Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[riss]

Wondering where you went. And I may just be bad at chicken breeds, but do you have an ostrich?

 

[Sally PB]

This worthless coop will be inside the run and it will be the henspital. Or when new arrivals come to quarantine

Just in case you weren't aware... When you quarantine new birds, they can't be in the run with your other birds. I wasn't sure if that's what you were planning to do.

I love the word Henspital.

I want to put insulation inside before the winter comes and another reason is in the back of the house is because I can throw an extension cord to get some electricity in the coop.

You probably don't need insulation. In the winter, chickens can keep themselves warm if they are dry, and down to pretty cold too. If you do decide to use insulation, you will need to cover it with plywood, or something the chickens can't peck through.

I ran an extension cord out to my run for a heated water bowl. I got a construction grade cord that had three outlets. $35 at Home Depot. The heated bowl was $20 at TSC. That made my winter chicken duty much easier.

Glad you're back home and back here!

 

[aart]

You probably don't need insulation.

Definitely not.......ventilation is way more important.

I love the word Henspital.

Ditto Dat!

 

[Dreamzchaser]

Welcome back, and the blanket is beautiful!
Mary

Thank you Mary!

 

[Dreamzchaser]

Wondering where you went. And I may just be bad at chicken breeds, but do you have an ostrich?

No, those without feathers on the neck they are called her turken or something like that. It sounds like a turkey and a chicken at the same time. We had these breed back when I was growing up so I wanted some too!

 

[Dreamzchaser]

Just in case you weren't aware... When you quarantine new birds, they can't be in the run with your other birds. I wasn't sure if that's what you were planning to do.

I love the word Henspital.


You probably don't need insulation. In the winter, chickens can keep themselves warm if they are dry, and down to pretty cold too. If you do decide to use insulation, you will need to cover it with plywood, or something the chickens can't peck through.

I ran an extension cord out to my run for a heated water bowl. I got a construction grade cord that had three outlets. $35 at Home Depot. The heated bowl was $20 at TSC. That made my winter chicken duty much easier.

Glad you're back home and back here!

OK, so not in the run while quarantine when new birds come or when sick-sick, got it. I can put it by the end of the run outside by the shed ?( when done).
Figured will need to cover the inside if insulation goes up. Let's see how uncle Sam treats me this year. If not, they will have to be good soldiers and cuddle to be warm,

The extension cord sounds good to me. I have a few windows back there and I want them close to the house. I will need to make good protection on the west side because that is where the strongest winds come form (the lake) The heated bowl is a one piece that goes under the water or a full container?
I am glad to be home. Hate hospital food. Hate turkey slices with mash potatoes with no salt and a gravy that sure will kill me,

 

[Dreamzchaser]

Definitely not.......ventilation is way more important.



Ditto Dat!

Thank you ma'am! I read somewhere that I should extend the roof 12" out. I will show you my predicament in a minute and maybe you can help clarify.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi Dreamz, glad to hear you are back home. That blanket is pretty.
Those are Naked Neck Turkens, such funny birds.

I did insulate my coop, but it is very cold up here. Insulation, and/or a double wall, can keep the coop more moderate in temperature both winter and summer. Really helped with frozen eggs here.
Overhangs let you keep windows open and not worry about rain blowing in.
Hospital and quarantine pens should be well separated from your flock, to reduce the risk of airborne contamination. The further the better.
Outdoor extension cords should be at least 14 guage, the extra cost is well with it in terms of safety. Also, always plug into a GFI outlet.

Riss, I agree with Sally, poetry sounds much better spoken aloud. Maybe you can read it to the chickens

 

[Dreamzchaser]

ok, let upload what I had in mind and in notebook,
I am not good at this and my math is literally bad because since a child I was told that math was for men and not women. It takes me forever to do the math for this. I am an inch person and then I go by the amount of lines after that, go ahead and laugh, I know it is true!
Here it shows the sides. I first thought of the sides being 10' but changed it to 8'. That will be with windows and doors to clean up from outside or just refresh the whole area. I still want full access inside to go in and sweep or whatever needs to be done. I don't know how many windows on the back side because it will be close to the house. I do want to have an extension cord from one of those windows. I might use the back garage window because the first one is to my pantry/cellar and I do not want creepy crawlers to sneak in.

This was the front that I thought of which is facing west. But the roof is not bad looking but not convincing. One side will be towards the house and I do not like the idea of pouring more water into the edge of the house foundation. Then leaves me the other side, right inside the run. The girls will have to learn henwheeling in the mud.

So I changed it to maybe one good size window, maybe a planter under it and then under that the opening of the nesting boxes. Instead of being outside, I want them inside and just open like a flab but I still have to go in the door every day no matter what so I can get the eggs that way better. The little not so square things at the bottom are cement where I will lay a 2"x6"x10' as well as in the back and that is where the extra cleaning opening will be instead of the side. I will do the chicken door on the side that will face South into the run.

The nesting boxes, I am thinking of going back to 12x12x12 instead of 14. I was thinking in case there is a hen that is plumpier,

I still do not know of how in the world I will be doing the roof. Thought about slant to one side but it will leave all the ice and rain on the run, on the side of the house, or the main entrance,
At least I am starting to get them used to my voice and to my hand.
Ok, will let you think because my brain is fried already. Since I have never done anything like this, I would be so discourage if I start and see where it takes me without checking the list more than twice and go a little more secure into this journey. I am not too scared because I know you guys will be right here with me. I do not do Facebook or anything else on the internet but reading and watching documentaries. This 60+ is trying something new,

 

[Dreamzchaser]

Hi Dreamz, glad to hear you are back home. That blanket is pretty.
Those are Naked Neck Turkens, such funny birds.

I did insulate my coop, but it is very cold up here. Insulation, and/or a double wall, can keep the coop more moderate in temperature both winter and summer. Really helped with frozen eggs here.
Overhangs let you keep windows open and not worry about rain blowing in.
Hospital and quarantine pens should be well separated from your flock, to reduce the risk of airborne contamination. The further the better.
Outdoor extension cords should be at least 14 guage, the extra cost is well with it in terms of safety. Also, always plug into a GFI outlet.

Riss, I agree with Sally, poetry sounds much better spoken aloud. Maybe you can read it to the chickens

I have no idea how to react to your reply because part of it is very important to me. I am very close to Lake Michigan and those winds blow fiercely from the west. I think ,like I said, I might do it if I have the money for it and hopefully my girls stay with me for a long time. My house faces north, I think, I will have to get a compass and check that out. I can use the actually used brooder as a henspital and then use that coop for when they are ready to get introduce to the others. I guess I will have to call it trans-hen-tion house so they see the others before letting them loose.
Will check tomorrow about that GFI plug in the woodworking area. The old owner used it for woodworking and it is nicely set up. I know there is a hole that is closed up and I can only think it was from a dryer output that was there.
Then at the end of your reply, I almost died laughing with "reading to the chickens".
However, they might end up being the smartest chicks in Kalamazoo. Sorry Riss!!