Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[wannahomestead]

I just had a little brain wave here. If I did some roofing over the run area, that could help keep a lot of the rain out. Maybe that could help with drying things up some? With all the rain today it's a squishy mucky mess again.

Next time I pull the straw out for compost, I'm going to explore adding drainage options.

 

[yochickiemomma]

Wanna I LOVE my covered runs. so much dryer and they don't smell.

 

[Fun Chicken]

@aart, thanks for the info. We've put the floor down, but haven't done the walls yet. They're going up Saturday, God willing. Maybe if we put the plywood, some thin insulation and then the siding?

 

[Fun Chicken]

@yochickiemomma, thank you. I'm glad to have found you guys. I'll try and take a picture tomorrow, as today is already getting a little dark, but is not really a coup yet since it doesn't have the walls; it's only the floor and ceiling.

We're also going make it a little bit largerthan what I had planned, because I think I might get more chickies in the near future!!!

 

[aart]

I just had a little brain wave here. If I did some roofing over the run area, that could help keep a lot of the rain out. Maybe that could help with drying things up some? With all the rain today it's a squishy mucky mess again.

Next time I pull the straw out for compost, I'm going to explore adding drainage options.

Could be a toss up...depends on a few things.
Roofing can keep water out, but also sun which helps dry things out.
If water is coming from runoff nearby, roofing won't help much.
If you put roofing up, you'll need to direct any run off from that.
.....and make sure your roofing can hold up to your snow load and/or have a plan to use a roof rake.

Best thing is to go outside when it is pouring rain and see where the water is flowing in and around the run.
You can dig swales to direct the water....have had one for years to direct heavy runoff from driveway from going into garage.
It went down where the run was eventually built, only place is could go due to slope of land in yard,
so had to bury a section of 3" pipe to direct it past where it would flood part of the run under the coop.

Take a wide view of whole area to assess and control water flow.

 

[taprock]

I used to have a covered run. I loved it but it was my first building project and didn't last very well. I was just given a carport and tarp that I intend to use for part of a run in the future.

This week is off to a bad start with a self inflicted concussion. You've heard of running into doors, welL I was really moving and missed the door and smacked the door frame. So I'm off work for a week and can't do anything. Sitting still is very boring.

Today because I was home I was able to sell 12 Guinea fowl keets and two turkeys. So at least something good happened.

 

[1muttsfan]

Tap!! Hope you feel better quickly

 

[snowflake]

I used to have a covered run. I loved it but it was my first building project and didn't last very well. I was just given a carport and tarp that I intend to use for part of a run in the future.

This week is off to a bad start with a self inflicted concussion. You've heard of running into doors, welL I was really moving and missed the door and smacked the door frame. So I'm off work for a week and can't do anything. Sitting still is very boring.

Today because I was home I was able to sell 12 Guinea fowl keets and two turkeys. So at least something good happened.

Holy cow, Tap, do be more careful, hope you are better soon

Hello Michiganders!

I'm new to BYC, and was reccomended to come and check out your thread. I'm also a new chickie mom so I would like to ask a question, if I may? I'm wondering if thin siding board would be warm enough as the only wall for my chicken coup. I've read in several places that it's not good for them to insulate the coop, that they deal with cold betted than with heat. But how do you know if they're going to be warm enough? The coup we're building is under my back porch, so it is next to the house and somewhat shielded from winds. Still I don't want to go in one day to find my chicken frozen!!!

Welcome,this is a good place to be

, I would not worry to much about the cold, as stated before, ventilation and dry is most important. I have a coop that is an old truck bed cab, with thin, pre painted siding, about 1/4 in thick, 7 birds in that coop last winter with no problems, I have seen people house chickens in tarp houses that have been dry and wind free and the chicks did fine.,,,,, they have an amazing down coat, frost bite usually is the result of to much moisture in the coop. god lucke


honestly you guys, , every one seems to be laid up, Hope you are feeling better soon,

I can't do too much for drainage at this point . I could toss another straw bail in, but right now there's a noticeable "squish" if you walk in the run. I am trying to work a pen expansion in before winter hits too hard, possibly this week/weekend which would help take some of the pressure off.

I would use some wood chips in the mix if you can, the straw can get wet and moldy very fast. the pine shavings seem to disintegrate faster, I use a mix of both in my coop, but that is always dry,


love the new chicks, pretty color.

my chickens have gone through a heavy molt this year, we haven't seen an egg out of almost 40 birds in 4weeks, plan to add some extra light tomorrow or Friday, see if that helps a little, they have had 24% grower for most of the summer cause we had some baby chicks. only good thing about the molt is it is a good time to worm as there aren't any eggs to toss anyway

 

[aart]

This week is off to a bad start with a self inflicted concussion. You've heard of running into doors, welL I was really moving and missed the door and smacked the door frame. So I'm off work for a week and can't do anything. Sitting still is very boring.

Oh, Gah!
I almost did the same thing the other morning, just missed creaming my head on the jam (trying to miss the door itself) in the dark.

 

[Fun Chicken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fun Chicken 

Hello Michiganders!

I'm new to BYC, and was reccomended to come and check out your thread. I'm also a new chickie mom so I would like to ask a question, if I may? I'm wondering if thin siding board would be warm enough as the only wall for my chicken coup. I've read in several places that it's not good for them to insulate the coop, that they deal with cold betted than with heat. But how do you know if they're going to be warm enough? The coup we're building is under my back porch, so it is next to the house and somewhat shielded from winds. Still I don't want to go in one day to find my chicken frozen!!!

Snowflake

Welcome,this is a good place to be,   I would not worry to much about the cold, as stated before, ventilation   and dry is most important. I have a coop that is an old truck bed cab, with thin, pre painted  siding, about 1/4 in thick, 7 birds in that coop last winter with no problems, I have seen people house chickens in tarp houses that have been dry and wind free and the chicks did fine.,,,,, they have an amazing down coat, frost bite usually is the result of to much moisture in the coop.    god lucke

Thanks, it makes me feel better to know they're not as delicate as I thought. By the way, how do you copy and paste in this forum? I'm new to chat rooms as well, lol!