Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[mara1]

I've been on this rabbit post and there's a neat heated water system I think I'm gonna try https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/647906/what-rabbits-do-you-have-show-off-your-rabbits-here/2520 since everybodys talking about winter thought I would pass the info. I was thinking of using a plastic 55 gal drum and a trough heater.

 

[lbrykowski2011]

I've been on this rabbit post and there's a neat heated water system I think I'm gonna try https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/647906/what-rabbits-do-you-have-show-off-your-rabbits-here/2520 since everybodys talking about winter thought I would pass the info. I was thinking of using a plastic 55 gal drum and a trough heater.

That's a pretty cool set-up and doesn't look to hard. I see on there, you have submersible pumps in your pond, does this keep it from freezing over completely? My ducks love the pond, not sure how their gonna feel about being in their pen for a couple mos once it freezes over. Their pacing by 7am for me to open that gate. Then I open the chickens door and don't see them come out for awhile. lol

 

[mara1]

He said he used the cooler for insulation so I figure if I wrapped the 55 gal drum It wood help keep the warmth in. How big is your pond? When I worked a long time ago at a fish farm the floating aerators kept the trout pond from freezing over to continue letting people fish over the winter.Same with the holding tanks which were the big round livestock troughs. The pond I have now is a small koi pond we dug it down deeper this year still debating on heating and using a aerator or putting them in a 55 gal drum in the garage. Hate to lose them their just now getting big. As long as the water is moving it should keep a clear area on the surface. I thought it was simple designs that someone else might benefit from. I believe he lives in Maine and he said it hasn't froze even in - temps.

 

[gladahmae]

I use a a 5gal bucket with nipples on the bottom and a 250watt stock tank deicer. I had no problems with my water freezing up last winter, only the the nipples would ice up a little on really cold days, but all I had to do was give them a tap to break the ice up and they'd work for the rest of the day. I got the deicers from fleetfarm during their black friday sale last year, which made them $25/ea I think. They're thermostatically controlled, so they use very little power as well.

I did see on a facebook post where someone (in Northern OH I think) had made a cookie-tin heater and put one of those teracotta/clay pot saucers over it and then set their plastic bell style waterer on top of it for winter.


My egg production has fallen by half in the past week. I have lights coming on for an extra 2 hours each morning, but I went from getting 8-10 eggs/day to 6 from 15 hens. Only one is visibly molting still, so they've either started "resting" or I need to have the lights come on earlier (which means the roosters will start crowing earlier) and extend the day a little more. I've got demand for almost twice as many eggs as I'm getting right now, which is very frustrating! My 15 pullets need to hurry up and start laying already! They're almost all in the 18-25 week range now, and some of them are really starting to pink up, but I think I may have to put a timer in that coop as well or I'll probably end up feeding them for a year before I get any eggs!


DH went hunting with our oldest son (he's 8) last night was was able to take a nice little doe. DS has been hunting off and on with DH for the past 2 years and this was the first time he was there when a deer was taken. Very exciting for them, and I'm happy we're putting more meat in the freezer!

 

[preciouskitty]

DH went hunting with our oldest son (he's 8) last night was was able to take a nice little doe.  DS has been hunting off and on with DH for the past 2 years and this was the first time he was there when a deer was taken.  Very exciting for them, and I'm happy we're putting more meat in the freezer!

Congrats to your DH & DS

My DH just left to go set up stands at one of the properties he will be hunting. I will hunt on our property....so far we have 3 in the freezer. Need 2 more for us; then the rest will go to local families/food bank.

Phew. Just got back from Kroger. I HATE grocery shopping...only go every 8 weeks or so. Dropped some serious coin (but saved $100 in coupons), but there were some seriously good deals so was able to stock up on most of my XMAS baking supplies. Shouldn't have to go back there except for minor stuff till ~ 1st of the year. Definitely something to be said for hunting, growing & preserving a lot of your own food!!

(Oh...the weather forecast says we might get an 1" of powdered sugar here tomorrow night...eek...)

 

[mara1]

Shredding my Halloween decorations before they spoil for the chicks. Trying to get my girls up to do some work before the weather gets worse.

 

[lbrykowski2011]

Our pond is about a 1/2 acre. Ik i read ducks have to be able to get their whole head wet, right now i have a big rubber bowl but don't think they can dunk their whole head, debating on goin bigger. There has been alot in start-up costs over the past few months and with Christmas and propane fast approaching, trying to get by with the stuff i have until next yr when I can add a lil more.

I already miss being out w/them all the time. Did an A frame with heavy duty tarp w/supports from coop about 15 ft into their run. All their water and food is under there now and I go out and hang out a bit w/them cuz there's no wind in that part now.They hang out under there too, especially w/the winds lately, so I can't see them when I'm in the house anymore unless their in the main run. At least they seem to really like it.

I heard my rooster crow for the 1st time this morning when I went out, he didn't know I was there yet. Heehee, my lil boy is growing up so fast. Now if my pullets would grow up some and start laying some eggs!!!!

 

[Peep-Chicken]

I might get sone Wyandottes bantams! Some Buff Columbian Bantam Wyandotte's or Bantam BLR Wyandotte's! What do you guys like best?

 

[iamfivewire]

our IaB's + 1 delw in their "new" old coop:

 

[Opa]

I might get sone Wyandottes bantams! Some Buff Columbian Bantam Wyandotte's or Bantam BLR Wyandotte's! What do you guys like best?

Both are equal as far as body type, laying ability, and temperment; so that only leaves color. Personally, I would go for tthe columbian since they are a little more dramatic.