Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[preciouskitty]

  

We had such a harsh winter!!   Polar Vortex and all!   Think we got to -30, or colder with the wind chills.  Schools were closed because of the cold winds.  Most people don't heat their coops.  One reason being, if you lose power, then your chickens will be plunged into the cold temps instead of their bodies being prepared for it.  There are some people from the UP, so I'm sure they will chime in and help you out with any questions you will have.  

I am so cracking up...I was typing as you were typing & submitting...I feel like an echo

 

[tdhenson86]

Hello,I was just wondering if I could join the thread? I live in Ohio but we are very close to the Michigan/Ohio line. I grew up in a very small town called Sand Creek which is near Adrian MI. We have a very small flock of 4 hens but are looking to expand. Raising egglayers is all very new and exciting we are definetly loving it!

Anyone is welcome here even if you're not technically from Michigan. I promise us chicken people may be crazy, but we are friendly nonetheless. Ha ha ha!

 

[tdhenson86]

@zoey87
@boersmamrs

I think you'll find the majority of us do not heat the coop.

Last year was my first year with chickens & took the advice of many of the Michigan BYCers & didn't add heat. One of the reasons not to: if the power goes out & the birds are used to heat they may not have built up enough feathering to keep themselves warm.
Another huge piece of advice was to make sure there is adequate ventilation. This helps to keep moisture down in the coop & prevent frostbite.
Also, making sure the roost bars are set with the wide side up so the birds can easily rest on their feet to keep them warm.

Even here in lower Michigan, last winter the temp without windchill was close to -20 a few times at my house. I only had a few very minor cases of frostbite on the birds with larger combs, but nothing major..just tiny black dots (nothing fell off!).

I'm sure you will get tons of tips & pointers from some of the other UPers here

Same here. I don't heat the coop for that reason. They'd go from nice and toasty to frozen and likely die. Instead, let them adjust to the winter naturally.

 

[boersmamrs]

  

We had such a harsh winter!!   Polar Vortex and all!   Think we got to -30, or colder with the wind chills.  Schools were closed because of the cold winds.  Most people don't heat their coops.  One reason being, if you lose power, then your chickens will be plunged into the cold temps instead of their bodies being prepared for it.  There are some people from the UP, so I'm sure they will chime in and help you out with any questions you will have.  

@zoey87
@boersmamrs


I think you'll find the majority of us do not heat the coop.

Last year was my first year with chickens & took the advice of many of the Michigan BYCers & didn't add heat. One of the reasons not to: if the power goes out & the birds are used to heat they may not have built up enough feathering to keep themselves warm.
Another huge piece of advice was to make sure there is adequate ventilation. This helps to keep moisture down in the coop & prevent frostbite.
Also, making sure the roost bars are set with the wide side up so the birds can easily rest on their feet to keep them warm.

Even here in lower Michigan, last winter the temp without windchill was close to -20 a few times at my house. I only had a few very minor cases of frostbite on the birds with larger combs, but nothing major..just tiny black dots (nothing fell off!).

I'm sure you will get tons of tips & pointers from some of the other UPers here

 

[boersmamrs]

I didnt think about that. I LOVE this forum. I had actually suggested to my husband that we put battery powered LED lights in the coop but wasnt sure about the heat. That makes sense though. Thank you. Any ideas of keepingthe water from freezing?

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! My coop is also insulated, more to keep it cooler in summer. I use the metal heated bases for my metal waterers in cold weather. The plastic heated waterer works fine but is a royal pain to fill and carry, so it's emergency backup here. I will sometimes use a 100w heat lamp over a waterer to keep it unfrozen. Adequate ventilation is the most important issue, as dampness and humidity in the coop is BAD. I also like to have birds that handle the weather, so no Silkies, frizzles, or Seramas here, and mostly birds with smaller combs. Mary

 

[RaZ]

It is that time of year when people start thinking about the upcoming evil side of nature. Winter.
With it comes the questions of heating, lighting, watering and frostbite.

1) HEATING: Even in the cold of the Michigan UP there is no real reason to heat your coop. Most who do choose to heat do so for their own piece of mind more so than for the benefit of the flock. The cons of supplemental heat outweigh the pros. Hopefully the chickens you have are a winter hardy breed.

