Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[SeaCity]

We had a small amount of snow 1/8 of a inch to be exact. Im more in the freezing rain area, they say to expect 1/4-1/2 an inch of freezing rain in my area.

Same here (Milwaukee), hoping for snow instead!

 

[EagleEyes]

Were getting a bit of snow too and that's fine, but I'm hoping for NO ICE!
I still have branches down from the ice in Dec.
Badger Farm - you should look up my coop build in "Large Coops"
Can't really imagine how to stop a bear though.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

Same here (Milwaukee), hoping for snow instead!

We only got the small amount of snow. No rain or ice yet. Im hoping for none

 

[Molpet]

Can't really imagine how to stop a bear though.

Strong electric fence and fencer

 

[babylady4]

Hi Badger farm! Central WI here. Welcome to the thread! Bear coyotes, etc. you name it is here too.

I have a prefab shed built on an old hay wagon running gear, surrounded by an electric net fence. Works perfectly against the preds. No snakes, coons, hawks….. ladies have an awesome roo to protect them too.

 

[jvls1942]

We’re in NW Wisconsin, and expecting anywhere from 6-12”. Southern Bayfield county. Anyone near us? Total newbs, building our coop this spring. Any advice is welcome!

I have built a few coops. still have not built the ultimate coop.
I have lots of ideas of how my next coop would be , IF i were to
build another. It probably won't happen, since we gave up
all animals and birds.. too old, going to coast to the end.
all we have are a few rabbits, squirrels, and a ferrel cat or two who
we hope will control the squirrels.
If you have a tractor with a loader bucket, I have ideas for a coop.
what kind of setup do you have ?
my first piece of advice is, don't build a coop that you can''t go into.
If you can have electricity in it, good..
I am in marathon county, wausau area. come and I will show you some
good ideas.. my coops are now storage sheds. but the basics are still there.

 

[jvls1942]

three am. I got a couple of hours of sleep
it is snowing hard and blowing from the east.
about three inches on the dumpsters. glad we didn't
get and rain.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I have built a few coops. still have not built the ultimate coop.
I have lots of ideas of how my next coop would be , IF i were to
build another. It probably won't happen, since we gave up
all animals and birds.. too old, going to coast to the end.
all we have are a few rabbits, squirrels, and a ferrel cat or two who
we hope will control the squirrels.
If you have a tractor with a loader bucket, I have ideas for a coop.
what kind of setup do you have ?
my first piece of advice is, don't build a coop that you can''t go into.
If you can have electricity in it, good..
I am in marathon county, wausau area. come and I will show you some
good ideas.. my coops are now storage sheds. but the basics are still there.

I learned my lesson building a coop i cant walk into. It so much harder to clean.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

We got about 1 hour of sleet this morning it quickly slowed down and melted. Glad it didnt stick around

 

[jvls1942]

we ended up with about four or five inches. just a guess.
the asplundh tree trimmers were just here.
dumped about ten yards of wood chips.
good. next summer I can dump some along the side
of the drivewas where the ground has a steep slope.
we can mow it, but it wouldn't take much to tip the
mower over.
when I was using the zero turn husqvarna, it was not
a problem. very low center of gravity. but with the new
cub cadet tractor, the center of gravity is much higher.
originally there was a sharp three foot drop off. I sloped
it with wood chips. the grass just naturally grew in them.
I have had bears on and off throughout the years. they
never got into my coops.. the best deterrent is a good guard dog.
I seldom closed the chicken coop door when I had my Maremmas.
never lost a bird to any predator. even hawks were reluctant to
drop in for a meal.
I would suggest a female. the males feel that it is their
duty to protect the neighbors a half mile away. that is OK
if the neighbor doesn't mind.