Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Frankiegirl]

Not long after I moved here, I bought a John Deere compact tractor (3025E). It weighs 2222 pounds not counting the implements. It came with a 1/2 yard scoop bucket. For accessories, I bought pallet forks, a rear blade, a medium duty yard rake, and the JD quick attach mounting system. Later I bought a TSC "County Line" 3-point PTO post hole digger.

I love this tractor! It helped me build my garage, the coop, and the run. I've used it to move some of the rock that I mentioned earlier. However it is not a lawn mower.

For lawn mowing, I have a Cub Cadet with a 48" deck. I also have a snow blade for it that I've even used to push dirt & sand. In addition to the yard carts, I have a lawn sweeper to tow behind it.

I use both of these machines a few times each week based on the chore that it is best suited for. So tell your sales person what you need the machine for. And don't forget to ask about special accessories like tire chains and/or tire weighting. Do some research before shelling out any cash. Get what best suits your needs.

Good luck.

Great info...thanks! I went to a couple of places in Grand Rapids and they were glad to give me a quote and sell me something...but never asked what I needed it for or what my goals were. That tractor is a beauty @RaZ! I have my eye on a JD 1025r or kubota BX series.

I just want to be a girl with a tractor....like Green Acres! My mom grew up on a farm and we spent summers there as a kid. I’m under no illusion and my little patch of dirt is anything like my grandmothers farm, but one of my goals was to help mom relive those days at my little homestead....needless to say, the chickens make her smile and remember some goods times from the past.

 

[aart]

So lots of heavy lifting...bags of soil, mulch, cinder blocks, and more. So I got home with a good bit of sunlight and what do I do? I start moving rocks for a new border that I'm working on.

Work is just getting you in shape for the home stuff!

Also had the electrical installed in the coop last week! Very excited about that even though it wont be needed for now....

Lastly, I am contemplating a few more chicks for the flock. My ladies seem really happy right now and all seems to be running smoothly. I promised myself I would consider additional birds after my one year anniversary which is coming up in a couple of weeks. Now I’m a little tentative not wanting to upset my current situation. Any input to push my decision would be appreciated! I love my ladies and this might be the best time to get a few more.

Well, a brooder in the coop is what you could use that electrical for
Depending on how big your coop is......
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

I'm about to move my ten 10-15 day old chicks out to the coop.
Got the partition wall up yesterday.

 

[Sally PB]

@aart, some pictures when you're done??

 

[aart]

@aart, some pictures when you're done??

Pics of what?
Click the link I posted to show my setup, and 2 others are linked in there too.

 

[Sally PB]

My next door neighbor is getting chickens!! She's talking 15-20, or maybe 6-8 to start. I gave her my heat lamps, with full warning they can cause a fire, and that's why I bought a heater plate.

I also gave her the bag of chick starter I bought when I thought TSC might have Blue Australorps. (Local TSC gets their chicks from Townline. I called Townline; they never have or have had Blue Aus.) She'll have chicks before I will, so I figured I'd just get a newer bag in about 6 weeks.

She has a nice sized shed to turn into a coop. It's about 8x12, so enough room for 20 if she gets that many. Thanks to all the coop building threads, I was able to look at the shed-as-coop and see the things it will need, mainly, ventilation! It has a gambrel roof, no overhangs at all, but looks to have "good bones" to work with.

Now I have a chicken sitter for when we go to NC in about 6-7 weeks.

 

[Sally PB]

I meant your chicks.... should have been more specific... sorry

 

[aart]

It has a gambrel roof, no overhangs at all, but looks to have "good bones" to work with.

Those are the toughest to ventilate!
Could do this:
Add fly rafters too, to extend roof over gable ends and vents.

 

[aart]

I meant your chicks.... should have been more specific... sorry

I really don't take many chick pics anymore.....will try later tho, maybe.

 

[Sally PB]

My neighbor's parents live two houses down, and her dad is pretty handy and has about every tool under the sun. (Her mom is the one with 100 tomato plants who cans 150 quarts.)

I did mention that a gambrel roof is not the easiest style. The roof (shingles) is in pretty good shape, so I doubt they'll need to replace it right away, but I mentioned that if/when they do, some modifications would add places for ventilation.

I'm trying to envision where 20 sf of ventilation will go...

 

[aart]

I'm trying to envision where 20 sf of ventilation will go...

20 birds is too many, IMO.
The 4/10 rule is a bare minimum...and in our climate unless you've got a huge weather proof run, keep the population at 6-8sqft per bird.