Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[chickflick]

I once had a feral cat that I fed for 3 years. Trapped her and her kittens and had them all fixed and released. The feral cat hasn't been around for quite some time. I found a family of opossums living in the feral cat house. Snug as a bug. Glad the house is in use.

 

[1muttsfan]

Another option with wildlife is to secure your coop and pen so that they are no longer an issue. Since there is no way to eliminate wildlife (and why would you want to?), if you do not secure your birds they are always going to be at risk, and you are always going to have losses. And yes it can be done - there are ways to predator proof, although it takes some extra work, time and brains.

 

[justincasei812]

Another option with wildlife is to secure your coop and pen so that they are no longer an issue. Since there is no way to eliminate wildlife (and why would you want to?), if you do not secure your birds they are always going to be at risk, and you are always going to have losses. And yes it can be done - there are ways to predator proof, although it takes some extra work, time and brains.

I completely understand where you are coming from with that. We have had chickens for almost five years now and have never had any issues with predators getting into the coop or run. Well one time a couple years ago we had a baby possum get into the run and just coward into a corner and that is as far as it got. I get lazy and never close the coop door to the run at night and allow the chickens to go in and out as they please, I have done that for years. We live in the woods and have the normal predators come through as well as deer in the back yard nightly. I have live traps out about 4-5 months a year to make sure anything that gets interested and comes around is taken care of quickly before we have issues with the chickens. Knock on wood everything has worked out for us so far. We have lost a total of four chickens over the years and all are from the first batch we got five years ago and we think they passed from old age or just sickness.

 

[aart]

I get lazy and never close the coop door to the run at night and allow the chickens to go in and out as they please, I have done that for years.

Either you're very lucky or your run is predator proof.
Got pics?

 

[justincasei812]

Either you're very lucky or your run is predator proof.
Got pics?

Just seeing this, I’ll take some pics tomorrow.

 

[aart]

Just seeing this, I’ll take some pics tomorrow.

No rush

 

[RaZ]

Sure got cold overnight. Woke up to around 3 inches of snow. Just came in from plowing. Driveways are done and paths to the garage and coop. It's 100 feet to both coop and garage. On days like this I wish they were closer, like attached, closer. Hauling water out every day gets kind of old. But not too bad.
Anyway, it's a beautiful day out here in the woods. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Hope everyone stays warm.

 

[Folly's place]

Very cold tonight! It's been a mild winter, and next Tuesday might hit 50F here! I guess 0F tonight is overdue?!
The chickens declined to go out in the new snow today, so they are locked in instead.
Mary

 

[aart]

We got a couple-few inches last night, been spitting all day and lake effect machine is supposed to crank up overnight....as the temps continue to drop.
Dosed the birds with some rolled oats soaked in Sav-a-chick for a boost.

 

[justincasei812]

Either you're very lucky or your run is predator proof.
Got pics?

Aart - Here’s a few pics, snows starting to get a little depth now. This spring I plan on moving everything and expand the run x2. The trench is in to bury the fencing but missed getting the old run out before everything froze.