Michigan

[NovaAman]

OMG! I want pot belly pigs!

 

[chicken grandma]

Nova,

I have the 8X10 resin shed with a floor.
First, the vents at the top aren't very big for ventilation.
Second, there is not a lot of naural light that can get in mine with just one window.
Third, I had to add insulation because it did not hold heat well.
Fourth, if you want to attach a run as I did, I had to build a ramp going up to the window and stack some hay on the outside for a jump down from the window
because I did not want to build a run around those big swinging doors.
Fifth, I set mine on the ground and mice went under it. But in order to get in it and clean it - I though blocks underneath would not be enough support and my weight would crack the floor if it was on blocks.So I set it on the ground and the mice went under.

I would prefer a smaller coop, up off the ground with more insulation, more windows, more ventilation and an easier way to clean it and a nice pop door for the chickens to go in and out.

p.s. Nova on 'rescueme.org' there is a farm animal rescue and in Michigan several pot belly pigs are listed as needing homes!

 

[1muttsfan]

Cornstarch works better than flour as a styptic. Apply a little then hold steady pressure.

Msue, the frizzle gene has been introduced into several breeds. The chickendads have frizzle cochins, they are darling. Apparently frizzle feathers do not tolerate rough handling or shed rain well.

 

[un-named543]

I have to confess I've been stalking for quite a while, and figured I'd better introduce myself. My name is Leslie and I live in Hesperia, work as an RN in Muskegon, and started a small flock of three in Oct. I also have 11 ducks who enjoy keeping my pond aerated. I've read for information, entertainment, and ideas this is a wonderful site a real challenge to keep up with.

Welcome to the thread! What kind of facility do you do your RN work in? Hospital, home health, nursing home....?

That is very funny.

We have one cat who is indoor/outdoor cat, and he is afraid of baby chicks ever since a broody hen got after him 5 years ago. lol
I just can't believe that we have lost 50 percent of snow overnight !!

And its raining right now. Its 45 degrees out, and yesterday it was 25 degrees.

Uh, yah, thanks....you guys dumped it in SE Minnesota last night and today......I will get even.

and here all this time I thought I was the resident oddity.

Well, you, uh, are... we just did not want to hurt yer feelings...
Well there now, I taught myself how to multi answer posts....and I have a cold so I think it is off to bed early tonight. Man it is hard to keep up with y'all, but worth it <3

Cornstarch works better than flour as a styptic. Apply a little then hold steady pressure.
Msue, the frizzle gene has been introduced into several breeds. The chickendads have frizzle cochins, they are darling. Apparently frizzle feathers do not tolerate rough handling or shed rain well.

This one was an 'oops!'. I have nothing intelligent to add

 

[NovaAman]

Nova,

I have the 8X10 resin shed with a floor.
First, the vents at the top aren't very big for ventilation.
Second, there is not a lot of naural light that can get in mine with just one window.
Third, I had to add insulation because it did not hold heat well.
Fourth, if you want to attach a run as I did, I had to build a ramp going up to the window and stack some hay on the outside for a jump down from the window
because I did not want to build a run around those big swinging doors.
Fifth, I set mine on the ground and mice went under it. But in order to get in it and clean it - I though blocks underneath would not be enough support and my weight would crack the floor if it was on blocks.So I set it on the ground and the mice went under.

I would prefer a smaller coop, up off the ground with more insulation, more windows, more ventilation and an easier way to clean it and a nice pop door for the chickens to go in and out.

p.s. Nova on 'rescueme.org' there is a farm animal rescue and in Michigan several pot belly pigs are listed as needing homes!

Thanks on that. Really helps me to determine what I want. I love my current coop, especially since I built it. Lol. I can do another like that, but I need to house 20 chickens in the next few months. Lol. Well 12 that I have new need a coop, Leila and her 5 that are still going strong, along with Roger,, and then Skeeter with her 6 that are looking good this week. So, in essence, I need to build 2 more 8x4 coops... Or a shed. I can build 2 more like I have now, with some modifications for things I wish I had thought of before... Either way... 400 bucks.... Hmmm.

 

[teeville5]

Oh, I hate those gall bladed seizure days! Takes several hours to go away! I have tried massaging the area that the gall bladder is to help the stone move itself along... The first time I had one happen, it sent me into a panic attack and I really thought I was having a heart attack, and totally scared the poo out of me that I had a lovely ambulance ride... So, I for for ya.
IT IS 47 DEGREES AT 8:24 IN THE MORNING! The snow is nearly gone in my front yard, the path is a mud lane... I am tempted to let oh the ducks and leave in the chooks.

The one and only time I had a gall bladder attack it knocked me off my feet fast. I couldn't stand, walk, move without so much incredible pain. DH drove me to the hospital and it turned out I had a massive stone too big to pass. Wound up having surgery to remove it all.

anddd..when I showed them your picture, RaZ...

Only this one came forward...

LOL!

