Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Dreamzchaser]

Post pics of the ventilation and we could help.

This was the summer set up. At the bottom of the fan where knucklehead Phoebe is standing, I covered it with 3/4 plywood on the inside and on the outside I tackled the RV cover down to have it covered. On the top, you can see a small piece of 2x4 where it is slided in leaving about 1.5 in area where the fumes can leave towards the run
Here also from the chair to the south side of the run, I need to finish in 2x4's because I did it in 2x3's for the weekend I went to Indiana as a temporary fix and they girls were fine but want it better and more sturdy. The door was done but I am not good at hinges, so it is waiting for that area to be completed (about where the orange area is at) to place it there. I also have the 2x4x14 to finish the roof from the posts of where the camera is at and took that picture. I also have the corrugated roofing that will go over it once done.
This is the wall facing west inside the coop and where the double doors are to be able to clean it. The top has 3 sections (wall meassures 8.5ft wide) and the width of the openings are about 3.5 H on each side. (2x4's are really 1.5 x 3.5). The same set up is on the east side wall where they roost. They are covered with 1/2 hardware cloth.
They are about 27in from that opening. Everything else in the bottom part has been closed up before winter.

 

[1muttsfan]

I would put bales of straw around the outside bottom of your elevated coop, that will help keep the wind from blowing underneath, which really chills the floor and can lead to frostbite. A thick layer of bedding also helps keep little feets warm. You can use the bales next summer to plant vegetables in.

I have not had any issues with rodents, but understand why others might. It is considerably colder up here and I have never used heat, and they do fine. I keep a south exposure window at least cracked open at the top all year round. It was 42 degrees this am and they were happily outside scratching around.

 

[RaZ]

I would put bales of straw around the outside bottom of your elevated coop, that will help keep the wind from blowing underneath, which really chills the floor and can lead to frostbite. A thick layer of bedding also helps keep little feets warm. You can use the bales next summer to plant vegetables in.

Not only do I use straw bales around the coop as a ground level wind block, I also use them around the crawl-space foundation of my house for the same reason. I haven't had any issues with mice or rats. Chipmunks are my nuisance rodents. But they were here when I moved in. I trap and shoot them year round.

PS I saw a bald eagle today. No poultry were in any danger

 

[Sally PB]

There is a family of bald eagles within a couple hundred feet of our house. Whenever I see them, I smile. There are several juveniles (they don't have the distinctive coloring), so I'm not sure how many eagles actually live around here.

 

[Dreamzchaser]

I would put bales of straw around the outside bottom of your elevated coop, that will help keep the wind from blowing underneath, which really chills the floor and can lead to frostbite. A thick layer of bedding also helps keep little feets warm. You can use the bales next summer to plant vegetables in.

I have not had any issues with rodents, but understand why others might. It is considerably colder up here and I have never used heat, and they do fine. I keep a south exposure window at least cracked open at the top all year round. It was 42 degrees this am and they were happily outside scratching around.

WOW! 42? I would have loved it. A sweater and a warm cup of coffee sitting in a porch and.. Sorry, went daydreaming!.
Bales of straw.. What kind? the rectangular one for horses? or like theones they use for halloween decorations? I have no clue what those are. I do have a bag and half of alfalfa but they will eat that and scratch it, which is what I thought of putting on the run so they can walk in it and scratch instead of stepping on snow.
Question, WOuld I be able to use the salt for the snow near the chickens? I have used table salt too and it does work,lol I know but I did not have any at one point and had more than a few at home, so I used that in teh back porch in Muskegon on the rental. Here I have to find how to order the plow for the tractor but I do not know if I will also need chains for the tires so I can do the driveway. I know that I do not sound right but I am just a city girl trying to learn the country way.

 

[Sally PB]

WOuld I be able to use the salt for the snow near the chickens?

I would not put salt anywhere near the chickens. You don't want them to eat any of the salt pellets, if any got thrown into the run. Since salt can hurt the pads on dogs' feet, I imagine it would do the same to chickens.

Put some kind of wind blocker on the prevailing wind side of the run for a wind break. Do you have any kind of roof on the run? Any structure that would support a tarp?

I had heavy duty tarps over my run last winter, and it worked very well.

 

[Dreamzchaser]

I would not put salt anywhere near the chickens. You don't want them to eat any of the salt pellets, if any got thrown into the run. Since salt can hurt the pads on dogs' feet, I imagine it would do the same to chickens.

Put some kind of wind blocker on the prevailing wind side of the run for a wind break. Do you have any kind of roof on the run? Any structure that would support a tarp?

I had heavy duty tarps over my run last winter, and it worked very well.

I have the materials for the roof but it is not done yet. XHub is more concerned on the fence which is bothers me but will tell him tomorrow when I talk to him when he calls. I will be changing the chicken wire around the top of the run tomorrow. I had some calls and had to go to get some meats at Muskegon. But surely will have the wired changed by tomorrow no matter how long it takes me. I cannot do much for the roof because the 2x4's are 14 and the width is 11 or 12 and will have to be in a ladder and anotherone holding from teh bottom and I am mainly by myself during the day. I know that I have like a 6 mil or higher plastic if I can find it and I can maybe use that around the run at the bottom?

 

[aart]

Question, WOuld I be able to use the salt for the snow near the chickens?

No, nor any kind of 'ice melting' stuff.....I use sand for traction, put it in a shaker can for easy speading.

 

[Dreamzchaser]

You all are amazing! Thank you so much. I know I will have more questions in a day or two, I am an old lady with add,adhd,alzeihmer,bipolar, or whatever else,
~Hugs~and~Kisses~

 

[Sally PB]

I know that I have like a 6 mil or higher plastic if I can find it and I can maybe use that around the run at the bottom?

I used clear shower curtains last year. They're already pre-grommeted, so I just zip tied them in place. I spread the extra length down on the ground and piled leaves on them to hold it down, so it wouldn't flap in the wind. Eventually snow held them down even better. They held up well enough that I can use them again this year.

This is the west side. I wrapped around the north and south corners about 3' each way. Very little snow or rain came in.