Newbie - Page 2

In the end it will all be worth it, Ive raised australorps for years and adore the breed, they are very hardy and tolerate cold temps better than several other breeds because of the heavy feathering and generally smaller comb size on the hens, Ive found that their laying ability can really range though so keep an eye on them and dont be afraid to cull the ones that dont lay well.

Good luck and enjoy them!

We brought home 2 Austrlorps and 2 Barred Rock from the feedstore.

They were 2 weeks old and my guy made an awesome chicken coop for them.

They are living in just the coop area until they get a bit older; adjusting well to their new enviroment.

We are hoping they are all hens, you always got a 10% chance that one turns out to be a boy.

My daughter raised Rhode Island Reds when she was in FFA in high school she had a lot of prize winners at 2 county fairs.

She used to carry one named Nugget around with her when she spent the week there.  She raised pigs too now she works

for an insurance company and owns 4 dogs and a cat named Churck Norris.

Her roosters were named Patrick,

Nugget and NBT(not too bright)

We are hoping for manure for our garden and eggs the next few years from these chickens.  Our town allows us to have 3 hens

no roosters but the feedstore said they would take back any roosters that happen.

These birds seem to be the best suited to a backyard enviroment, I hope we have good luck with these little ones, they sure eat

a lot of chicken starter!! 

Our light went off the other night but at 54 degrees they seem to handle it well, they weren't huddled so I guess they are adapting

well to the outdoors.  I figure we can let them go outside in a few more weeks.. we clean their coop out once a week, and give them fresh water

and food daily and if they allow us to handle them we do so, I don't want to get too attached just in case one is a rooster though.

OK, this is great info, but how receptive will the birds be especially our leghorns, and our Austalorp roo to letting us put vaseline on his comb & wadds. that sounds like I will have a good pecking coming. At what temp should this be done? we live in  western Ohio. It can get down to 0 here at times in January.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fowlsessed 

I don't know about the doggy door but, you really don't need to heat the coop as long as it has good ventilation so it doesn't get damp to prevent the males from getting frostbite and both hens and roos from chilling.

I would be real concerned about a doggy door. The chickens may or may not figure it out, but here in Ohio, the coons, and skunks would use them just fine, and eat your flock. I lock my coop down tight at night. Would you  be able to do that with a doggy door?