BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Social › Where am I? Where are you! › Manitoba Members
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Manitoba Members - Page 2

post #11 of 15
5/20/12 at 6:28pm

I got my chicks from Bergs, picked them up at Feed Rite in Teulon. 

Reply
Reply

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Raising Chickens on a Shoestring
Uncle Sam Expects You To Keep Hens and Raise Chickens!!
The Basics Of Raising Chickens - Raising Chickens 101
post #12 of 15
6/7/12 at 10:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessTamTam View Post

Hello Fellow Manitobans! I hope you subscribe to this thread so you see my post. Have just became the proud chicken mom of ten brown leghorns, the beginning of many more chickens to come. We are turning my childrens playhouse into a coop. How do you winter your birds? I am sure there are unique needs since we drop as low as -45 here in Manitoba. Any tips? how warm does the cop have to be maintained at? Do I install a heater? 

The biggest thing you want to watch for is drafts. It's very hard on them and can even be fatal if they freeze their combs, wattles, and/or feet. But you should have fresh air(watch for ammonia smell when you open the door. There may be some but If it hurts your nose or eyes IT'S TOO MUCH) You may want a heat lamp since leghorns usually have large combs, but too much heat is no good either. I do have a heat lamp that I use, mostly to try and keep the water bucket from freezing, but I've had many successful winters without one.
My recommendations to consider (from experience as well as research) are: insulated coop, have enough birds for the size of building that they can use body heat to stay comfortable without being over crowded, use a heat lamp if that doesn't seem possible, south facing window for daylight and warmth from the sun, good layer of straw on bottom and continue to add on top instead of clean out(unless really mucky) b/c helps with insulation and in some cases decomposition can help with warmth (so I'm told). I also keep my birds in all winter unless it's really nice out (like many days last winter), but I'm sure there are many that don't.

You'll learn a lot your first winter, and every one after that. Each circumstance is different, so you'll have to find what works for you and your birds. But hopefully my suggestions will at least get the thought juices flowing and next thing you know you'll have this winter all planned out.

Have fun!
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 15
6/9/12 at 6:15pm

Thank you PPP!

Reply
Reply
post #14 of 15
6/17/12 at 2:33pm

Hi all!

 

I am also in Manitoba! I'm south of Brandon.

Just started out this spring. Have a mixed group. Also, just had one of my broodies hatch out 5 chicks...so excited! Don't know the breed yet...a friend pulled a bunch of fertilized eggs from the nests...could be anything really! We free range.

 

We are currently wiring our coop for electricity, then re-insulating. We also plan to install some baseboards heaters for winter.

Reply
Reply
post #15 of 15
2/19/13 at 8:25am

I am also new from Manitoba, in the Carman area.

19 rescue White Leghorns, 2 ISA Browns, 3 Black Sexlink, 15 americanas, 5 Coloumbian Plymouth Rocks, 10 Barred Rocks, 5 French Copper Maran, 7 Copper Maran, 3 Blue Copper Maran, 1 Silver Laced Wyandottes, 10 Cuckoo Maran, 5 Marraduna Basque and 2 Cream Legbar. Visit our site at http://silverspringsfarmmb.wix.com/silverspringsfarm

Reply

19 rescue White Leghorns, 2 ISA Browns, 3 Black Sexlink, 15 americanas, 5 Coloumbian Plymouth Rocks, 10 Barred Rocks, 5 French Copper Maran, 7 Copper Maran, 3 Blue Copper Maran, 1 Silver Laced Wyandottes, 10 Cuckoo Maran, 5 Marraduna Basque and 2 Cream Legbar. Visit our site at http://silverspringsfarmmb.wix.com/silverspringsfarm

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Where am I? Where are you!

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Raising Chickens on a Shoestring
Uncle Sam Expects You To Keep Hens and Raise Chickens!!
The Basics Of Raising Chickens - Raising Chickens 101
BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Social › Where am I? Where are you! › Manitoba Members