Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Farmerboy16]

I don't heat my coop.

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.

I voted yes on 1 and no on the rest, exp 5. But the reason I voted no on 2,3,4,6, was that it will benefit the Unions, not the people, and our constitution does not need to be messed with by the Unions.

Off my soap box.

 

[RaZ]

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

I have an extra waterer that I bring in the house at night. I take it out in the morning when I check on the birds.
Last year the water left overnight only froze a couple of times and only a light ice crust at that. The coop stayed above freezing all winter. My only caveat is that I'm not as far North as many are.

If I can get a few extra bucks, I will get a heated water dish/bowl for the outside run.

 

[Chicken Fresh]

hi everybody
Any style or name brand heated waterer you recommend?

 

[tdhenson86]

I don't heat my coop either (unless you count the heat that comes off of the lights for the chicks in a brooder in there). I've only lost a few chickens to winter in the past and that was only when it got at or below 0 degrees F...

 

[Trefoil]

There were some problems with proposal 2, but I voted yes on it because I think everyone should be able to decide for themselves whether they want to join a union. I also feel that a contract should be binding on both sides, not just one. I have no problem with people not wanting to be in the union, but the union shouldn't have to represent those people,either. I've worked both and I really liked the pd vacations and health care that comes with most union plants. History tells us that the ability to join a union was largely responsible for the creation of the middle class and do you really think its a coincidence that as union membership declines, so has the middle class?

I also voted yes on 1

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Last few years i haven't heated my coops, all has been well. Last year i didn't have electric out there so i had to use a rubber dish, but the year before i used a heated dog dish. If you don't have banty's a heated bucket would be even better!

No matter what waterer you use, if you do bedding in the winter you will need to put it on a pedestal so it don't get shavings kicked into it! I use a couple concrete cinder blocks.

I don't like the "usual" chicken waterers in the winter because i always got my hands wet while trying to dump them, so just a bucket or bowl here! My hands hurt in the cold without the addition of "wet"!!!

I was eying the ad BYC had running for the heated nipple watering system, i like the idea that they can't get the water dirty! But idk about our winters, they are so unpredictable!

This year i have tiny d'uccle banties,and i am unsure about heating vs non-heating as well..........But from all i've read to heat is a pretty big risk all around..........2 more weeks then i have to make a final decision! (My fall EE "chicks" will turn 8 weeks then)

 

[taprock]

Fuzzybutt - we had bantam d'uccles last winter with no problems, however we only had deep snow twice and they didn't much like it with the feathered feet.

I do the heated dog dish when it starts freezing.

 

[Amy PT]

I've ducked out for a few days. It seems as though I don't share political views with some vocal folks here. That's fine, but the disrespectful tone wasn't fine with me. Now that everything has been counted, I'm hoping it calms down here so we can all play again.

 

[1muttsfan]

My CL eggs are due to hatch tomorrow. I picked one up tonight and tapped it lightly while holding it to my ear - and heard a little scratch-scratch inside!

 

[Stacykins]

So, my Dad just had a weird revelation that he wanted to discuss with me regarding my chickens. He was visiting this past weekend, and a neighbor's dog from about a half mile away came for a 'visit'. Brown Dog (the dog's name) had escaped and gone on a joyful adventure. I actually had a goose in my arms as soon as I saw Brown Dog as he came around the corner of the house. I set the goose down, and called for Brown Dog, and he came happily over to me wiggling with happiness. I am glad he paid the birds no mind, he cared more about getting attention from people. I brought him home, where his owner was grateful, since he'd been looking for Brown Dog (in the other direction down the road).

Anyway, my Dad was worried about how I let my birds free range. He asked, what would happen if we weren't home and a dog came about for a massacre? I guess I didn't really have an answer. We have a run for the birds, and they're closed up at night. But at first light, I let them out to do their thing. I told him free ranging is a risk I take, and I think that there is always a risk in that. But I feel that them being able to roam and forage is great for their physical and mental health. I mean, you can give them enrichment in a run...but they sure get a lot of enrichment from chasing down butterflies, and also taking care of the tick population.