Michigan

[NovaAman]

Congrats!

 

[Olive Hill]

Nova -- You don't need to do anything special. Food, water, wind block. That's it. If you're using pine shavings in for the chickens you may want to use something more absorbent for the ducks -- straw would be preferable as hay molds more readily. They do not need water to swim in, but should have access to water deep enough that they can fully dip their bills. Fortiflex buckets work great in the winter as you can easily bust the ice out of them and refill. Ducks (and other waterfowl) have one of nature's single most efficient warming systems built right in. Biologically they are capable of dealing with temperatures even other "cold hardy" animals might have a hard time with.

 

[franklinstreetwest]

Hello,

I'm trying to connect with other Michigan poultry enthusiasts. I used to be in 4-H until I aged out, and then I was away from chickens for a little over ten years. Now I'm getting back into the swing of things, and I would like to fiind out about shows, swaps and breeders in my area! I really like Showgirls & Polish bantams...ooh and I am looking for Cornish bantams (read something about blue laced dark/red....peaked my interest).

 

[Olive Hill]

Welcome. We may be able to tell you more about what's in your area, but we'll need to know what area that is.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

My michigan men! In matching coats!

 

[franklinstreetwest]

I live in Jackson. So things in th U.P. would probably be too far for me to go at the moment. Northern Ohio & Indiana are fair game though, as well as most of the mitten.

 

[M.sue]

Good Morning Franklinstreetwest......welcome to the Michigan Thread. I'm sure one of these wonder folks will be able to point you in the right direction.

 

[fifelakelooper]

Love the picture Fuzzybutt...I have a hat just like your DH!

Stacykins I am excited for you. Several years ago I came "that" close to convincing my DH we needed a goat or two!!

Welcome FranklinStreet!

I crashed at 9pm last night...when DH came to bed he whispered..."It's a winter wonderland " outside! A standing joke between us.....snow was so exciting when we first moved back to Mi. from Florida. You know that long standing joke about the first few times it is beautiful and progressively the awe and love of it diminishes as you tire of falling on ice, snowplowing, shoveling, etc?? We always chuckle now and comment on it....although it IS indeed pretty!

I now have two of my 9 chickens laying...the jersey splash and the black Orp. Sadly...we butchered the Maria Hall Blue Roo two days ago. I had him separate from the flock for over a week because suddenly the Orp roo was out to kill him. The jersey had injured himself during one of the frackus and I couldn't have the two together for the winter. I am still waiting to hear if my non chicken owner friend will watch my flock this winter in the rv coop.

Enjoy the day....it's a Winter Wonderland" outside here!

 

[RIRJen]

Morning!

Question for you all. I have one of those metal water-warm things (looks like a trashcan lid) and I'm wondering if I can use it with my plastic water container or if that's going to melt it? I don't think it will but I wanted to ask you all to see if anyone else has used a heater with a plastic waterer before hooking it up. So far my new coop is staying nice and toasty!

Hope everyone is ready for winter cause it sounds like it's coming in the next day or two!

Oh, also I am going to be looking for some RIR's in the spring...I am keeping the silkies for my daughter to haul around but I need something that lays awesome and figured I would go back to my RIR's. Anyone on here have plans for some nice hens and a roo in the spring? Maybe we need to have an April chickenstock

 

[Opa]

I used a plastic waterer on the heater base without any problems. If you are using a commericial unit they only turn on after the temperature drops below 34. I would recommend not using it inside your coop just to be on the safe side.