Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RTFchickens]

Sorry, earlier post was supposed to be friend or foe. Thanks a lot auto-correct.

 

[chickwhispers]

Raz, When my Aunt was alive in Allen Park, she had a similar situation with a neighbor only no animals involved. Finally years later the neighbor finally moved. I hope you don't have to go through more of this for much longer. It is truly harassment and an abuse of power by some city officals. They should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[gladahmae]

I have a question about this chick (pullet I think?). It's supposed to be a Wheaton/blue Wheaton Ameraucana and its top beak is substantially longer than it should be. It's also quite small compared to the other birds that hatched on the same date. In the next post I'll post a pic of the black sex-link cockerel that hatched on the same date. Do you think it could be an accidental 'Someone jumped the fence mix' or if the overgrown beak is just stunting its growth? It's also still 'peeping' While all the others are clucking now (15-16 weeks). the water bucket is a reference point for size comparison.

You can see one of the other ameraucanas in the background of this pic, and she's at least 1/3 larger than the one under the bucket. This is the same chick that had its neck really pecked on a month and a half ago, not that that would make a difference that I can think of for such stunted growth....

 

[gladahmae]

See how in the first pic the chick has to stretch to reach the nipples and this one has to duck it's head to fit under the bucket?

 

[chickwhispers]

Gladahmae, My guess is that the little ameracauna is not growing becacause it can't eat properly with its top beak overgrown like that. Just a guess? Anyway you can fix the beak?

 

[gaitngirl]

Someone was asking about heated hoses earlier? Family Farm and Home has 2 lengths in stock. Ebay has several, as well. I'm going to be picking one up this winter as I'm getting way too old to haul water out to the horses by hand. I have a solar water trough that helps keep the electric costs down but no water line. One of these years I may have the money to run a line out there . . .
As I understand it, you turn the hose on (plug the cord in) about 20 minutes before you turn the water on. The heating element in the hose melts any ice built up so that water can flow through. I need one about 60' or longer to fill the trough. The coop is in front of the horse trough so it will help out there, too. I would like to extend the horse fence up closer to the house (and around the coop) as predator protection for the chickens but that may have to wait til next year.

 

[uchytil]

Someone was asking about heated hoses earlier? Family Farm and Home has 2 lengths in stock. Ebay has several, as well. I'm going to be picking one up this winter as I'm getting way too old to haul water out to the horses by hand. I have a solar water trough that helps keep the electric costs down but no water line. One of these years I may have the money to run a line out there . . .
As I understand it, you turn the hose on (plug the cord in) about 20 minutes before you turn the water on. The heating element in the hose melts any ice built up so that water can flow through. I need one about 60' or longer to fill the trough. The coop is in front of the horse trough so it will help out there, too. I would like to extend the horse fence up closer to the house (and around the coop) as predator protection for the chickens but that may have to wait til next year.

Have you done the math on running wire out and using an immersion heater. If you run an electric line you can bury a water line and install a hydrant. This way you'll have water and power all year. 60 feet, plus or minus, is not too bad. I'm looking at 300' to one place and then another 100' to a separate coop (electric only).

 

[taprock]

4 1/2 inches of rain last night. Yard and coops are a mess. I think I need a load of wood chips. I will attempt to be cheerful and think positively..... It's not snow.....

 

[1muttsfan]

Have you done the math on running wire out and using an immersion heater.  If you run an electric line you can bury a water line and install a hydrant.  This way you'll have water and power all year.  60 feet, plus or minus, is not too bad.  I'm looking at 300' to one place and then another 100' to a separate coop (electric only).

I did this 2 years ago - frost-free hydrant and electric for lights, heater, and hot fence - worth every penny.

 

[chickwhispers]

Someone was asking about heated hoses earlier? Family Farm and Home has 2 lengths in stock. Ebay has several, as well. I'm going to be picking one up this winter as I'm getting way too old to haul water out to the horses by hand. I have a solar water trough that helps keep the electric costs down but no water line. One of these years I may have the money to run a line out there . . .
As I understand it, you turn the hose on (plug the cord in) about 20 minutes before you turn the water on. The heating element in the hose melts any ice built up so that water can flow through. I need one about 60' or longer to fill the trough. The coop is in front of the horse trough so it will help out there, too. I would like to extend the horse fence up closer to the house (and around the coop) as predator protection for the chickens but that may have to wait til next year.

Have you done the math on running wire out and using an immersion heater. If you run an electric line you can bury a water line and install a hydrant. This way you'll have water and power all year. 60 feet, plus or minus, is not too bad. I'm looking at 300' to one place and then another 100' to a separate coop (electric only).

I did this 2 years ago - frost-free hydrant and electric for lights, heater, and hot fence - worth every penny.

That was me asking. I found some places that carry the heated hoses.

I am planning to run underground electric and that would be a little less than 100' total. But doesn't a water line have to go below the frost line? that would be about 42 inches here. Are the frost free hydrants one of those that you pump yourself? and are attached below grade and empty out when shut off? My other option is to use rain barrel and heated hose from that to coop less than 25 feet.