New MN farmer

[Sundog-Rockboy]

Coming up on my first winter with the chickens, and I’m very thankful for all the winterizing advice I’ve received here. (“No heat, no heat, no heat” is my mantra).

I have two buffs and a barred rock. Her sister met an unhappy fate with a hawk last month, and the loss was a hard pill to swallow.

We were a little overconfident letting our girls free range in the yard, even when we left the house for a couple of hours.

The flock of three now stays pretty close to the house when they free range, only venturing out farther if their human companions are outside.

They will be 6 months old in a few weeks, and I’m wondering if we can still expect any eggs with the cold settling in. Is it true that if I turn a light on outside in the evening, that may encourage laying? Thanks, my new community!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Yes. However, with this being their first year, there's a good chance that the BRs will lay through the winter anyway.

 

[BlueBaby]

Hello, and welcome! Glad that you joined! Good luck with your flock!

 

[BullChick]

As mentioned, they will likely lay regardless. I want to be sure that you understand keeping a hen laying un-naturally is not good for their overall health, and it’s what they do to the commercial layers. If you do choose to keep them laying each winter, consider giving them a break for a month or two. Maybe start the artificial light in February.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Don't do it!

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC.

Here are some links to useful resources:

• List of guides on how to use the site - “How to...” guides
• Great go-to resource - Learning Centre
• Good starting point for browsing the site - Articles
• Insightful feedback on how members manage their flocks - Topic of the Week back-catalogue
• Excellent sources of local information - U.S. States thread list

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[fldiver97]

Welcome Good chance they will lay this winter. My chickens were all laying their first and second winter (no extended light or added heat). After that winter laying slowed down quite a bit and by age 4 or 5 everyone took a break during winter.

 

[gtaus]

Welcome to the forum. I, too, live in Minnesota. Although many people advise no heat, I'm not sure that is the best advice for our Minnesota winters. Last winter, the temps where I live got down to -40F for about 2 weeks without a break. Many local chicken owners lost chickens due to the extreme cold during that period. Our local L&M Fleet store sold out on all their Cozy Coop radiant heaters because of the heavy losses by chicken owners. Those radiant heaters are low wattage and only warm the birds standing directly in front of it, not the entire coop.

I did not have chickens last year, but I was planning on getting them in the spring. I talked to a number of bird owners who told me that they never used any heat in their coops, but last winter's 2 week period of -40F was just too much for their small flocks. Anyway, this will be my first winter with laying hens. I don't currently have any heat in the coop, but I did buy a Cozy Coop radiant heater in case it gets back down to those -40F temps. If I start to have bird loss due to the extreme cold, I'll be plugging in that heater.

I don't plan on using any lights to lengthen daytime hours and trick my hens into laying more eggs. If they slow down this winter, that is fine with me.

Hope to hear more from you in the future. Take care.

 

[Claires Poultry]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

We're so glad to have you here with us!

Thank you for joining our wonderful community of fellow poultry enthusiasts!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community! Best wishes and have lots of fun!