Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Trefoil]

My first cochin chick hatched! I'm so excited. It looks like a black. I went to add water to my incubator(the suro that I've had so much trouble with that I only used it because the rcom was full) and when I took the lid off there he was. 3 or 4 are pippped, and its almost a full day early. Nothing yet on the rcom and Its humidity has dropped to 31%.

 

[Maah]

I've been offered a one time replacement with the cost of shipping or I can pick them up. Better than nothing.

I hope you have better luck with the next set. They do look like really nice BCM stock there.

Y'all are chicken enablers...after seeing the cute fluffy pics and talking about hatching eggs and new chicks and such....I went to FFAH with my girls after dance class and we came home with 3 cornish cross and 2 EE's! Pics in the morning...I'm off to bed now!

Yay!! Congrats on your new chickie-doodles!

 

[gladahmae]

I need some help with my meat-bird project planning. We have 70 white broilers (25 for us, 25 for BIL, and 20 my parents) coming in the 2nd week of May. The plan, right now, is to extend the run on the south side of our big coop, and build a shed-roof off of the south wall for the meaties. That way, we can use it for meaties in the spring and fall, and storage for "yard stuff" like the mower in the winter. How big do I need to make this thing? I'm hoping I can convince my husband to make it a "pallet project" since we won't be able to see it from the house, so "pretty" won't be a requirement. We can go up to 8 or 10ft wide along the coop, and out as far as we need to.

 

[Amy PT]

Amy, no I did not go. I have 2 sick kids...

Ugh. I'm sorry. Poor kids, poor mom.
So, it sounds like Tractor Supply might have some, but they're pretty strict on the 6 min. policy right now. If I get 6, would you like 4 of them? I'm in GR, and could bring them your way sometime.

 

[SillyChicken]

I need some help with my meat-bird project planning. We have 70 white broilers (25 for us, 25 for BIL, and 20 my parents) coming in the 2nd week of May. The plan, right now, is to extend the run on the south side of our big coop, and build a shed-roof off of the south wall for the meaties. That way, we can use it for meaties in the spring and fall, and storage for "yard stuff" like the mower in the winter. How big do I need to make this thing? I'm hoping I can convince my husband to make it a "pallet project" since we won't be able to see it from the house, so "pretty" won't be a requirement. We can go up to 8 or 10ft wide along the coop, and out as far as we need to.

Without seeing what you're working with...... it will depend on a couple things how far out you can go. What are you using for the roof? Steel or shingles? Steel needs I think a 2/12 pitch and shingles a 4/12 pitch. (down four inches for every foot out) The height of the wall where you attach the roof and how much head room inside you need. Chickens won't need a lot of head room though! But if you go too far down you don't want them to get on the roof and get out......... so in a nut shell....... IDK. LOL! Though, I always say bigger is better, especially when it comes to chicken housing...

 

[gladahmae]

Without seeing what you're working with...... it will depend on a couple things how far out you can go. What are you using for the roof? Steel or shingles? Steel needs I think a 2/12 pitch and shingles a 4/12 pitch. (down four inches for every foot out) The height of the wall where you attach the roof and how much head room inside you need. Chickens won't need a lot of head room though! But if you go too far down you don't want them to get on the roof and get out......... so in a nut shell....... IDK. LOL! Though, I always say bigger is better, especially when it comes to chicken housing...

Current coop is sitting on cement pads, 2x6 floor "joists", and has 8ft walls with a steel 6/12 pitch. (I think it's a 6/12....might be 4/12). So, it's about 9ft from the ground to the current drip-edge. DH does construction, so if anything, it'll be over-built for what we need it to do.

I like the idea of metal roof because it installs so quickly, but cost is going to be the decider there. Head-height can be whatever, and I put netting up so they couldn't fly out in the summer anyway (to help keep the hawks, etc out as well.) I'm mostly trying to figure out how many sqft we need to make the darn thing! I've read of people tractoring 25-30 birds in 10x10, but if all they're doing is coming back at night so I can keep them safe from the coons and coyotes, I wonder if they really need 3-4sqft/bird.

 

[gladahmae]

and just thinking about this makes me think that 2 tractors would probably be a lot more cost-efficient. *sigh*

 

[RaZ]

I would not skimp on the 3-4 square foot per bird goal.

Your comment about the pallets and tractors gave me an idea of building a few that that be pulled in tandem.

 

[RaZ]

I love the smell of fresh pine shavings under a heat lamp.

 

[SillyChicken]

Current coop is sitting on cement pads, 2x6 floor "joists", and has 8ft walls with a steel 6/12 pitch. (I think it's a 6/12....might be 4/12). So, it's about 9ft from the ground to the current drip-edge. DH does construction, so if anything, it'll be over-built for what we need it to do.

I like the idea of metal roof because it installs so quickly, but cost is going to be the decider there. Head-height can be whatever, and I put netting up so they couldn't fly out in the summer anyway (to help keep the hawks, etc out as well.) I'm mostly trying to figure out how many sqft we need to make the darn thing! I've read of people tractoring 25-30 birds in 10x10, but if all they're doing is coming back at night so I can keep them safe from the coons and coyotes, I wonder if they really need 3-4sqft/bird.

I agree with raz, keep as much space for them as you can. All you need is one rainy day, and they'll all want to be be inside.

I never hear anyone regret building as big a coop as they could, but you sure will hear regrets it it's built too small!