 

[Mom 2em All]

Cornstarch works better than flour as a styptic. Apply a little then hold steady pressure.
Msue, the frizzle gene has been introduced into several breeds. The chickendads have frizzle cochins, they are darling. Apparently frizzle feathers do not tolerate rough handling or shed rain well.

Thats them! Thats who I got my frizzled cochins from!

Now, where are they and why havent they been posting? Or have they...and I just missed them in our busy chatter?

MAN- RaZ is NEVER going to catch up with all these pages of posts. That'll teach him to sleep all day!
SAM- you are the Sr. Oddity.

 

[RBahmer]

Nova,

I have the 8X10 resin shed with a floor.
First, the vents at the top aren't very big for ventilation.
Second, there is not a lot of naural light that can get in mine with just one window.
Third, I had to add insulation because it did not hold heat well.
Fourth, if you want to attach a run as I did, I had to build a ramp going up to the window and stack some hay on the outside for a jump down from the window
because I did not want to build a run around those big swinging doors.
Fifth, I set mine on the ground and mice went under it. But in order to get in it and clean it - I though blocks underneath would not be enough support and my weight would crack the floor if it was on blocks.So I set it on the ground and the mice went under.

I would prefer a smaller coop, up off the ground with more insulation, more windows, more ventilation and an easier way to clean it and a nice pop door for the chickens to go in and out.

p.s. Nova on 'rescueme.org' there is a farm animal rescue and in Michigan several pot belly pigs are listed as needing homes!

Ok at the risk of sounding dumb, what is a resin shed. ?

 

[Chickmate]

Well, I had a multi post going last night and lost my internet connection. I finally gave up and snuggled on the couch with the dogs to watch some TV. Tried again this morning and still couldn't get connected. I don't have the energy to start a multi post again tonight, so I'll just say welcome to Leslie! Great people on this thread! We're so glad to have you! Also glad to have un-named543 with us! So cool to have a Minnigander in our group! My brother used to live in White Bear Lake many, many years ago. Such a beautiful area with a bazillion lakes!

My thermometer read 54 today, so I spent the whole afternoon making Mama and babies a new larger enclosure in the coop. She kept getting off the last egg and when I felt it it was ice cold. There was no movement and no noise at all. It had a little hole in it but I don't think it was a pip, I think her toenail went through the shell when she stepped on it (at least that's what I want to believe). I could see black through the hole but couldn't bear to open it and see a dead little chick, so I put it on the shelf in the shed and think I'll bury it tomorrow. The four babies are doing great, very active and eating and drinking and running around like little chicks should. I made them an area directly under one of the poop boards that is about 5 x 3. I took the door off the dog crate, moved it under the poop board and used old gates that have chicken wire on them to fence off each end and a big piece of wall board for the long side. The opposite side is the wall of the coop, so it's completely enclosed. No way for babies to get out or other chickens to get in. Added fresh straw and put the heat lamp above the waterer to keep it from freezing and hopefully add a little warmth now that they are on the floor instead of up on the bale of straw.

I so wish the weather would stay like this. The chickens loved being out of the run for the first time in three days. They do not like to step on snow, so if I open the run door when there is snow on the ground, they fly across the yard to the crawl hole under the deck and spend all day under the deck. Then when it's time to lock them up I have to sweep a path through the snow back to the coop so they can walk back. They can't fly back because they have no room to spread their wings from under the deck. Crazy birds.

 

[teeville5]

Well, today is a day I should've listened to my inner self and just stayed home in bed.
Unfortunately, duty called and I had to go to work where I had to deal with really bad icy back roads. By the time I got to the 2nd bad one, my vehicle decided not to comply anymore and the back end did a swing right into a newspaper receptacle and some mailboxes that thankfully prevented me from going into the ditch behind them. Thank God I was doing a crawl at the time so I merely smacked into them and got stuck. 3 ladies and a teenage boy later and I was unstuck, but sideways in the road. No damage, but one box got popped off its stand and my nerves were completely frazzled.

Moral of the story, BE SAFE and take it easy out there...ice is not your friend!

Of course, it didn't end there! Once home, I thought I'd unwind a bit and take a treat out to the chickens. I went into the big coop and gave everyone their treat and then went to the bantams and gave them their treat. Then I noticed their food dish was overturned and empty. So I picked it up and went back to the big coop thinking to scoop some from theirs since it was getting dark and they wouldn't need much until morning. Well, I get in there and swing the door behind me enough to appear shut, but with my luck today, I actually swung it too hard and BAM, CLICK! Locked in the big coop. I went for my cell phone to call into the house and oops! Took it out of my pocket before going outside. So I stood there contemplating should I wait for everyone inside to realize mom's taking too long or yell my head off in hope of being heard? At this point I look down and see one of my BRs eyeballing me. Um, no, I will not be falling down for you! Yelled my son's name and I saw a head move through the house window. Yelled my daughter's name and got someone to look outside. And finally, rescue came.

Moral of this story, It is really awesome to know that I CAN be heard from the coop! Oh and be careful not to lock yourself in with beady eyed hungry birds.