Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[fuzzybutt love]

Found the list of treats, and on it there's a link to the toxic plants. Garlic and onions are on it on account of the sulfer. I have also seen not to feed citrus, because they don't need vitamin C, their bodies make their own. It IS recommended other places for extreme hot and cold though.

Idk, i guess everything in moderation.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens

 

[ladyrsanti]

Here's the finished flock block. Hope they like it.

 

[mattsinger]

I might have to try that this weekend

 

[SillyChicken]

that's awesome Lady! Thanks for posting the recipe link. I wonder if you scored it the size of the suet block holder if you could use them to hang in the coop.... I suppose if it were strong enough, you could cook a dowel inside it (wrapped in foil), pull it out and use an eye bolt to hang it with. Great idea!

 

[chickwhispers]

Nice, Silly

For new folks using the multi-quote feature, it makes your posts much easier to read if you edit the quoted material down some. You can do this by going into the quoted material, hylight it and backspace to erase extraneous parts.

Yep. Except it doesn't work very well on my phone, (latest update! grrr.) and now if i use IE i've been having trouble with editor as well! (more grrr.) But yes it's good thing to edit.

She's lovely, Silly.

X2

Hello Everyone.

I live in the Haslett/Williamston area in Michigan. I've been reading this site for a month or two gaining precious knowledge. I really enjoy reading the Michigan Thread.

Welcome to BYC!!!

and good luck with your chicks!

I might have to try that this weekend

Again...X2. Looks good @ladyrsanti !!!

 

[Trefoil]

. Here is a picture of our coop, a converted plastic storage barn to coop and 10 X 5 foot by 6 foot high dog pen run. All of my birds free range all day.

I've been wondering how plastic would work out for a coop. Is it hard to alter (add windows, poop door, roosts)? Does the cold make it brittle? And is it reasonably warm? Do they hold up? Sorry for all the questions, you're the first I've seen anyone using them. Thanks

 

[taprock]

Wow.  233 posts since I last checked in. 

It is my understanding that three sheep are a good minimum for companionship.  Sheep and goats don't "get along" as it were but co-exist.  Sheep need a flock to be comfortable.  Mine freak out when they are separated, even if for a moment.

Making this today:
http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2013/10/diy-flock-block.html

Thank you. You read my mind.

 

[iamfivewire]

I've been wondering how plastic would work out for a coop. Is it hard to alter (add windows, poop door, roosts)? Does the cold make it brittle? And is it reasonably warm? Do they hold up? Sorry for all the questions, you're the first I've seen anyone using them. Thanks

We have been very impressed with it so far. I think it serves far better as a cold weather coop. The walls have air pockets in them which does create a sort of insulation. We used a jig saw to cut out the window and pop door openings. The cold has not affected it's flexibility. When we stand in there, it is surprisingly comfortable in this extreme cold. We cut open windows and then sandwiched 1/4 inch hardware cloth between wood frames bolted together. The we use the piece that we cut out as a shutter

. In the inside, we used recycled wood to build a nest platform, poop board platform and then bolted the entire length with a 2x4 roost bar.

The building we bought is a Suncast 8 x 8 shown below before we added the extras inside. We do not use deep litter method and the roost is about 4 foot off the ground. I don't have a photo of the finished insides, but I think my DH has some of his building progress last summer This is Candy, the post is under Brett's account because he had the photo on his log in.

 

[boris159]

Quote: Thanks for the link Fuzzy! I backtracked my confusion, and my garlic was mostly brown, semi-dried cloves, probably inert. My cool, dry, airy storage spot for garlic bulbs apparently is not cool enough. And never feed citrus, or raw potato peels. Or raw soybeans, like I did my 1st summer with chickens (no harm done tho).

 

[SillyChicken]

It is my understanding that three sheep are a good minimum for companionship. Sheep and goats don't "get along" as it were but co-exist. Sheep need a flock to be comfortable. Mine freak out when they are separated, even if for a moment.

Yes, I agree.. the first Ewe was kinda dropped in my lap... I was going to borrow a couple of my brothers sheep, but they are much bigger than Penny so I decided against it. I realized it wasn't going to work with her and the goats (never know unless you try). I had already separated her from the goats a few weeks ago and I started looking for another ewe, about her age. She's happier already by not being kept with the goats. I pick up the new ewe Saturday.. hopefully the snow will hold off till I can be headed home from GR. Danika is due in April/May so that will help too I'm sure.

Thank you for the information though Lady, I am always open to help since I've never had sheep before! I know you have Jacobs too so anytime you have info on them and working their fleece, I'm all ears!