Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[minniefarm]

Brrr doing 2 hour chicken checks. Thankfully, I'm off work with the schools. Changing water, giving treats and piling on the bedding to keep it warm and dry. So far we have a little frostbite but nothing too serious. Everyone is up and moving about, eating and drinking. Stay warm everyone.

 

[gladahmae]

I've decided that I wasn't giving my birds the benefit of the doubt. I have 13ish week old birdies in an open-air coop with a cardboard box for wind protection, and they're still doing alright. I am done worrying now.

 

[RaZ]

We have a thermometer in the coop, and it only supported my worry.

I might have to do some modifications in the spring. Raz, do you have any heat source in this 24 degree coop?

I had hoped that it would give folks a measure of comfort to see that their coop is warmer inside than the outside conditions. Especially since we have all made coops that are well-ventilated and yet draft free.

Well, except for me. I don't have chickens and I have never had a coop here. But if I did, it would have a well secured heat lamp if I only had a few young birds and I was worried about them. I think people who only have a few birds are more concerned than those who have flocks with dozens of birds that can huddle together to share body heat.

Maybe we can start a tips and tricks for constructing worry-free coops.

 

[gladahmae]

Chicks are in the 2nd a-frame (the one on the right). The open side is facing north so we could see if something got in them, Whig isn't ideal for winter but necessary living so close to the woods.

 

[ladyrsanti]

Your husband is snowed out? Was he out of town or something?

...sometimes the ones closest to us hurt us the most...

sending you warm and positive wishes...hang in there, hope you see DH soon!!

Heheh. Nah, he's at work and I'll see him this evening but he can't get his car into the driveway. So he parks near the road and trudges up to the house, leaving his car out there. I just feel guilty because I can't help him out.

Thanks

 

[ladyrsanti]

Chicks are in the 2nd a-frame (the one on the right). The open side is facing north so we could see if something got in them, Whig isn't ideal for winter but necessary living so close to the woods.

Wow, yeah, I'd say that's proof that plenty of ventilation while preventing excessive draft is a good thing.

 

[aart]

Anyone want to help me puzzle through this? Someone not terribly far from us is selling apple crates and I'm trying to think of an easy-to-implement way to use them as brooders or grow-out coops. The biggest problem I see with them is that there appears to be gaps in the sides which apples would need, but I definitely would not want to have for chicks. Add to this that DH does NOT like to have a bunch of "junk" out in the yard, so they would need to be fashioned into some sort of "attractive" end product. Paint would go a long way in that department, but I could use some ideas. I'm a planner.....I like to plan things out, make contingencies, and then get it all done with in one fell swoop. http://nmi.craigslist.org/grd/4249422706.html

OMGosh....just the material for reuse would save tons of money!
Several could be fastened together to make a rather spacious grow out coop.
Would take some creative carpentering......but could be a real bonanza for someone broke but handy.
Don't think the slits in the sides would be a bad thing, gaps in bottom slats might need to be covered/filled.
Not sure about making them pretty, other than paint, I'm more about function than form.

 

[tsetse9]

from the cold....I thought I was safe with deep litter method and no supplemental heat

 

[tsetse9]

I am so sorry for your loss..

.what is from the weather or illness?

forgot to put in quote that I was referring to. it was from the cold :'(

 

[SillyChicken]

http://jxn.craigslist.org/grd/4276394613.html...........

really?