Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[aart]

Well, that didn't take long...
http://www.care2.com/causes/once-ag...g-basic-fire-protection-for-farm-animals.html

I've been on this soapbox before. Does your coop have a fire extinguisher handy?

Wonders why the insurance companies aren't the ones insisting on fire protection?

 

[RaZ]

Hi everyone! I'm new here and new to raising chickens. I have 8 girls who are all around 20 weeks and starting to lay! I'm located in southwest michigan and trying to prepare for winter and possibly getting a bigger coop before then! How many of you have successfully had a dirt floor? Right now I have a raised coop with a wood floor and linoleum over it but I'm really leaning toward dirt. Thoughts?? Thank you!

How big is the raised coop that you have now? What kind of bedding do you have in there? You may be OK with what you already have.
If you can give us some details like square footage and bedding substrate we should be able to give you some recommendations. There are a lot of experienced people here and quite a few in your area.

Welcome to the Michigan thread.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Hi everyone! I'm new here and new to raising chickens. I have 8 girls who are all around 20 weeks and starting to lay! I'm located in southwest michigan and trying to prepare for winter and possibly getting a bigger coop before then! How many of you have successfully had a dirt floor? Right now I have a raised coop with a wood floor and linoleum over it but I'm really leaning toward dirt. Thoughts?? Thank you!

Welcome to the MI thread! I hope your girls lay soon, my newer ones are taking long too.

 

[RaZ]

Wonders why the insurance companies aren't the ones insisting on fire protection?

I have those same wonders myself.
Then I look at some of the contributors to agendas behind the scenes.

Consider that the Michigan Farm Bureau Insurance group was a driving force behind the GAAMP changes last spring. Those same changes that outlawed small farms and gave Big Ag a carte blanche exemption to abide by the rules.

Colour me jaded but I would love to have a look at the books of some of these entities that drive the agriculture machine.

 

[mundamnsel]

How big is the raised coop that you have now? What kind of bedding do you have in there? You may be OK with what you already have.
If you can give us some details like square footage and bedding substrate we should be able to give you some recommendations. There are a lot of experienced people here and quite a few in your area.

Welcome to the Michigan thread.

How big is the raised coop that you have now? What kind of bedding do you have in there? You may be OK with what you already have.
If you can give us some details like square footage and bedding substrate we should be able to give you some recommendations. There are a lot of experienced people here and quite a few in your area.

Welcome to the Michigan thread.

My coop is 4 x 7 (not sure how tall I would have to measure) and it's raised about 2 ft off the ground. The nesting boxes are on the outside so they don't take up floor space. I should say I also have a rooster. I have 3 barred rocks, 3 australorps, 2 Easter eggers and my rooster is a large fowl cochin. I do not have a run. We let them free range all day. I'm worried bexuae my barred rocks are really bossy and I'm afraid the others will get beat up if we have a brutal winter like last year.
For bedding I use pine shavings on top of the linoleum floor. I've been trying to get a base built up sort of like a deep litter but I'm kind of a freak about cleanliness and all the poop is driving me nuts. So I don't know if that will last. I am open to suggestions!!!

 

[preciouskitty]

@mundamnsel


I don't believe it. Last week saw what was probably the most beautiful, fully arced rainbow, with a double rainbow starting, that I have ever seen.

What are the odds one would see another..one week later???!! Yep, just had another, fully arced. And this time the double, while very light, was ALSO fully arced!!!

 

[Opa]

I was a Farm Bureau member for many years. I carried home, auto, and business with them, but their position on the Right To Farm Act was reason enough to cancel all my policies.

 

[RaZ]

There is an alternative for insurance. Fremont Insurance Company has offered a discount to MSFC members for insurance. Gary Marker at C & M Insurance has been our contact.
I can't make any claims for rates. But they do offer policies for small farm operations. Just something to consider.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi mundamnsel, and welcome to the Michigan thread. Generally you want about 4 square feet of floor space per bird in the coop. This may be more important during times of the year when the weather is cold and they are inside a lot of the time. You can add roosts, and enclose or partially cover/enclose a run to increase the space they have to move around.

 

[Trefoil]

My coop is 4 x 7 (not sure how tall I would have to measure) and it's raised about 2 ft off the ground. The nesting boxes are on the outside so they don't take up floor space. I should say I also have a rooster. I have 3 barred rocks, 3 australorps, 2 Easter eggers and my rooster is a large fowl cochin. I do not have a run. We let them free range all day. I'm worried bexuae my barred rocks are really bossy and I'm afraid the others will get beat up if we have a brutal winter like last year.
For bedding I use pine shavings on top of the linoleum floor. I've been trying to get a base built up sort of like a deep litter but I'm kind of a freak about cleanliness and all the poop is driving me nuts. So I don't know if that will last. I am open to suggestions!!!

Welcome!
One of the problems with dirt floors is keeping predators out. Drainage can also be a factor. With 2' clearance under your coop you could fence that in and use in case of bad weather. Putting poop trays or an apron under the roosts will keep your coop cleaner longer. A larger coop is always nicer.