Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[wannahomestead]

What're you guys using in the run for ground cover? My ladies killed all the grass and it's turning into a mess. Not unexpected, just time to address the issue.

 

[ToniTalley]

Sand works for me, it drains well and I also use a little of Sweet PDZ just to help keep the poo dried up. Which reminds me, I need to order some more sand, it does seem to need a bit of a refill once a year. But we lined our run with flat cement pavers before we put the coop and run out there, to keep the digging varmints out.
OK, upon re-reading, that doesn't make sense. We first put down pavers under the whole kit and caboodle, then put the all in one coop and run on top of the pavers, so the wood is sitting on the pavers. Then we put sand on top of the pavers, lots of it, almost to the top edge of the wood run frame.

 

[taprock]

Absolutely nothing to do wth chicken but....you may have seen on the news about the pit in U.S. 31 and the detour up here. My BIL decided to take out his drone for a spin. It's a pretty impressive hole at this point. Hopefully I did it right so you can see it.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10207567640098350

 

[aart]

What're you guys using in the run for ground cover? My ladies killed all the grass and it's turning into a mess. Not unexpected, just time to address the issue.

I want to use a mix in size/shape/material of dried organic matter: wood chips, twigs, leaves. etc....
.....but it hasn't happened in a large(total run is 250sqft) way yet.
Works great in a small scale around the run and pop door to battle muck during heavy rain and snowmelt.

Have a drainage issue I need to resolve before implementing more and also think about the partial snow shoveling I do out there.

Am using grazing frames to offer a bit of living green as I do not free range.

 

[aart]

Absolutely nothing to do wth chicken but....you may have seen on the news about the pit in U.S. 31 and the detour up here. My BIL decided to take out his drone for a spin. It's a pretty impressive hole at this point. Hopefully I did it right so you can see it.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10207567640098350

I could view it just fine, great overview.
Is it a sinkhole or drainage or flood problem that caved taking the roadway with it?

 

[1muttsfan]

not sure if it's so much is a sinkhole as a big blowout on the side of a slope. Cool video.

 

[RaZ]

So would the major swing in temp cause the ladies to not lay? I only got 3 eggs today when I was consistently getting 5-7 previously. Also, I think one of my EEs, Goldie, is going to go broody. She's been in the nest boxes every time I've gone out there recently. I caught her sleeping in the next box last night as well on top of fake eggs.

Reduced egg output at this time of year is not uncommon. Shorter days, temperature fluctuations, fewer bugs and plants to eat, moult, hens going broody all can be factors. There are just too many variables that come in to play.
As for me, I simply enjoy the entire process and appreciate what egg gifts I do get. Only 4 eggs for me today.

 

[wannahomestead]

Reduced egg output at this time of year is not uncommon. Shorter days, temperature fluctuations, fewer bugs and plants to eat, moult, hens going broody all can be factors. There are just too many variables that come in to play.
As for me, I simply enjoy the entire process and appreciate what egg gifts I do get. Only 4 eggs for me today

It seems I have a broody here most likely, so I have her in the house with me right now seeing if I can break her. The Mrs. seems to be very anti hatching chicks right now. If she doesn't break soon, I may have to accidentally leave her some eggs to try.

 

[snowflake]

What're you guys using in the run for ground cover? My ladies killed all the grass and it's turning into a mess. Not unexpected, just time to address the issue.

we had an above ground pool that went by,by so I took most the sand, and put it in the run. that has mixed with the dirt and clay and drains quite well, much less mud. covering the top of the run has also helped to reduce the amount of water in the run.


the video of the sink hole/ cave in was very good. nice job.

my hens also have slowed way down. not as bad as last yr though. when they stopped early Aug.

we have enjoyed watching for the bob cat. the ## or rabbits has diminished I wish she would take the darn ground hog. Tunnels all over the yard

 

[RaZ]

Reduced egg output at this time of year is not uncommon. Shorter days, temperature fluctuations, fewer bugs and plants to eat, moult, hens going broody all can be factors. There are just too many variables that come in to play.
As for me, I simply enjoy the entire process and appreciate what egg gifts I do get. Only 4 eggs for me today.

Well I just lied to everyone.
After the storm rolled through. I went out to check the girls. Found 7 eggs in 2 nests. That gives me 11 for the day and 100% production. Two were still warm.