Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

hey t here, my coop is about two feet lifted off the ground, could I pack compost undearneath it this winter to help
keep the coop warm? Is this a stupid question?

There are no stupid questions.
Don't pile anything directly under the elevated coop. You can put straw bales around the perimeter as a wind block.

It was nice to see so many responses. The thread has been a little slow lately.

 

[chickflick]

you can tell the weather by the responses, beautifu nice days =slow thread. crappy day = lots of responses

 

[tntchix]

We have a new layer. I have no idea who it is though.

A pretty little cream colored one with some excess calcium build-up on it.

It's Midnight's egg, our mini Sebright.

*edit for identity

 

[uchytil]

you can tell the weather by the responses, beautifu nice days =slow thread. crappy day = lots of responses

Still missing a TON of people and sure wish they'd drop by once in a blue moon. But yeah, crappy weather and outside finishing a new goat house, yuk. Picking up a new goat Monday and NOT ready!

 

[Grammi]

Hi all, yes the weather does keep a lot of us in.
I use a deep litter method. I also clean Spring and Fall. I don't have a poop board yet, but hopefully next spring. So I go in and stir it up every two or three days. I have a window that I leave the top open about 1/2 inch for ventilation in the winter. It is open wide in the summer. I really raise my chickens like my parents and grandparents. They taught me about chickens. Although I really have learned a lot from every one here. I never have heat. I did one year and I had more sick chickens than I have ever had. So no heat at all. I do either put a lamp over the waterer, or a heated base. I haul water in the winter every day, so once a day is enough!! Now I have to tell you that my chickens are pets, but I do occasionally butcher them. I have my favorites that live to a ripe old age. But there is nothing better tasting than a home raised chicken. I guess I have yaked enough, since I rarely talk. Everyone have a great weekend.

 

[SillyChicken]

Still missing a TON of people and sure wish they'd drop by once in a blue moon. But yeah, crappy weather and outside finishing a new goat house, yuk. Picking up a new goat Monday and NOT ready!

Doe!!!!!!!!!!!!

so....promised some picts of the run in shed. It's 12 x 16 4x12 is outside the fence so we could access the shed without going inside with the animals. (with my elderly parents in mind to feed etc) We just finished adding the sliding doors, but still have a little hardware to add (rollers /stops).



we added the H brace and interior gates as well.

the next project will be to wall up one end and add a swing door on the other, we had to deal with moving sheets of osb all winter... not doing that again!


Inside, two gates and a hay feeder in the middle. it's always full so they can brows as they want.




there is a small hay loft that we will need to expand

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi Grammi, nice to see you! I know you hang out a lot without comment.

I also miss some old friends

 

[Grammi]

I miss some of the old friends also, I am not sure what happened, it would be great to hear from some of them.

 

[bigmrg74]

Had to look that up to see what is was! Then had to check her bio...."Irene's Myomassalogy Institute".
She also is really good at reflexology...

Irene's therapist do tend to be good with reflexology and other mellow relaxing stuff. But I do find that they do lack a little when it comes to the Dark Arts of Deep Tissue work. They tend to not be all that comfortable with trying to do a Psoas release, while us AAIMT therapist tend to be looking for clients that would let us actually do that on them to help fix them.

 

[uchytil]

Doe!!!!!!!!!!!!

so....promised some picts of the run in shed. It's 12 x 16 4x12 is outside the fence so we could access the shed without going inside with the animals. (with my elderly parents in mind to feed etc) We just finished adding the sliding doors, but still have a little hardware to add (rollers /stops).

Wow! You did a great job. I like the fact that you roofed conventionally rather than continue with metal - very unique. I love the thought process having one side outside the fence. I don't get how you keep the hay rack full all of the time unless you visit more often than not. My girls would strip the hay down in an hour - all gone, or wasted on the floor. I need a better hay rack design. I've seen some "no-waste" but my girls can waste anything in the blink of an eye.

My biggest challenge with my goats is the roofing game. When I built the first house they learned to jump up and never looked back. Well, within a few months I was replacing shingles. Then I added some cedar boards along the sides and top edge. They still ripped off shingles. They slide down the roof - jump around on it like little kids, and the average weight is 150 pounds each! I'm considering putting wood boards lapstraked over asphalt to minimize wear. I need an armored roofing system!