Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Folly's place]

So yesterday evening my weekly 'rump check' for mites turned up a bunch on one of the cocks. DARN IT! Today three of the pullets are starting to lay eggs, wonderful, except I've got to treat everyone for mites, and not eat the eggs. BLAST! I'm not a happy camper, but that's life. Keeping those rotten house finches out of the coop seems impossible. Any suggestions? Seems like about three times/ year I'm dealing with mites. Ugh! Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Okay, rant over. For now. Mary

 

[bigmrg74]

I hope someone who found it has the decency to turn it in...

I walked the stretch of sidewalk between the ice cream place and where our car was parked at. If I dropped it there somehow, somebody must have about the 30 bucks or so in it. Actually probably about 50 if he went through it enough to find my lucky 20 dollar bill in it. Got me out of a tight spot when I was in Germany years ago.

Got the Debit card changed, was going to do the driver's licence as well today but the SOS in Ypsi the line was about out the door, and I had about a hour to be at work. Going to do that tomorrow morning in Adrian as it should be less of a madhouse there.

So yesterday evening my weekly 'rump check' for mites turned up a bunch on one of the cocks. DARN IT! Today three of the pullets are starting to lay eggs, wonderful, except I've got to treat everyone for mites, and not eat the eggs. BLAST! I'm not a happy camper, but that's life. Keeping those rotten house finches out of the coop seems impossible. Any suggestions? Seems like about three times/ year I'm dealing with mites. Ugh! Mary

I've using feed bags over the pop door as a curtain to let the girls and ideally keep them and the sparrows out. Only seems to keep them inside of it when they get inside of it. Unless somebody opens the human door to let them out, they'll keep bouncing around in there until they'll collapse.

 

[uchytil]

maybe more maybe less if you can find and are willing to use used materials

Hey guys, say, how much would it be, averagely, to build a small coop, but large enough to walk into and have a run with 10 feet of space per chicken with 5 chickens? And be around 6feet tall? Thanks in advance

That's a really tough question although a contractor may quote out anywhere from 500 and up. Labor is steep. You said 10 feet per bird, assuming you mean 10sqft that's a small 6 by 8 (ish), or somewhere close. If you can put it together yourself you'll save a lot. Around here (west shore) the private saw mills charge about .60 per board for red pine which can be much less than dimensional lumber at say Lowe's, or one of the other box stores. It make for a very pretty finished product and will last a lifetime if done right. Search craigslist for items you may want like shingles, run wire, etc. Also, the foundation is the most important part. Concrete slab, concrete pilings, gravel, or build on skids? Do some research and don't rush into it...you be happier in the long run

 

[uchytil]

Well, it's been a sad summer and I really have had no enthusiasm for BYC, or much else. Jillaroo (my avatar photo) passed away last week from breast cancer. She had a tough time for the last month, or so. She went peacefully in my house with us by her side. There is a very long story attached to how we came together as she was a rescue, and when I say say rescue I mean in every way possible. So, she's gone and I have a few friends on here that knew her and did not know what she was going through.

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry for your loss! She was a beautiful girl. Mary

 

[Candy442]

Well, it's been a sad summer and I really have had no enthusiasm for BYC, or much else. Jillaroo (my avatar photo) passed away last week from breast cancer. She had a tough time for the last month, or so. She went peacefully in my house with us by her side. There is a very long story attached to how we came together as she was a rescue, and when I say say rescue I mean in every way possible. So, she's gone and I have a few friends on here that knew her and did not know what she was going through.

so sorry to hear this news

. I am glad she was peaceful and got the very best time with you!

 

[Candy442]

So yesterday evening my weekly 'rump check' for mites turned up a bunch on one of the cocks. DARN IT! Today three of the pullets are starting to lay eggs, wonderful, except I've got to treat everyone for mites, and not eat the eggs. BLAST! I'm not a happy camper, but that's life. Keeping those rotten house finches out of the coop seems impossible. Any suggestions? Seems like about three times/ year I'm dealing with mites. Ugh! Mary

Hi Mary,

yuk! there is a spray product out there called Elector PSP. It's a spray mixture you can spray directly on the chicken and also use while they are in the cleaned out coop. It also says only one treatment...Have you heard about that or tried it? No egg withdrawal either and it says it thoroughly eliminates all mites/lice in the coop (of course until the next time birds bring it back). It's pretty expensive so I thought I would ask you about it before we try it. We have used the powder puff permethrin dust method.

 

[1muttsfan]

Well, it's been a sad summer

John, so sorry to hear you lost your little friend. What a great life she had with you, compared to what may have happened. Hopefully the good times will come to console you for the sadness of your loss.

 

[Folly's place]

The Elector is spinosad, and isn't available at TSC. I have no experience with it on chickens, but it was mentioned on another thread in Predators and Pests. It's use in combo products for dogs, not so helpful here. I am thinking about the liquid spray- on permethrin though. Or the old reliable unapproved Ivermectin. Mary