Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Sally PB]

I added another bale of shavings to the coop for the girls to nest in, if they want to. Tomorrow, they'll get some electrolytes in their water. Monday, they'll stay in the coop and get a panful of snow instead of water to go with their bowl of food.

I don't have electricity in the coop, just in the run for their heated water. I don't put liquid water in the coop. No water, no chance of spill, no evaporation to raise the humidity.

I'll be checking on them many times during the day on Monday and Tuesday.

 

[Sally PB]

Oh, and...

GO LIONS!!! ROARRRRRR!!!

 

[1muttsfan]

When you add electrolytes to water, you should also provide a source of water without electrolytes, as some animals will not drink as much water if it has electrolytes in it.

It takes a tremendous amount of energy to thaw frozen water, so providing liquid water is away of allowing birds to burn more calories to stay warm and less calories to melt snow or ice.

I know people voice concerns about keeping water in their coop, but I have done it every year since I've had chickens, and as long as your ventilation is good it will not cause problems.

 

[1muttsfan]

Roar!! Go Lions make us proud

 

[TOMTE]

I stopped getting notifs for this thread ages ago!

GOOOO LIONS!!! ROOOOAAAAR!

Are we all ready for this cold front?

 

[Sally PB]

as ready as I'll ever be....

 

[Folly's place]

Not that I'm thrilled about this cold front, but after growing up in Milwaukee, mid-Michigan is pretty mild...
Do I still live in Milwaukee, NO!
Mary

 

[Chickin Fairy]

I couldn't believe how nice it has been today and yesterday. Unfortunately, I had part of my run roof crack and break off today, so hubs helped me patch up the hole with boards. I don't love it, but it will hold until spring when we can redo the whole roof and expand the run, and put 1x trim boards over the edges of the hardware cloth and make a couple other modifications that are needed.

For those that run power to their waterers in their run, how do you run your cord into the pen? Do you cut the hardware cloth? Looking for better ideas than what I have.

I'm as ready as I will be for the cold. The coop is nice and cozy for the birds, I added a bag of shavings today, filled their food and their waterer, too. I have noticed that I don't have frozen eggs in there this year. I've only had a couple and I only go out once a day to gather my 2 eggs.

As I'm writing, LaPorta JUST made the one-handed catch in the end zone! I screamed. What an amazing revitalization of this team, I'm so proud to be a Lion's fan.

 

[Folly's place]

We now have up to code outlets and wiring to the coop from our workshop, and use two heated bases for two three gallon metal waterers out there.
We had a surface cable in conduit out there from the workshop, not to code, and when the insurance inspector came out, he wanted it all done right. We then had an electrician come out the cable is now buried and everything is up to code. If there's a fire, we tried to make it all safe!
And our waterers are in the coop, no longer on extension cords, safe. With ventilation, the chickens produce a lot more moisture than those waterers!
It might have cost $300 or so, maybe less, to get this done, and worth every dime for our peace of mind!
We also have lights out there, on switches, and a light on a timer for mornings in winter.
Mary
And all this happened over many years...

 

[TOMTE]

I couldn't believe how nice it has been today and yesterday. Unfortunately, I had part of my run roof crack and break off today, so hubs helped me patch up the hole with boards. I don't love it, but it will hold until spring when we can redo the whole roof and expand the run, and put 1x trim boards over the edges of the hardware cloth and make a couple other modifications that are needed.

For those that run power to their waterers in their run, how do you run your cord into the pen? Do you cut the hardware cloth? Looking for better ideas than what I have.

I'm as ready as I will be for the cold. The coop is nice and cozy for the birds, I added a bag of shavings today, filled their food and their waterer, too. I have noticed that I don't have frozen eggs in there this year. I've only had a couple and I only go out once a day to gather my 2 eggs.

As I'm writing, LaPorta JUST made the one-handed catch in the end zone! I screamed. What an amazing revitalization of this team, I'm so proud to be a Lion's fan.

Our extension cord is rated for outdoor use. It runs from the garage into the run (fits perfectly thru the chicken wire), over to a small hook, and down to the waterer.

For hardware cloth, I don't see why cutting a bigger hole in it wouldn't work.

LaPorta's catch was AMAZING! And then that running touchdown by Williams after, "this game is drunk!"

Come on Lions, get it going again!