Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[ChickenLady2014]

It might just be coincidence but my hens stopped laying right about the same time I quit smoking.  A mere 7 eggs since November 13. 

Congratulations on quiting, I know how hard that is. It was 8 years for me the first part of July.

 

[Trefoil]

Winter's back with a vengeance and I'm reminded why I don't like it. 17° out and the ducks and geese were waiting by their pools,vying to be first in line to get a bath. Brrrr. I got frostbite watching them.

 

[bigmrg74]

A Coopers Hawk ate one of my cuckoo marans pullets right outside the pop hole today

it's too bad they are protected

All that remains or her is a million feathers.

Yeah, I'm thinking of getting a few old pallets to turn them into into some elevated planters for some gardening areas with space under them that the girls could use for a quick bomb shelter from hawks. I just need to collect some and work out what I want.

 

[warrenjennifer]

Northern MI is cold tonight!! All 15 hens and roo and tucked in with straw, heat lamp and treats for the night. Still can't wait to see my first pure Lavander amaracuna egg!!!!

 

[fuzzybutt love]

I had to take my grody straw out of the coop, wasn't able to put more in before the snap

 

[Brennigan]

Brrz!

We had a night in the teens last night and it doesn't look like it's going away for a little while. At least there is no snow!

Girls are toughin' it out, but their combs have shrunk and no eggs for almost a month! Oh well.

Anyone getting chicks in the New Year?

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi Jennifer, welcome to BYC and the Michigan thread

We often talk of providing heat in the winter in our cold climate. There are many of us who feel heat lamps are questionable at best. They increase fire danger and actually can increase the risk for frostbite too. If the power goes out the birds can be suddenly plunged into cold they are not acclimated to. Hens are well protected from cold, and ventilation is more important than warn temps.

 

[aart]

My poor Henny spent the night outside the coop!! First time that's happened, I didn't look closely enough last evening when I shut the pop door. She seems to be fine, made a beeline for the nests then the waterer when I opened the pop door. Glad it wasn't windy on top of the 16F last night and she was fairly safe in the run. I asked her where she slept, but she wouldn't tell me...lol. She laid her egg and went right back outside She's my most prolific layer, wonder if she'll lay tomorrow after the possible stress of being left out last night.

 

[warrenjennifer]

So, you have no heat in your coop then? We do have plenty of ventilation but coop is not insulated. Just plywood walls currently. Cord is not visible or reachable to chickens and light has a guard on it. How do you keep your water from freezing with no cords in coop? How do you keep them warm during sub temps?

 

[snowflake]

So, you have no heat in your coop then? We do have plenty of ventilation but coop is not insulated. Just plywood walls currently. Cord is not visible or reachable to chickens and light has a guard on it. How do you keep your water from freezing with no cords in coop? How do you keep them warm during sub temps?

Welcome jen
the cords are maybe not as much a danger as the lamp itself, if it falls on straw or any kind of bedding it could heat enough to start a fire. I have 1 coop insulated the other is not. Neither is heated and they do fine I have heated waterers, 2 3 gallon heated and 1 1gallon on a cookie tin heater some use pans with bird bath eaters I also keep all water and food outside. keeps it cleaner inside