The coop should be as draft-free as possible but still allowing for air flow. Fresh air in and stale air out. Vents at or near the peak of the coop help to eliminate ammonia build up. Ammonia from feces can cause respiratory issues and it stinks. If you smell ammonia you need a good coop cleaning.
The coop should be as water-tight as possible also. No roof leaks, no bad walls that allow wind-driven rain or snow into the coop. Moisture in the coop is bad. Moist coop and cooler temperatures can result in frostbite. Combs can become frostbitten at moderate temperature (~40' F) if there is a lot of moisture. Don't use a water fount that allows the combs to get wet when the bird drinks.

2) WATERERS: To heat or not is mostly a matter of convenience. If you can, change the water 2 or 3 times a day. Having a few extra founts makes the chore easier. If you have a long haul to the coop or work then consider using a heated fount, there are several available commercially. If you opt to make one yourself such as a cookie tin heater, please make sure that you know what you are doing. Consider a Thermocube or submersible heater that only comes on at a certain temperature or below.

3) LIGHTING: Some people believe that hens need 14 hours of light to continue to lay eggs. So supplemental lighting is added. Keep two (2) things in mind. Science determined that light need for hens raised in battery conditions where the birds never see the outdoors in their short lives. Our backyard birds get outside every day so they have a natural rhythm and are going to lay less during the winter. Part of that is less daylight and part is fewer natural foods available, ie. no worms, seeds, bugs and the like. Let your hens have a rest during the winter.
If you do need to add lighting, put in a timer that has the light come on in the early morning before natural daybreak. If the light is on after dusk some birds may not find their spot on the roost when the light suddenly turns off.

4) FROSTBITE: Moisture, high humidity and cool conditions are the big factors. Combs and wattles are susceptible if they get wet from drinking or rain or snow and the air temperature is below 40 degrees or so. Keep your coop and birds dry. Petroleum jelly can be slathered on as a preventative.

ELECTRICITY: If you need to plug anything into an electrical outlet, make certain that the cords are secured so that the chickens cannot get to them. If you have a heat lamp hanging make certain that it is triple secured and cannot be knocked down. Don't use cheapo clamp fixtures, get properly rated fixtures, use sturdy chain or wire to secure the fixture. If it produces heat it has the potential to start a fire. Be aware!

It is a good idea to have a fire extinguisher handy just in case. Two or three is even better.

However you decide to care for your flock in winter is ultimately up to you. Chickens have survived just fine for 8000 years on their own but remember that the health and safety of a kept flock is your responsibility.

I hope this helps people who are new to chicken keeping and is a reminder to the more experienced folks. Please ask questions and/or refute what I have mentioned.

 

[preciouskitty]

Opening day for bow season tomorrow

DH put up my new hunting "condo" yesterday. Now I just have to finish decorating the inside; put my thick blanket on the ground that my Cabela's lounge chair sits on, etc.

So far really only seeing a doe & her little one showing up; she's off limits even though I think her youngster is old enough to take care of itself. Just can't take mommy, plenty of time yet to fill the freezer! Past 2 years I've been successful on 1 or 2 Oct. Sometimes alls that really matters to me is the peace & quiet of sitting in the blind & reading a good book...
Last year, got one on 1 Oct; sat the next day & could have easily gotten another...but just wasn't "feeling" it..so the only shots I took were with my camera!

 

[RaZ]

The Michigan Small Farm Council (MSFC) is hosting a fund-raiser this Saturday in Ann Arbor at Bill's Beer Garden from 6-11 pm.
Speakers, music and local food are on the agenda.
Come meet some of the people who are on the front lines of the food fight here in Michigan.

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact...442b5&ch=feec9fc0-cc7f-11e3-ba4e-d4ae528442b5

 

[thechickenflock]

Hey there! Pretty new to byc, learning how to navigate the site. You all are from michigan? This is my first year with chickens. Question for you all... Do you heat your coop in the winter. Our coop is fully insulated but I am sure you.all know how harsh our winters can be.

Most of us are, there are a few from Ohio and one or two from Indiana. We also have a few ex-Michiganders. As far as heating the coop I don't worry about it. Most breeds can handle temps down to 0 F so a well insulated coop should do fine, if you really want to treat your girls you can get a ceramic well heater from home depot for about $100. A solar setup for it would be about $400. All of the folks here are outstanding people so don't be afraid to join in a conversation