Recent content by Sherrylynn59

  1. Sherrylynn59

    How cold is TOO cold for a chicken?

    Regarding your deep litter, I worry about the smell in my coop. My thinking - if they smell their droppings all the time, they'll get sick. I CAN smell the droppings in the morning, so I clean (just the droppings) out brooder boxes daily, and clean the area under their roost about twice/week...
  2. Sherrylynn59

    How cold is TOO cold for a chicken?

    We actually put the two major trouble-maker hens up for sale. No bites after 6 wks. I thought more than once about culling them!!! However, they are my 2 BEST layers, even now that it's cold. That is the ONLY reason they're still alive. If the behavior persists or becomes more problematic, we...
  3. Sherrylynn59

    How cold is TOO cold for a chicken?

    Excellent suggestions! We have a few things out there now, and I noticed that they do like to get up on thing in the pen. That photo was taken right after it was built. Will get a pallet out there and a couple other obstacles! THANK YOU!
  4. Sherrylynn59

    How cold is TOO cold for a chicken?

    They're 8 mo old now. I wondered about salt (will sprinkle some coarse sea salt in their feed tomorrow) and we do give them an assortment of "scraps" from the kitchen throughout the week. Today it was refried beans and they loved 'em (along with a few egg shells). Other times I will boil up...
  5. Sherrylynn59

    How cold is TOO cold for a chicken?

    Thanks for your reply! This is my first flock and we try to give our girls good care. -20F (actual) is not unheard of in our portion of PA (an hour north of Harrisburg), but -10F can be expected during any winter. A while ago I figured the coop was plenty big enough. for our flock of 15 and I...
  6. Sherrylynn59

    How cold is TOO cold for a chicken?

    Maybe you can help. How many chickens do you have? I'm in PA and my husband and I have been disagreeing on heating the coop. Like you, we've seen close to -20F here, but VERY rarely. We have 14 hens and one roo: 3 americaunas, 3 amberlinks, 3 RIRs, 2 Ply barred Rocks and and Americauna roo...
  7. Sherrylynn59

    Topic of the Week - Dogs and Chickens

    We have 4 "larger breed" dogs, none of which are "chicken-friendly". In fact, the day after we put our young chicks in their new home, the yellow lab found a way into the attached pen and had a barred rock for a "chicken nugget". Not long after, one of our Americaunas decided to sneak out of...
  8. Sherrylynn59

    Temperament of Red Junglefowl roosters?

    Greetings! I'm very new to raising poultry and we purchased a "variety pack" of dual-purpose chicks in April. They're coming along nicely. Last week, I made a 4 hour round trip to pick up an Americauna rooster that is just a little older than our "girls". All is well.... He's a gentle bird...
  9. Sherrylynn59

    Rhode Island Red - Hen or Rooster?

    New to chickens. My RIRs are 7 wks old and I'm praying they're hens!!! I just made a 4hr round trip to pick up an Americauna rooster (is he ever pleasant!). He's about a month older than our girls, but with the "Americaunas", I can't tell with them either.
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