Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Trefoil]

Its raining, its pouring. I find I much prefer a warm rain to a cold one. Oh well, if I was in Ca, I would be grateful for rain period. Tomorrow's the Montrose swap, so it has to rain and be chilly.

 

[snowflake]

I have 2 white female call ducks in a pen with a male and female mandarin. Anyone have a male call (preferably white) that they are looking to get rid of? I'm from Caledonia, just south of Grand Rapids. I'll be travelling to Lansing next Saturday if anyone out that way has one. Thank you.

Hi, khonderd, Welcome to the Mi. thread,

I only have chickens, but keep asking someone may be able to help

 

[snowflake]

Its raining, its pouring. I find I much prefer a warm rain to a cold one. Oh well, if I was in Ca, I would be grateful for rain period. Tomorrow's the Montrose swap, so it has to rain and be chilly.

now we get to blame it on you,right??

 

[Zvacman]

I just found the time to really look for this thread. Between work, building the coop and run, and caring for the girls things have been really hectic. I am from the way northern part of the lower penninsula. I have 19 hens of various breeds that are 4-5 months old. I had a hard time sending all of the roosters away but my mini farm is too close to other houses and I have no desire to do any breeding. I would like people to chime in on whether they have insulation and or heat in their coops. I figure what better place to ask than the Michigan thread. Also, I have a pump/nipple watering system, are you all heating the your water source? I have several friends that have chickens but their farming methods are pretty crude.

 

[RaZ]

The temps dropped and I am huddling around a mug of cocoa and a tiny kitten who just had her bath. It's chilly in here and I REFUSE to turn the heat on yet (the spinster I am)

I took my girl cat to the vet yesterday for a tumor removal. She is still mad but the chill in the air has changed her attitude. She snuggles but then she growls.

Next month is the show at the birch run expo. Is anyone going?
I'm going but not to show but to look and see what's for sale.

I'll go and look.

I just found the time to really look for this thread. Between work, building the coop and run, and caring for the girls things have been really hectic. I am from the way northern part of the lower penninsula. I have 19 hens of various breeds that are 4-5 months old. I had a hard time sending all of the roosters away but my mini farm is too close to other houses and I have no desire to do any breeding. I would like people to chime in on whether they have insulation and or heat in their coops. I figure what better place to ask than the Michigan thread. Also, I have a pump/nipple watering system, are you all heating the your water source? I have several friends that have chickens but their farming methods are pretty crude.

At 4-5 months they should be fine for winter. An insulated coop is fine. You do not need add extra heat. Ventilation is the most important thing in a coop. Not drafty but a decent air flow so that ammonia does not build up in the coop.
I don't heat the water but I make darn certain that they have fresh, clean water every day. I use several waterers. Of course you need food every day as well.
It is an easy routine to get into.

 

[uchytil]

WHOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO
WHERE IS EVERYONE??? WASN'T I INVITED TO THE PARTY??

@chickflick

ROSE! Yeah, no kidding. The thread has dried up. A few new folks are emerging and my hope is our long lost friends have just been too busy this season. Maybe they'll be back this winter. I've been really out straight working and after typing this will be at it again. I just built a new goat pen and have to start another goat house. Then another duck house for all the new ducks. Today is just regular stuff - clean the pond, clean the rabbits, get ready for mom and dad's visit tomorrow. They are driving out from Maine.

Everyone have a wonderful day!

 

[taprock]

I just found the time to really look for this thread. Between work, building the coop and run, and caring for the girls things have been really hectic. I am from the way northern part of the lower penninsula. I have 19 hens of various breeds that are 4-5 months old. I had a hard time sending all of the roosters away but my mini farm is too close to other houses and I have no desire to do any breeding. I would like people to chime in on whether they have insulation and or heat in their coops. I figure what better place to ask than the Michigan thread. Also, I have a pump/nipple watering system, are you all heating the your water source? I have several friends that have chickens but their farming methods are pretty crude.

Welcome, I'm tip of the mitten too, just south of Mackinaw. I did not have heat last winter and with the exception of a couple small birds everyone did fine. Unless you have electric in your coop winter is pretty crude on watering. I have a heated dog dish in my large coop and rubber dishes in the other to break the ice and refill twice a day. I have two coops insulated and two that are not, that didn't seem to make a big difference. The ventilation is a bigger deal. If you do decide on heat back sure you have a back up plan in case the power goes out because while they do fine without it a drastic change part way through would not be good for them.

That said, my Seramas are hanging out in the basement right now because they do need the heat and I don't have winter housing for them yet. So for the next while they will be coming in at night and booted back out in the morning when it gets to 50*.

Off to farmer's market today to pick up a gallon of honey for the winter. I have not been taking eggs this year because I have enough regular customers that I never have extra eggs. This time of the year with everyone molting I have barely enough to keep up with orders.

I have also started seeing the migrating hawks. I chased off one before I let the chickens out yesterday. Thankfully the migrating ones don't know there are tasty morsels hidden under the trees like the resident hawks did.

 

[aart]

I just found the time to really look for this thread. Between work, building the coop and run, and caring for the girls things have been really hectic. I am from the way northern part of the lower penninsula. I have 19 hens of various breeds that are 4-5 months old. I had a hard time sending all of the roosters away but my mini farm is too close to other houses and I have no desire to do any breeding. I would like people to chime in on whether they have insulation and or heat in their coops. I figure what better place to ask than the Michigan thread. Also, I have a pump/nipple watering system, are you all heating the your water source? I have several friends that have chickens but their farming methods are pretty crude.

Depends on what nipples you are using, vertical nipples are more likely to freeze than the horizontal nipples....
and how your 'system' is set up, bucket or pipes...some folks use bird bath or aquarium heaters.

 

[tntchix]

@RaZ sorry about miss kitty. Glad she's feeling better and yeah I turned the heat on when my nose was red and cold. LOL

 

[fuzzybutt love]

I have been working 2-midnight sometimes in early and out late..... only 3 of us are trained and able to do my job and we are expanding our product line!!!