Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[iamfivewire]

We use a 2x3 for the bird roost - should i upgrade to a 2x4 for them before winter sets in?

 

[Opa]

We use a 2x3 for the bird roost - should i upgrade to a 2x4 for them before winter sets in?

No the 2x3 will work just fine. A flat roost is preferable to round. I know folks will take issue with that saying their grandmother always used branches, or that birds are meant to roost in trees. However, chickens were originally a jungle fowl. Their feathers don't interlock quite as well as birds that originated in colder climes making them less resistant to wind.

If you watch chickens roosting on anything rounds they are almost constantly in motion. They are constantly rising up and down while maintaining balance. Their bodies appear more compact because they haven't lifted their feathers.

On a flat roost the birds simply lower their bodies done over their feet and "puff up" expanding their feathers that create the air spaces that provide insulation thereby making them appear larger.

 

[preciouskitty]

No the 2x3 will work just fine.  A flat roost is preferable to round.  I know folks will take issue with that saying their grandmother always used branches, or that birds are meant to roost in trees.  However, chickens were originally a jungle fowl.  Their feathers don't interlock quite as well as birds that originated in colder climes making them less resistant to wind. 

If you watch chickens roosting on anything rounds they are almost constantly in motion.  They are constantly rising up and down while maintaining balance.  Their bodies appear more compact because they haven't lifted their feathers. 

On a flat roost the birds simply lower their bodies done over their feet and "puff up" expanding their feathers that create the air spaces that provide insulation thereby making them appear larger.

Yep have noticed that exact thing when they are on branches when out free ranging.

Did read about doing the 2x4" thing before I put my roost bars in, so went ahead & set them up with winter in mind right off the bat. And, you are right, they hunker right on down on them at night, all puffy, & look so comfy!

 

[Trefoil]

Trefoil, my peaches were done early September. But I picked my first and last tomatoes about a week ago when everyone els's were done a couple of months ago.
I'm new at gardening, well, chickens too for that matter. It's a learn as you go type thing I guess.
What type of peach tree is it?

I think its reliance (?). My other peach tree was also late,just not quite this late. I had so many peaches this year my birds can't even eat them all.

http://www.americanhogwash.org/

They are making a movie about the Baker's fight with the state over raising heritage hogs. Watch the trailer.

Direct link to the trailer:

Raz- I watched the trailer. I wish they had taken a slightly different approach, what I saw made it sound like a radical tea party type deal and that will scare people away from the facts. Did Baker shoot all his pigs? What good is knowing just who in the DNR is pushing this if you don't name names?
My father and uncle were farmers during the depression, according to them that is when Michigan got feral pigs. The farmers couldn't afford to feed hogs they couldn't sell and many ended up letting them go free rather than starve to death. Also in areas of Michigan where rattlesnakes are a problem people relatively recently encouraged feral pigs to control the snakes. As far as I can see, this BS is just another facet of the crazy animal rights groups that want to ban exotic pets and let tigers and elephants go extinct. Sorry for the rant, this is one of the issues that hit all my buttons.

 

[lbrykowski2011]

http://www.americanhogwash.org/

They are making a movie about the Baker's fight with the state over raising heritage hogs. Watch the trailer.

Direct link to the trailer:

Why do they want to use the ISO only on breeds of swine that carry certain characteristics? Are they suddenly deadly to everyone that they can't sell or transport them across state lines? It would appear in the short clip and story that I saw, that corporate could be trying to muscle out the smaller farmer. First I have heard of this, but very interesting. I will have to talk to some pig farms around here, there are still quite a few. That's why I moved to capac=CowsAndPigsAndChickens=that's all that's here. LOL

 

[lbrykowski2011]

I'm thinking the same.

My plan is to use plexiglass w/Velcro for my 2 small windows that are roost level. The eave spaces are open & I am gonna leave them that way. Have plexiglass for front top window just for those evil cold days, but it faces south, so prob won't have to use it often. Then plan to wrap pen & uncovered pen in clear 8mil plastic. I think this should provide enough ventilation & light, yet keep them protected from drafts & keep the mega snow out of run.

Would love any other ideas, constructive criticism, etc!

My house blocks the west side of coop...(Spaz just LOVES getting on peak of roof

)

I found some 6 mil plastic at home and garden, but couldn't figure out (in my head anyways) how I can attach this and it not get ripped when the heavy winds hit. Then I seen some mid grade tarp that was 6x25ft. My fence is only 3ft tall so I was thinking of running tarp over it and securing with bungi cords, but the run is 100sq ft and would be more expensive. So, I left w/nothing and thought I would come back here for more ideas 1st. LOL!! Curiosity, would you staple from coop and then go around? Mine is not a covered coop either so I can't just throw it over top either. Hmmm, Still thinking. Saw the temp. garage type Raz had and really liked that, for the 1 I want was almost $400 for 12x20, next yr. I'm hoping.

 

[preciouskitty]

I found some 6 mil plastic at home and garden, but couldn't figure out (in my head anyways) how I can attach this and it not get ripped when the heavy winds hit. Then I seen some mid grade tarp that was 6x25ft. My fence is only 3ft tall so I was thinking of running tarp over it and securing with bungi cords, but the run is 100sq ft and would be more expensive. So, I left w/nothing and thought I would come back here for more ideas 1st. LOL!! Curiosity, would you staple from coop and then go around? Mine is not a covered coop either so I can't just throw it over top either. Hmmm, Still thinking. Saw the temp. garage type Raz had and really liked that, for the 1 I want was almost $400 for 12x20, next yr. I'm hoping.

Yep. Plan to staple, and then staple furring strips around edges to further secure it.

 

[mara1]

harbor freight has blue tarps 19x19 20.99.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I have not found the tarps from Harbor Freight to be worth buying without the $3.99 coupon. Even then, the only HF tarps that survived the winter here were only folded in half and attached to the vertical boards of my pen. I attached them by sandwiching the tarps between the 2x4 frame of the pen and another 2x4 or other scrap of MDF and then screwing in thru all layers with a long drywall screw. I tried washers and complicated 4 layer folding processes, they all still rip out no matter what I do. The tarps from TSC didn't really do any better either. That's why I went to the recycled trampoline tarps. Those are tough.

 

[Opa]

I have found that the only way I have been able to get a tarp to last is to roll the edges around 1x3 furring strips and then attach with screws. Additionally it pays to add a few furring strips on top to prevent it from moving as the wind will lift it up even with all four sides secured. This bellying up can tear it.

Every time I get a new picture of my granddaughter I am amazed by how much she has changed. It has been two years since Granny has seen her and she remarked that without the pictures she doesn't think she would recognize her.