Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[aart]

Huh, this was from yesterday, forgot to hit post.
...had to re-paste pics

Snow gone.
Shade cloth dry, down, and put away.
Glad that's done
Have a 'moss' garden growing on the brick pile behind the tarp shed.
Weird eggs this week, hopefully from a hen coming back into lay after molting and not one of the pullets.

 

[aart]

It's DONE!!! Stain and paint complete, plastic up on the east and south run walls, bases for waterers out there, but not yet plugged in. Yahoo!
No new photos, the stain finished and the plastic went up immediately. It's all good though.
Horses moved to winter field, with hay. I'm not convinced that their stock tank heater is working, so we'll see this week. Otherwise, it's good.
On to the next projects!
Mary

Good for you!!
I kinda wasted today's decent weather with b'fast out and errands.
Am way behind on winter prep chores.

 

[Folly's place]

The joy is real, but the projects list is still pretty long...
Mary

 

[RaZ]

Had several broken eggs in the nest box tonight. Not sure if it was heavy-footed hens or an unknown predator. Devil dog treed a possum the other night.

I'll be double checking the enclosure fencing tomorrow in the day light.

 

[bigmrg74]

Didn't get as much as I would have liked done today, but did get the main coop parked by the garage and got my old smaller coop over as well to be kind of a sunroom for them during the winter. Its covered and I'll have some plastic on it to keep most of the wind out of it hopefully this year. Stuck the extension cord into it and got lights in on the girls tonight. I'll set up the timer later. Kinda hoping that the no night might help a couple of my freeloaders get back to laying. Figure a day wouldn't hurt em. Got a few more odds and ends to do yet like stuffing my pallet table into the coop and then setting the heated waterer up on it, along with the food. saves on floor space and gives them another area of the coop to hang out on as well. Then building the windblocker walls and figuring out my fence as well.

Kinda thinking that I might have to put a chicken down. She has been partially molted for a while now, has some pin feathers coming in, but just doesn't seem to be getting over it. That and we watched her a bit and she seems to be kinda off. Not sure if she's just getting smaller because she's not eating, or that she just looks smaller due to her lack of feathers. Just keeping an eye on her for now. Hopefully she'll perk up this week.

 

[aart]

Had several broken eggs in the nest box tonight. Not sure if it was heavy-footed hens or an unknown predator. Devil dog treed a possum the other night.

I'll be double checking the enclosure fencing tomorrow in the day light.

Are the shells thin..and thus easily broken??
These birds have just started laying, correct.so maybe startup glitches and curiosity pecking?
I do hate an egg messed nest.

 

[RaZ]

I'm thinking it was jostling for space. Three birds were all trying to get to the same "sweet spot" today. 120 square feet of coop and they all want to be in the same 1 foot box.

 

[aart]

Got a rotting window sill in coop shed covered up with sheet metal this morning.
Been dreading and spinning on what to do about it, not a perfect 'fix' but should keep the wet off it over the winter. Ladder killed my bum foot, round rungs are the worst, but got a few other things done.
Absolutely gorgeous out there with a sunny 50°F, tomorrow sunny too but colder, hope to put a big dent in the 'winter' list.

120 square feet of coop and they all want to be in the same 1 foot box.

Got fake eggs in all nests?
I find that really helps with nest squabbling.

 

[RaZ]

No fake eggs. It hasn't been an issue until just recently. Another broken egg when I got home tonight and closed up the coop.
I have Tuesday off, so I'll concentrate on the coop. I'm going to redo the roost bars, nest boxes and add some wiring.

 

[RaZ]

I found the source of the broken egg in the nest box.
One of the Gems is laying rubber eggs.

I was working in the coop today when she "had to go". I had the nest box unavailable for her so she picked a new spot and proceeded to lay a perfectly formed egg -- minus the shell. It was still warm when I picked it up.

The hens have oyster shell available and they also get eggs shells mixed with treats. This lady is a new layer and still learning the process. So the mystery is solved...for now.

I got the wiring done in the coop today. The light is for me and the outlets are for the heated fount for the hens, and any heat lamp needed for future brood boxes. Maybe an automated door if the budget approves.