Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

I have the same reaction to children.

 

[Lisa and girls]

So question to my fellow Michiganders. Do you heat your coop? Trying to decide what to do this winter. I hear benefits on both sides of the argument. Input appreciated!

 

[SillyChicken]

I don't heat my coop.

 

[Stacykins]

Quote:
No heat here either. It is kept clean, dry, and draft free. They have fluffy feathers, which make great insulation. And if a chicken becomes dependent on additional heat, what happens if the power gets knocked out? They might not do as well if they're suddenly cold, rather than slowly adjusting to the cold as the weather cools.

 

[RaZ]

So question to my fellow Michiganders. Do you heat your coop? Trying to decide what to do this winter. I hear benefits on both sides of the argument. Input appreciated!

I do not heat. There have been at least three (3) fatal coop fires reported thus far this fall. I like BBQ chicken but not that way.

The risks out-weigh any perceived benefits. I read one report (non-scientific) that says chickens do best when the temp of their coop is 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the outside air temperature.

As long as your chickens are fully feathered, they should be fine.

If you decide to heat or light your coop, make absolutely certain that the fixtures and wiring are properly rated and can not start a fire.

 

[Lisa and girls]

Good points. Especially the fire hazard point. What do you all do about water freezing?

 

[1muttsfan]

I get sick like that when I have to listen to constant political posturing.

No heat in the coop.

Heated waterers are god's gift to chicken tenders and worth their weight in gold.

 

[ladyrsanti]

I would LOVE to re-home the old coot but no one would answer an ad that looks like this:

Looking to re-home a 17 year-old long-hair male cat that vomits daily, pees (preferably on carpet) if not confined. Friendly, kneads in the water dish. Howls frequently night and day. Licks plastic, chews plastic, drools on your neck, sleeps on your head and leaves tumble fur in every corner.

 

[taprock]

I don't use heat, However.... those of you who have silkies, sizzles and frizzles do you do anything different? This is my first year with them and read they need special care. I did have a frizzle last year and didn't do anything special for her except let her sleep in the nest box.

 

[Trefoil]

" I'm in a constant state of bagel" - I love that ladys
I am soo glad the election's over, no more unending calls & ads- yah!
I don't heat my coop, but if it gets really,really cold I do put a source of heat they can get to to warm up, just in case. I use heated wateriers and rubber bowls, and of course complain a lot when they freeze. Fire is always a worry when there is electrical to the coop.. I'm getting more eggs than I can use, not because my chickens are laying so great but because I have so many chickens. I have an old apple tree out in the middle of the field behind me that I use as a feeder spot in the winter. When the snow gets deep and the predators are having a hard time I take all my extra eggs there, road kill as well. I've been doing it a couple of years and don't notice any increase in predators around the house,although I have a mini forest on 2 sides very close to my house. I see coons and possums all the time and have to be careful not to have cat food left out at night because the coons come to the porch to get it. I lock my birds up at night and haven't suffered loses from them except when they decide to hide their nests outside.

Did all the proposals fail because people didn't understand them,didn't like them,or because they were afraid to change the constitution? I wonder because they all failed and that sort of surprised me.