Upper Lower Michigan.... Looking forward to help!

[bluebirdnanny]

Hi all! I am in Atlanta, MI. Yes Michigan! Hour from both Gaylord and Alpena. I organically garden on heavy clay. Will need help when I get going as funds are very very tight due to disability and finances. Also am alone in this endeavor. Definately will need predator guidance!!!!!! Coons, possums, bear, deer, skunks, squirells, mice, voles, ticks, minks, fishers, martins, eagles, hawks to name a few.

I do get some food stamps and help with meds through Medicare Extra Help but AM not on Welfare. Hoping to do just enough to stay off it. If I have to in the future I have to (hard for me to accept) but I imagine it will cause depression to resurface as it did when I finally accepted I can not hold a job with my multiple chronic illnesses.

Hoping this will help me avoid that feeling this time around. And possibly give something back to the Caring Place that helped me with food.

Always was an animal lover and mom said a farmer at heart. Can't do some physical things BUT have to find a way to make this place work for me.

I am excited to see one poster use of fish tanks as incubators!!! I have several. Used to breed them. Still run a few but not enough as income. Now I can argue with friends who say I need to sell them and be done with fishkeeping.

Thinking maybe something sturdy and then a tractor pen for free range runs.

 

[Judy]

Welcome to our forum!

There is loads of information in both our coops areas and in our Predators and Pests forum. I think from reading, you will find it is nearly impossible to predator proof a tractor, and a permanent structure and yard would be necessary to really protect your birds from that list of predators. If bears attack, I think the only thing that is effective is an electric fence with a good jolt to it. There are some good ideas here about where to get materials cheaply or even for free, as with using shipping pallets. Some things, like wire that actually is strong enough, you may have to spend some money on.

Good luck!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, bluebirdnanny, and

! Great to have you here! I admire your courage and determination in striving to get your chickens! Flockwatcher gave some great advice! Good luck with your quest and enjoy!!

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us! Best of luck with your venture.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

I think you would find it rewarding to build a solid coop and sturdy run - there are often building material available for low cost on Craigslist; you could also talk to local builders about saving scrap wood for you.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. I too garden on heavy clay - mulched manure is a great addition to lighten your soil.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Yes there is lots. I didn't get anything on todays list done for reading. These concerns are why I have yet to get chickens. Each year thought that dream nags more and more at my gut. I do have a friend the other side of town (1/2 hour to town for me) whose family does chickens in the summer only. But he would use commercial feed. I like to do things organically. Might go visit his wife and kids and let them show me how they do things.

 

[Kevin565]

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[liz9910]