Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[aart]

well, shoot, you have any other pics of it on here to see? how deep is the deepeest segment? looks to be a self filtering design too, yes?

Typical preformed plastic ponds, 16" deep with a few plant shelves.
Had rather elaborate filtering systems, I have an album here with filters schematic.

 

[theautumnalfox]

Hello everybody! I hope you are well. I'm a long time thread lurker, currently still researching the care of cayuga ducks and jumbo quail. Hubby and I live on 2 acres in a somewhat developed farmland area.

We actually are planning to get the ducks this summer thanks in part to the current crisis. Right now we're pricing out different fencing options. So far wireclothman seems to be the best deal for hardware cloth, unless you guys have other recommendations for 60" width? 4 rows of construction blocks on the bottom with more fencing across the ground to prevent digging in. To save on cost we planned to use dog fencing on the roof of the enclosure with pvc roll bars. I know we have foxes and raccons, don't know about the weasels.

 

[troyer]

Thanks! Yeah, that is what I've heard about the store bought ones. I think I'm going to give it a go at building my own. I have a lot of pallets, wood, shingles, chicken wire, etc. laying around. I'm going to have fun with it! I'll post pictures as I go!

Welcome from southwest Michigan and...... yes pictures are always welcome!

 

[troyer]

From Bolivia, where I'm stuck at right now. It's approximately one inch in length.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi Fox, welcome to the Michigan thread.
You have weasels. You just don't see them.

 

[Folly's place]

We all have mink and/ or weasels. Also rats, stray dogs, foxes, raccoons, opossums, skunks, and some of us have black bears and cougars. And raptors, never forget about them!
We hope to have Chickenstock this June, at the park in west Lansing. We hope!
Mary

 

[1muttsfan]

My run is a combination of chicken wire for the upper part, hardware cloth for the lower 3 ft (and buried another foot underground). The run is covered with poultry netting.

As far as planning for predators, I know a lot of people spend a lot of time trapping, relocating and killing wild animals. I think this is a complete waste of time, as soon as you kill one another one moves in. and I can promise that if your housing is inadequate, eventually you will lose birds to predators.

Predators kill because they need to to survive, it's not personal to them.
I also think that predators serve a purpose in our environment, and killing them leads to population growth of what we consider varmints.

Spending your time and efforts on building predator-proof housing gives you security that your birds will be safe whether you are there to protect them or not. You will have to zoom in on this picture a little bit (look over to the right) but I had a visitor a few weeks ago. I sat in the house and watched him without fear, because I knew my birds were safe.

 

[chickflick]

Woke up to snow on the ground. Just started snowing again. 1-2 inches expected. Friday more snow expected. That will be the end. Spring will come and we'll have nice sunny warm days from here on out... Right, God? I sure do hope so! Hard to go from high 60's to low 30's. Ahhh, Michigan. At least I'm up north where they have lots of snow.
Have a good day, all. Be safe. Be smart. There's a light at the end of the tunnel. Hang in there. We got this.

 

[aart]

Woke up to snow on the ground.

IKR!!??
It's been coming down steadily since I got up around 7.
Not unprecedented. I kind of like it, beautifully mesmerizing.
Snow squall yesterday evening in 'full sun'.
Then all most everything covered this morning.

 

[snowflake]

Woke up to snow on the ground. Just started snowing again. 1-2 inches expected. Friday more snow expected. That will be the end. Spring will come and we'll have nice sunny warm days from here on out... Right, God? I sure do hope so! Hard to go from high 60's to low 30's. Ahhh, Michigan. At least I'm up north where they have lots of snow.
Have a good day, all. Be safe. Be smart. There's a light at the end of the tunnel. Hang in there. We got t

My run is a combination of chicken wire for the upper part, hardware cloth for the lower 3 ft (and buried another foot underground). The run is covered with poultry netting.

As far as planning for predators, I know a lot of people spend a lot of time trapping, relocating and killing wild animals. I think this is a complete waste of time, as soon as you kill one another one moves in. and I can promise that if your housing is inadequate, eventually you will lose birds to predators.

Predators kill because they need to to survive, it's not personal to them.
I also think that predators serve a purpose in our environment, and killing them leads to population growth of what we consider varmints.

Spending your time and efforts on building predator-proof housing gives you security that your birds will be safe whether you are there to protect them or not. You will have to zoom in on this picture a little bit (look over to the right) but I had a visitor a few weeks ago. I sat in the house and watched him without fear, because I knew my birds were safe.
View attachment 2090533

You might want to put an electric wire about one foot up around the whole thing. I found that does a good job for climbers and diggers