Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[SillyChicken]

Here is an idea...
Jump on your bad motor-scooter and take a ride up that-a-way.
I'd be happy to ride up with and fill the saddle bags.

Good idea....... ecpt I've been sick all weekend... momma ain't riding no where!

 

[SillyChicken]

Thank you. Our runs are almost to dirt now. With them free ranging most of the day I was able to keep grass in there a bit longer but now it's dirt. We were wondering if sand was good to put in or pine chips or just leave it alone. It seems kinda hard in there when it's dry. They do have 2 dust bathing sections I put playsand in. We got our garden in yesterday also, almost 2 weeks behind schedule, but it was to wet to get into it.

no on the wood chips unless it is a covered run and won't get wet. Then you'll just have a mess. Get play sand (see my other comment).

 

[Maah]

make sure you get clean play or beach sand, not construction grade sand.... DH didn't listen and got the later, now it's hard as a stinking brick and WORTHLESS for what I needed it for.

Good deal! I'll make sure to specify before ordering. I'd love to do a nice fine beach sand but we'll see.

 

[thechickenflock]

I've been pricing out sand to put in the runs. One place quoted $16/yard, and the place down the street from us quoted $13/yard. DH remembers getting it cheaper than that a few years ago. What should we be looking to pay now?

I would highly recommend NOT putting sand in your run. here is an article on why, http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2013/07/the-real-scoop-on-using-sand-in-your.html

 

[thechickenflock]

Where do y'all get your feed? Especially those in the Howell area like @Opa and @preciouskitty

 

[gladahmae]

Boy. Hatching eggs with a broodie is so much less fun than the incubator! How am I supposed to hover and check under a broody hen 3 times an hour? Oh wait! I can't! They screech and peck and bite at me if I do that! Good thing I left a few eggs in the incubator so I can hover over those! 5/34 eggs are hatched so far!

 

[Maah]

I would highly recommend NOT putting sand in your run. here is an article on why, http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2013/07/the-real-scoop-on-using-sand-in-your.html

Thank you for the article. It's good to hear both pros & cons in regards to sand so we can weigh our options and make informed decisions. Most of the article is referring to sand in the brooders and effects on chicks. Their main concern for putting it in the run is it retaining heat. DH & I are thinking about installing roofing sheets the same time we add sand and that should help. We will be looking for a roof sheet that will still allow adequate light but provide some additional shade as well. I add sand to the very back side of their 32'x8' run every year (about a 2'x4' space). They love it and dust bathe and dig there. I have to re-add sand to the holes yearly since they'll dig it right out. We've decided to add sand to a larger section of the run since we need better drainage there. They have it scratched down to mostly clay... which creates a muddy mess and retains too much moisture increasing the risk for bacterial/parasitic growth.

@SillyChicken Have you tried running a rototiller through your run to break up the sand?

 

[jlynnet]

I put wood chips in and around our runs. We've put sand in as well, but when it rained so much it got nasty. We've put the wood chips in once a year. We got really good obesity this time. Extra clean and larger chips.

 

[uchytil]

Thank you for the article. It's good to hear both pros & cons in regards to sand so we can weigh our options and make informed decisions. Most of the article is referring to sand in the brooders and effects on chicks. Their main concern for putting it in the run is it retaining heat. DH & I are thinking about installing roofing sheets the same time we add sand and that should help. We will be looking for a roof sheet that will still allow adequate light but provide some additional shade as well. I add sand to the very back side of their 32'x8' run every year (about a 2'x4' space). They love it and dust bathe and dig there. I have to re-add sand to the holes yearly since they'll dig it right out. We've decided to add sand to a larger section of the run since we need better drainage there. They have it scratched down to mostly clay... which creates a muddy mess and retains too much moisture increasing the risk for bacterial/parasitic growth.

@SillyChicken Have you tried running a rototiller through your run to break up the sand?

I do. After the girls pack the runs down (about once a month) I tear it up into loam again. They love it!

 

[lbrykowski2011]

no on the wood chips unless it is a covered run and won't get wet. Then you'll just have a mess. Get play sand (see my other comment).

Only 1/4 of the run is covered. Is the playsand you buy in bags at the feed stores and such considered clean play sand?