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  1. Debbie292d

    Topic of the Week - Heat Sources: Yes or No?

    When we got into breeding silkies around a decade ago, most of whom free range, I learned they needed to eat their feed to get the nutrients they weren't getting from bugs and weeds. Giving them other things was filling them up for nothing, and they would become vitamin-deficient. Silkies are...
  2. Debbie292d

    Topic of the Week - Heat Sources: Yes or No?

    Not to argue, but just showing it depends on the source: ChatGPT says this: 1. Corn does NOT create heat — digestion does, and corn is not a high-heat feed Chickens produce heat through specific dynamic action (SDA)—the heat generated by digesting food. Proteins create the highest heat during...
  3. Debbie292d

    New member!

    I would ask in this forum: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/general-breed-discussions-faq.14/
  4. Debbie292d

    Well if this isn't the best picture I've ever taken of the coop ❄️🩵❄️

    Here you go! I had nothing to do with this, but I did host it last year so got it again! https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chilly-coop-contest.1680893/#post-28933023
  5. Debbie292d

    delete - nvm!

    Usually first-year layers lay all winter, then take winters off after that. These should lay for you all winter, if they'd ever start laying! Trust me, I know the anticipation as I have a silkie pullet I'm anxious to breed and she's 7 months old. The earliest these ever lay is 6 months, but...
  6. Debbie292d

    delete - nvm!

    They are getting to the age when my silkies start laying, sheesh! So I googled and got this from AI: A Marans/Olive Egger chicken will typically start laying eggs between 24 and 30 weeks of age, which is about 5 to 7 months old. Factors like the number of daylight hours, diet, and individual...
  7. Debbie292d

    Open Contest Chilly Coop Contest!

    This contest is brought to you by our BYC Sponsors (click to view & support them) Winter Photo Contests Chilly Coop Contest! Ends February 28th, 2026 Welcome to BYC's Chilly Coop Contest. Some coops are purchased kits, and some are custom-crafted. Some coops are made of recycled wood, and some...
  8. Debbie292d

    Open Contest Chilly Coop Contest!

    These contests are brought to you by our BYC Sponsors (click to view & support them) Winter Photo Contests Ends February 28th, 2026 The days are shorter, and the nights are colder, but that doesn't mean the fun needs to end! It's time to cozy up under a blanket with some hot chocolate and see...
  9. Debbie292d

    hens waking up in middle of the night

    If you have an Ace Hardware, here is their version. I'd have to ask but I think the neighbor farmer makes their own.
  10. Debbie292d

    Would you heat silkies?

    Hi! We're in Wisconsin too. We raise and breed silkies. We do heat our coops and growout pens. For one coop we use an oil-filled radiant heater by NewAir. We've had that for many years. On it's nearly lowest setting, it keeps the coop to 40F - ish. This one has to be fenced or put where...
  11. Debbie292d

    hens waking up in middle of the night

    Have you heard of or tried that spinner thing you can put on top of a 5-gallon bucket? They crawl up there, fall in, and drown. We don't have rats, and that sounds gross, but if I did have them, I'd try it. The neighbor farmer uses those and catches tons, then tosses them out for the other...
  12. Debbie292d

    Topic of the Week - Heat Sources: Yes or No?

    Agree! It's actually the first ingredient in most feeds.
  13. Debbie292d

    Tea for chickens?

    For well over a year, every chick, chicken, and even ducks here get CS/B (Chinese Skullcap w/ Baicalin). This is not a cure. Numerous studies have shown that it can prevent Marek's disease and Avian Influenza, and treat those with Mareks by reducing tumor growth. We get it here, where you...
  14. Debbie292d

    Open Contest BYC Poultry Caption Contest Photo Submission - Thread #12

    Oh my gosh, the look in her eye!
  15. Debbie292d

    Happy Birthday! 🎂 [ATTACH]

    Happy Birthday! 🎂
  16. Debbie292d

    New member!

    Hiya, Caleb, and welcome to BYC! :frow Check our Buy/Sell/Trade forum just in case there are some near you. Otherwise, I'd check my state/local poultry groups on Facebook. You may find something near you. Be sure to check out our Learning Center for some tips on raising chickens...
  17. Debbie292d

    Does anyone have a hospital ward or old lady house?

    We run around 50 or so chickens and most of the time nobody's sick but if there is an issue, we bring that one in and put them in our brooder. For convalescing, we put them in a pen outdoors that has a shed attached as their "coop." We use this as a growout pen for younger ones too. This...
  18. Debbie292d

    Hiya from upstate NY

    Hiya, and welcome to BYC! :frow If you have any questions along the way, just head to the Forums, find the one that most fits your question and post away! For a little more info on anything, you could check out our Learning Center which is stuffed full of articles written by our members...
  19. Debbie292d

    New chicken mum from north wales

    Hiya, and welcome to BYC! :frow I agree that if you don't mind sharing, we'd love to see pictures of yours! We're glad you're here!
  20. Debbie292d

    Humidy level is 60 inside coop and run. Outside its 97 humidity level. Can this be possible?

    Yes. Then when it got below zero outside, it would freeze. The humidity in the coop was higher than it was outside so back then is when we fixed it. Sweet PDZ, you were close. :) That does help a little. I use that on the poop trays for easier cleaning. Pellets on the floor keep the coop...
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