Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[preciouskitty]

Extremely quiet in the woods this morning.  Didn't see any deer until after leaving my blind.  Still lots of time to limit out.

I haven't seen a deer here in my hunting area since opening weekend firearms. Just got a report from DNR about deer harvest thus far into the season; down 15-20% in the UP; ~10% here in SE Mich. Said part of the reason was full moon, the severe weather we had, abnormally warm temps AND the fact that some farmers have been slow taking their corn down (& us hunters know the deer LOVE to hang out in those corn fields!!).

So, just got back from my doc a bit ago & got my bloodwork results. Pretty much showed I am the epitome of health! AND, appears the answer to my fatigue IS a Vitamin D deficiency which is a pretty easy thing to solve

Stay warm, all...I really liked it being 60 yesterday morning...not particularly looking forward to some of the wind chills being forecast in the upcoming week

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Quote:

So…..procrastination was my downfall with my chicken coop. I had raised my 16’ X 12’ shed 1 ½ feet off the ground (by myself and with a 3.5 ton car jack) but did not get it completely level. Now I’m paying for it while working on my coop. I cannot finish anything else until I get the shed level. I should have done it while the weather was warm but now I have to do it in the cold. I’m only off about 1.5 inches but, it makes all the difference in the world when building on the inside. At least I have electricity out there. I’ll just plug in a heater and go inside the shed to get warm while I’m working.
I have my chicks on order, and they are set to be delivered on the week of Feb 3rd 2014. I can’t wait. No deployments next year so I should be good. Thanks again to all who took my chick’s early this year when I deployed. I hope they are doing well for you!

Just a thought, but it is easier to hose it out if it is NOT level! As long as the lean is in your favor and running towards the door!

 

[taprock]

So…..procrastination was my downfall with my chicken coop. I had raised my 16’ X 12’ shed 1 ½ feet off the ground (by myself and with a 3.5 ton car jack) but did not get it completely level. Now I’m paying for it while working on my coop. I cannot finish anything else until I get the shed level. I should have done it while the weather was warm but now I have to do it in the cold. I’m only off about 1.5 inches but, it makes all the difference in the world when building on the inside. At least I have electricity out there. I’ll just plug in a heater and go inside the shed to get warm while I’m working.

This is so funny because when my dh was building my coop I repeatedly reminded him I did not want the floor level so I could hose it out and have everything run to one corner. He being the perfectionist that he is ignored me. Now it is a pain to clean out.

perciouskitty - at least it is an easy fix and hopefully will help you get your energy level back up.

 

[gladahmae]

I'm going to install the timer and light in my pullet coop and see if I can't get them to start laying before April. All of them are over 20 weeks, 6 are nearly 30 weeks, and no eggs so far. I'm only getting 6 eggs a day on average, but I could be easily selling 18 a day, so it would be nice if they would start producing and paying for some of their feed. (DH is an electrician, so the light will be properly installed and grounded, so i'm not worried about extension cords shorting out or a light falling and starting a fire.)
How much light should I start with? In my larger coop I'm only giving them 2 extra hours, which is enough to keep my youngest [new] layers going for the winter, while allowing the older hens to not lay. (I'm not saying that it's a science, but it seems to be working for me.)

 

[naglady]

glad - that will make a big difference, i use christmas lights they go on at 3am and turn off at 7am.. i average 7-11 eggs a day.. today is a 11 egg day out of 14 hens.. i also have a heated water bucket in coop,

that is so sad about the coop burning down..

I dont worry about the cold, i have 15 chickens i figure they will snuggle if they need to. i think the heated water bucket takes the edge off in the coop.. if the water would start freezing i would think its to cold.. untill then they are good.

 

[ladyrsanti]

For the record, I don't judge people for their beliefs. I do judge beliefs, however, as they do not have feelings and are deserving of scrutiny.

A little festive touch to the unfinished coop. Installed the cedar siding on the peak.
The rest of the siding will get a faux board and batten look with the addition of some
furring strips to cover the seams. It's getting a bit cold for painting though so it might have to wait until spring.


About 14lbs. of organic, non-gmo corn from the garden, waiting to be ground for human
consumption. The chickens already got their cut. My hands are bit raw.

 

[preciouskitty]

@ladyrsanti
Wow. Just. Wow. Every time I see a pic of the coop it is even MORE grand. Agree..prob just a TAD chilly for painting! Just one more reason to be excited for Spring

I am truly dreading next week's forecasted temps; windchills negative..YUCK. Especially since it was 59 yesterday morn...

 

[snowflake]

For the record, I don't judge people for their beliefs. I do judge beliefs, however, as they do not have feelings and are deserving of scrutiny.

A little festive touch to the unfinished coop. Installed the cedar siding on the peak.
The rest of the siding will get a faux board and batten look with the addition of some
furring strips to cover the seams. It's getting a bit cold for painting though so it might have to wait until spring.


About 14lbs. of organic, non-gmo corn from the garden, waiting to be ground for human
consumption. The chickens already got their cut. My hands are bit raw.

what a BEAUTIFUL coop,

how are you going to use the corn, That is very nice too

 

[snowflake]

I bought Americaunas and Chanticalairs from John this spring, for 2014 he is only doing Americaunas. they are beautiful birds

 

[1muttsfan]

I just hooked my light up the other day. Everyone is done molting, time for the girls to start paying their way again - right now we are down to no eggs per day. Comes on at 4 a.m., off a little after 7.