Recent content by Westwind

  1. Westwind

    Lessons learned in my battle with mites

    I had my first experience with mites all last summer on only 2 out of my 6 hens. I tried all the usual remedies to no avail. With winter approaching I was afraid these 2 bare girls would freeze. Then Big R started carrying Nutrena Feather Fixer which has a mite repellant in it. After a month...
  2. Westwind

    Hey Northerners: What is the absolute coldest air temps your chickens have experienced happily!

    Colorado Springs here. We've been in the cold snap that others have mentioned. My girls have been fine. They have deep litter in the coop and get no additional heating. I don't close them in as their run is secure. They come and go as they wish. Even on the coldest days (single digit...
  3. Westwind

    The Best Water Heaters?

    This is the waterer I use. I think I paid about $35. It's great even in subzero temps here in CO. I don't keep food or water in the coop as there isn't room and my birds come and go anyway as they have a totally secured partially covered run and I don't lock them in at night. The waterer is...
  4. Westwind

    Comment by 'Westwind' in article 'It's Cold: Keeping Flocks Warm And Healthy In Winter'

    I read about having deep litter in your coop and did this last winter. I'm starting this winter with almost a foot of wood shavings and there are already little spots all over the coop where they've made their cozy nests. No auxiliary heat, but I do have a heated waterer (strictly for MY...
  5. Westwind

    Official BYC Poll: How Many Chickens Do You Have + How Many Chickens On BYC?

    3 Barred Rock, 1 Golden Comet, 2 Silver Lace Wyandotte, 1 White Plymouth Rock. New total: 110
  6. Westwind

    Dandelions

    My chickens never met a weed they didn't like. I pick "salad" for them every morning from stuff growing around my back yard, They know what I'm doing and start squawking.
  7. Westwind

    Is it cruel to have chickens if they can't free range?

    I think chickens who don't free range are just as content as cats who live their whole lives in the house. If it's all they know, they don't know any different! My girls get "snacks" daily - all kinds of kitchen scraps. They would eat anything edible if they were free ranging so that's what...
  8. Westwind

    Post here if you DON'T wash clean-looking eggs

    I never wash eggs. If there is a little soil on any, I just wipe with a damp paper towel. Rocky Mountain Rhode Islands
  9. Westwind

    How many here are actual backyarders vs. Farmers?

    Backyarder here in Colorado Springs - or as I like to refer to it, my urban homestead.
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