Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Folly's place]

Here too. The coop has summer shade, and the birds have a mature spruce boarder right there to lounge in during the day. I have put a fan inside in years gone by, but so far this year, miserable as it's been they seem okay without it.
I'm hiding in the AC in the house though...
Mary

 

[Frankiegirl]

That’s good advice. I’m finally getting my coop debacle straightened out and the ladies will be spending their first night outside tomorrow. The coop I bought is a prefab because the main coop is being built at the new place and they needed a place to go other than my garage at night and their tractor during the day. No wonder i have oddly behaved birds.

The HC has been reinforced for safety measure and I installed locking mechanisms on each of the doors and windows to keep the coons out. I wanted to make for certain that they could not get into the coop when they are put to bed. A puck light and a portable fan for additional ventilaltion are also installed. I just want to be sure they are safe and happy in their new digs. I hear it can take a few days until they are comfortable in the new coop. Suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[bigmrg74]

No doubt about that!

New update to the rumor. The idiot was mad that he was asked to put on a face mask, left to go put one on, came in, and then set fire to the toilet paper aisle. Still about that smart. They just got a crew in to start the cleanup process in that dollar general this week.

 

[bigmrg74]

Picture of John And Walker, our team long ago. DH was 6'3" tall! They weighed in at 2800lbs and 2900 lbs then!
View attachment 2250699
We were at a farm reinactment weekend in Wisconsin with our team and some others. Fun!
Mary

Beefcakes.

Moved the pen around today. Glad that we've gotten some rain here lately. The last time I moved the pen around I broke a bunch of the landscaping staples that I used to keep the fence pinned down to the ground to keep the girls from slipping out of it. They went in much easier today.

I do have one of my new pullets that has been firing up. Always fun to start finding those little pullet eggs in the mix. Only thing is that one of my bullies really got after her Friday morning and put a nasty wound on the back of her head. And there's a buffy that has a nasty looking head wound as well. Kinda debating about maybe doing a slight beak trimming to see of that gets them to knock it off.

 

[bigmrg74]

Oh, and I've been back at work for 2 weeks now. Other than needing the AC cranked up to deal with all of the extra PPE I'm wearing, it hasn't been that bad, just gotta get my hands back into shape.

 

[1muttsfan]

Not sure if break trimming would be a great idea, if it was enough to prevent pecking it could cause other issues. Maybe take the bully out and cage her separately for a few days, that often knocks them down a peg or two.

 

[chickflick]

Good Luck tomorrow, Randy! Hope all goes well. Did you get someone to take care of your critters.

 

[RaZ]

I’m coming from the suburbs and cant wait to get up there and enjoy the quiet rural side of life. Some people go on vacations, I want to feel like I’m on vacation every day. Does that sound silly? I am just sick of the electric razor scooters buzzing down the street and hearing EVERYBODY’S air conditioner going non-stop.

How are all of you keeping your chicks cool?

That doesn't seem silly at all. I was a country boy trapped in the suburbs for way too long. Most folk here heard all about my problems living down in the city. I hated it where I was.
I'm now at the end of a dirt road that goes in to the state land. I get the weekenders and their toys buzzing past every weekend but this year hasn't been as bad as past years. Covid maybe?

My coop is in the shaded woods and generally 10-15 degrees cooler than the air. I keep a fan running on low in one of the windows to draw the air out of the coop. Fresh water every day with one fount of added electrolytes. Waterers scattered all over the yard for when they are free-ranging. I haven't noticed any heat related stress within the flock.

 

[RaZ]

Good Luck tomorrow, Randy! Hope all goes well. Did you get someone to take care of your critters.

A kid from work is going to come by each day. I really can't trust the other guy that much. He got all pissy with me on Thursday and yesterday he was making everyone miserable, I just can't trust him. So the kid stopped by on the way home after work. He is only 10 miles away on the way to work so it should go smoothly.

GF, son and grandson are coming up for a visit today. I'm in trouble. My house is a wreck.

 

[aart]

Some people go on vacations, I want to feel like I’m on vacation every day. Does that sound silly?

Nope, I quit going golfing, camping, and hiking after moving to my land.

Kinda debating about maybe doing a slight beak trimming to see of that gets them to knock it off.

Pinless peepers might be a better option.

How are all of you keeping your chicks cool?

To help cool down the coop I have a box fan in the east window of coop, where it's shady most the day, and turn it on late afternoon...blows cooler air into coop and pushes hot air out.

To determine heat stress levels I go by activity level, if panting and wing holding seems extreme, I throw out a few treats to see if everyone is moving well.

Deep all day shade is best but....I don't have much of that.
This has worked very well to keep heat stress/stroke at bay:

I give a dose of Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins about once a week during heat waves.
It really seems to help....started this after they saved a heat stroked hen once.
Can mix up a smaller amount, just wrap the packet tight and store in a dry cool place.
Always have plain water available too.

BIG(9x14x2") chunks of ice last all day for wading, sitting, and sipping.
Much more useful to the chickens than frozen foods and treats.

Make space in your freezer!