foundation and floor. The run is woven wire and chicken wire all around with a concrete foundation. It's for daytime lockdown times only, as it's not secure from nighttime predators. The birds are locked in their coop every night and out after daylight; right now they don't free range until afternoon because of the migrating hawks. I plan to rebuild the run this fall; a roof, some walls, and hardware cloth windows, so it will be more secure. I set live traps about 25% of the time outside the coop. Racoons and possums are the most numerous predators here, but everyone loves chicken! I'm not far from you , south of Perry. Mary

 

[RaZ]

My favorite spot was the Northern Michigan Asylum. LOVE abandoned historical buildings and here was a whole campus of 'em - took lots-o pictures.

Michigan love.

I am officially creeped out.
IF I can sleep tonight, I'm sure that I'll have nightmares.

 

[Amy PT]

Kathi, I hope you're not beating yourself up. It's a sad and expensive lesson. Stay around here, and once your done securing the coop, and ready for another batch, you're likely to find some here.

As beautiful as those former asylum buildings are, I couldn't imagine opening up a shop in one. http://www.thevillagetc.com/

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

About the hardware cloth: I've found that 3 and sometimes 4 layers of the cheaper chicken wire is strong and it works well here. I do use hardware cloth buried ~12" below ground and appx 4' up the sides of my pen. The outdoor house has hw cloth under it, but that is probly overkill as the house is inside the pen. Neighbor uses electric and can't say enough great things about it.

 

[EverMystique1]

I sent 2 mean roos to freezer camp today. Although we have always processed our hunted meat (deer) on our own, and have helped process chickens for others, I found today fighting an absolutely horrid lower back pain just trying to do these 2 birds. Not sure what the deal is there, other than working too many hours with little enough time to rest.

So, is there somewhere to process chickens in St. Joseph County? I don't want to drive hours just to have my birds slaughtered.