Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[snowflake]

Thanks for the reminder need to get the winter cover up, and clean out the coop, I'm hoping there will be a few warmer days yet, wanted to wait till the birds are done molting before I give it a clean sweep and add fresh bedding.

Welcome to the newbies, remember every question is a good question!!

Nice rack Randy, take care not to over do.

 

[Sally PB]

Your post has been flagged by the moderators for using an offensive four-letter word.

Since I'm retired and don't have to drive very often in the four-letter word stuff, I may stop disliking it as much. Hubby loves it. I tolerate it.

 

[Folly's place]

Not driving in it is GOOD! Me too, and it's beautiful to see from inside, by the fire place.
Mary

 

[1muttsfan]

You all had better stop it

 

[ChickenMathLady]

Curious what your winterizing routine looks like? This will be our first winter with the girls. We have a heated waterer and we've seen lots of ways to block the wind from the run. The windward side of the run is only open on the bottom (we figured we'd unscrew the boards and swap them for hardware cloth when it gets hot in the summer) but should we tarp that entire side?

We're planning on making flaps to cover the hardware cloth on the front of the coop itself but I've seen some things say to leave them open, even in the winter, and some say to close them. There's another opening directly across on the top of the roof piece for airflow.

 

[1muttsfan]

If you completely tarp in the run it is going to be pretty dark for your birds. Is there a window in the coop? I would definately tarp off the area under the coop, or put straw bales around it, to block the wind on the underside of the coop itself.

You could use heavy clear plastic on the run, which would allow in light while blocking the wind. I rehabbed an old greenhouse by replacing the sides with the heaviest clear plastic shower curtains I could find and Gorilla Tape.

 

[Folly's place]

We use the nearly clear sheet vinyl that comes in rolls, usually, from the big box stores.
Mary

 

[kcan2]

If I am looking to re-home two pet chickens due to a relocation, is there any help on BYC for finding folks in my area? I am located in northern MI.

 

[Sally PB]

If I am looking to re-home two pet chickens due to a relocation, is there any help on BYC for finding folks in my area? I am located in northern MI.

Someone might want them, especially if they're female. Where are you located, and if it's a tiny little town, what bigger town is it near? How old are they and what breed? Laying yet, if female?

I see a lot of threads about rehoming roosters, so that may be a lot harder.

Start a new thread with this information, especially if they're pullets/hens and laying. More people will see it than here. There are probably people on BYC who live in Michigan and don't follow this thread. Or may be visiting, or know someone, or... you never know.

So sorry you have to give up your chickens!

 

[ChickenMathLady]

Clear plastic would be very easy--we took down our greenhouse plastic since we want to rework the design next spring and we have lots of outdoor gorilla tape left. There is a window in the coop. There's a floodlight on the garage close to the coop that we're thinking of leaving on for the girls in the winter. Right now it's just motion-sensitive but thinking they might need more light in that area. Any advantages of straw vs. hay or just whichever is easily available? (Is one warmer?)