Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[10ducks]

I hadn't seen the "rehome your unwanteds" ad coming from the same place, probably because I was only looking in the for sale section. Now that I look more closely at the CL ads, and someone clued me in via PM that this is "Duck 'N' Coop Hatchery" and I found some info on that place on the old Michigan threads, I think I'll avoid him. It seems like a place that big, moving that many birds, ought to be NPIP certified. I know NPIP isn't any guarantee, but as others have noted, taking in all sorts of birds and reselling them combined with the volume seems very risky.

 

[naglady]

Hey NovaAman,
I have one of those cubes and I have been trying to figure out how to turn it into a coop, too! I was thinking maybe a solid door (but how to do the hinges?), hardware cloth over the other openings, those plastic panels (Suntuf?) for the roof, and the shelf can be the nesting area? I was thinking of putting a couple of branches across for roosts. It might work for some banties, for the summer at least! Do you you have other ideas?

i used one of these cubes this past winter, i boarded up the sides, i needed it for a quick shelter for some hens i was getting. the branches across worked good for roost..
i put a bucket right in the side upper circle fit perfect. for a extra nesting box.. i am not using it right now. but trying to come up with idea to make it look better and fix it up better.. b4 i use it again. waiting for some decent weather to get working on it again. it did its job when i needed it.

Hello Michiganders,

There's someone in Columbiaville, MI who has a lot of poultry posted on Craigslist. Chicks and laying hens and some ducks and turkeys as well. I wondered if anyone has bought birds from there and what they were like? Would appreciate hearing about anyone's experiences. Thanks!

PS--I just posted some free OEG bantam cockerels in the BST area if anyone is interested. They are my extras from an order from Ideal Hatchery. If I don't get rid of them earlier I will bring them to Chickenstock.

 

[RaZ]

Yes, this is April.... in Michigan. Come to expect winter to last till at least May. Make no outdoor plans until mid May. If there are a few "nice" days thrown in... consider yourself blessed!

There is a tendency to want to get out as soon as possible after a long winter. The soil needs to be warmer and drier before yardwork and gardening. This week, I've seen five different lawn spray companies come to the neighbor and spray their poisons on lawns. Such a waste of money and all those chemicals are now down the drain, adding to the algae bloom in Lake Erie.

I must be in a rain shadow. It was nice yesterday and I did a bunch of work on the wood pile and have a nice base tan. The thunder storm held off until last night and some of the lightning was spectacular. But the aftermath shows several roof panels on the patio cover are quite damaged. Just one more hole in the money pit.

I think I'll enjoy another cup of coffee before I decide which chore to tackle first. That will give the joint and back ache tabs a chance to take affect.

 

[10ducks]

Attaching hinges and what nots can be done two ways with hollow blow-moulded plastic.
One way is to use blind rivet that are designed for plastic. They have wings that expand behind the wall, kind of like a dry-wall molly. They are rather expensive and you need a rivet gun to fasten them.
An easy way is to drill a 1/4" hole through both walls, then a 1" hole on the back wall only. Fasten your hinge with 1/4 bolt, washer and nut. The bigger hole on the back allows you to get the washer and nut on the bolt and tighten with a socket.

Thanks, that's a great idea for attaching hinges!

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

RaZ, that is a great tip. U are one smart fella! I'm waiting for the ibuprofen to kick in myself... But thinking a 2nd pot of coffee probly isn't good for me. Ha!

 

[tdhenson86]

Quote:
Yes. Behind the metal is welded wire that is cemented a foot into the ground. The only place where there is chicken wire is in that area like a window. I just thought that high up, nothing would get to it. I was wrong.

 

[tdhenson86]

Quote:
Yes. I have live traps out there which they are too smart to go into. They've even avoided the bait, poison, everything except for the live birds.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Hey I just read Tornado Watch, moved my flock indoors, the ducklings into a dog kennel to keep them seperate from the rest of the flock.

 

[LoveMyChicklets]

Hi guys, had to chime in on this one. I know who this individual is. I've personally witnessed him going from store to store buying up all their cheap discounted chicks and then reselling him. I know this person hatches himself also but just check out the chicks carefully.

 

[LoveMyChicklets]

Quote: Please see above, sorry! Figures I would forget to quote. Actually I might be thinking of someone else.

BUT, Art does resell the birds. Not that there is anything wrong at all with that, almost gave him some guineas of mine. But sometimes you just don't know what you may end up with.