Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[preciouskitty]

Quote:
NO

 

[lbrykowski2011]

Thanks to everyone on great advice. DH said he's gonna take netting down until spring. I only worry about the hawks, but he says they free range most of the day anyways, which he has a point. Bought 1 heated base and 1 heated dog bowl + 1 have 2 rubber bowls. The coop is 160ft from the house, he said I don't want to run extension cords over 100ft, is there an easy way to run some sort of electrical out that far just for those 2 items? I might just get 2 more rubber bowls for now, the ice broke out easy. Maybe run something underground next yr. Opa, thanks for all ur advice and I'm definitely not liking winter coming, maybe next yr it will be easier.

 

[snowflake]

Thanks to everyone on great advice. DH said he's gonna take netting down until spring. I only worry about the hawks, but he says they free range most of the day anyways, which he has a point. Bought 1 heated base and 1 heated dog bowl + 1 have 2 rubber bowls. The coop is 160ft from the house, he said I don't want to run extension cords over 100ft, is there an easy way to run some sort of electrical out that far just for those 2 items? I might just get 2 more rubber bowls for now, the ice broke out easy. Maybe run something underground next yr. Opa, thanks for all ur advice and I'm definitely not liking winter coming, maybe next yr it will be easier.

you can berry the extension cord in PVC pipe with out much trouble, gets it out of the way, wrap any connections with duct tape

 

[snowflake]

after looking at the pics of the runs I would agree if you have them covered with netting take it down or fix an A-frame if you cand to hold it up, it will surly collapse and may take down your side fencing with it
,, snow is very heavy

 

[shelby chick]

Hi everyone Shelby TV. Will be interviewing me today about the ordinance in Shelby twp. If there are any 4H people or other people that would like to have any input in the changing Shelby twp. Please call Shelby TV. and let them know how you feel. the more people that are together on this we could get the ordinance changed

 

[SillyChicken]

I am not an electrician, but I do know there is something about running appliances with a high power draw on a long extension cord.. but I can't remember what it is. Not sure if it makes the cord hot or what... Make sure you get the heavy duty outside rated cords.

I have the same problem with my goat pastures... not sure what we're going to do this year DH doesn't want to run power down for lights even. I was thinking about solar lights, but they're made so darn cheap. I think I'll wait till he bangs his head enough times on stuff in the dark for him to decide we need power out there! LOL!

Sand is being delivered today....... I picked up gutter and lumber yesterday so DH is going to start framing in the runs. It's taken five years, but I'm finally getting some of the coops more in line with the way I want them. It's like this huge experiment.. I keep trying different ways and ideas to see what works and what doesn't. Keep improving as time rolls forward.

The Sumatra were so happy to be outside yesterday... not thrilled with being cooped up but... I think timing was pretty good with containing all the chickens... I saw a small hawk swoop over the chicken run yesterday. Ha ha, no chicken soup for you!

 

[uchytil]

I am not an electrician, but I do know there is something about running appliances with a high power draw on a long extension cord.. but I can't remember what it is. Not sure if it makes the cord hot or what... Make sure you get the heavy duty outside rated cords.

I have the same problem with my goat pastures... not sure what we're going to do this year DH doesn't want to run power down for lights even. I was thinking about solar lights, but they're made so darn cheap. I think I'll wait till he bangs his head enough times on stuff in the dark for him to decide we need power out there! LOL!

Sand is being delivered today....... I picked up gutter and lumber yesterday so DH is going to start framing in the runs. It's taken five years, but I'm finally getting some of the coops more in line with the way I want them. It's like this huge experiment.. I keep trying different ways and ideas to see what works and what doesn't. Keep improving as time rolls forward.

The Sumatra were so happy to be outside yesterday... not thrilled with being cooped up but... I think timing was pretty good with containing all the chickens... I saw a small hawk swoop over the chicken run yesterday. Ha ha, no chicken soup for you!

Voltage drop occurs and anything more than a light bulb can overheat and burn up. That's the simple explanation. You can google voltage drop and use Ohm's law and lengths/type of conductor to figure proper runs. My wife wants me to put solar panels out

As I explained: By the time I got the proper panels erected, got the storage batteries, got the inverter, I might as well just trench out 200 feet of 8 and be done with it, lol! Plus I think the sun pretty much leaves west Michigan until around April anyway so where is this solar generator we talk about, ha ha.

In a pinch I have no problem running an extension cord for a couple of 60W broad spectrum bulbs. I don't mind frozen water so no heaters for me.

 

[Opa]

Burying electric wiring in conduit is always a good idea when you need to take electricity from one building to another. However, placing it in pvc conduit only protects it from damage. Most extension cords are 16 gauge but even heavier gauge cords won't provide the necessary amperage. To go from my workshop to the chicken coop I had to go with 8 gauge wire.

 

[MIchickens]

I am/was an electrician before I went into the military (I’m still a member of I.B.E.W. Local 58). I would suggest running a 12 gauge wire from the hose to the chicken coop (unless you’re running other items besides basic lighting and plugs). Voltage drop starts to occur when you get around 220 or 250 feet. If you run a direct burial wire, I would suggest a 12/3 which means there is a black, red, white, and ground wire in it. The reason for this is so that you can put a switch in the house or garage to turn on a light at the coop. It’s just easier to turn on that light than to have to trek out to the coop at night if you hear something wrong out there.

It says you live in Capac. I can come out there and help you run it and show you what to do to hook everything up……just PM and I will give you my phone #. I live up in the North Branch area so it’s not a big deal to go out there.

 

[mara1]

Look what I found . I feel offical now