Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[fuzzi]

Most likely how they got it down will remain a mystery.

Or, if you mean ask about it being removed, we would say something like "remove all (something) and debris" in the contract. I forget what the "something" term is but it means their stuff that they might think is not "debris". And probably not say anything otherwise.

Very, very sadly, no. I started to look up the zoning but dh would very much not want chickens there even if the zoning allowed. The neighbors are very close and very many on all sides. And this is a much more intense job for him so he doesn't want to do any yard work much less build chicken coops or take care of them when I'm gone.

But, this will be three years. With an outside chance of four. Then he will retire and we will move to where ever we choose to go. I expect to get chickens again then.

If you buy the place and the basement stove works, just leave it. It's not in the way, is it?

 

[saysfaa]

It shouldn't be in the way, we'll consider that. But we also don't have a use for it and would like to not have anything that might be an issue for whoever buys it from us. Potential buyers can be exceedingly finicky. Having nothing at all to give them pause is better, we have found.

 

[saysfaa]

I'm hoping to get a bigger coop and a run next time. Also, to do something cool with the construction. Round-wood timber framing is a likely option. Or some sort of living building - like living willow sculpture only with osage orange trees or hawthorn hedge techniques. Or espalier of some species of trees.

It will be fun to plan although not as fun as having chickens.

 

[fuzzi]

I'm hoping to get a bigger coop and a run next time. Also, to do something cool with the construction. Round-wood timber framing is a likely option. Or some sort of living building - like living willow sculpture only with osage orange trees or hawthorn hedge techniques. Or espalier of some species of trees.

It will be fun to plan although not as fun as having chickens.

It's very good of you to forego chickens in your current situation.

 

[Chickin Fairy]

We had a quiet holiday, too. We were planning on hosting a big Christmas bash because my daughter is 17 and this will be her last Christmas at home (unless she chooses to come to our place for Christmas next year). Well, we came down with COVID and because my father-in-law just got out of surgery, we decided to postpone until the end of January. It stinks, but it's what we do. Everyone has agreed to a weekend in January and in the meantime, we will rest up, heal up, and enjoy a quiet season.

 

[MIchickenlady]

I need help figuring out what to do about ammonia smell in my coop
For 15 years keeping chickens I've used sand or coffee grounds and scooped poo daily, but thought I'd try deep litter this winter. In November I cleaned out all grounds, put dn 4-5 inches medium pine flake, sprinkled zeolite & add thin layer every 3 days or so. I turned the bedding today and its WET underneath and ammonia is bad.
We have 20 standard hens & 4 bantams. Coop (converted amish built shed) is 10 x 11, windows are at roost height so I only open them in morning, 3 small vents at 10 ft high. If its this bad in 6 weeks I cant go all winter- I don't understand what I did wrong?

 

[Sally PB]

If you put poop boards under the roosts, it will catch about 90% of the poop. Put sweet PDZ on the boards, and there will be almost no smell at all. Scooping is about a 3 minute job for me with this set up.

Picture of the poop board:

 

[Folly's place]

I don't see ventilation in those pictures. Upper openings covered in hardware cloth, at least ten (more is better!) square feet, up under the roof overhangs.
Mary

 

[aart]

For 15 years keeping chickens I've used sand or coffee grounds and scooped poo daily,... I turned the bedding today and its WET underneath and ammonia is bad.

In this same coop?

How wet?
Did a waterer spill, or the roof leak?

 

[MIchickenlady]

I don't see ventilation in those pictures. Upper openings covered in hardware cloth, at least ten (more is better!) square feet, up under the roof overhangs.
Mary

Thank you so much for saying this Mary! I've been telling hubs we need lots more airflow but he thought since we have 10 ft from floor to ceiling it would be fine. There is 1 six inch x 12 inch vent in front & two 12 inch vents in back. A solar exhaust fan would be nice ( no elec to coop-yet) but I read of a coop fire from a solar fan
So...I guess I'm mucking out & starting over today