My coop is insulated but except for their water, I don't heat. We've had weeks where it gets near or below zero and except for the rooster's combs occasionally, they are all fine.
I only let mine out at @ 12:00 and they come in at dusk. I set the light to go on before dusk and they usually return. They like to go to the light as it gets dark. Occasionally they don't come in and spend the night with the goats. Foxes usually are around at dawn and sometimes dusk. My...
Twice a year for me. I add bedding more often so it decomposes some and actually helps heat a little for our cold winters. The litter , when it is cleaned out, becomes compose for our garden.
Just got 6 Rhode Island Red chicks to add to my "flock". I have 4 Barred Rocks from 2 years ago and 9 Blue Plymouth Rocks from last year (pretty birds and huge eggs). Different kinds each year. Foxes got 2 of them. When the foxes are raising their pups (now), they hunt during the day...
I have an 8 year old Buff in with my 2 year old chickens (8). The chickens are getting bald from losing feathers. It's not a parasite because the buff looks great and a couple of the hens also. I suspect that the buff-dominant even over the rooster-is pulling out feathers when they roost...
I'm a new member on this site. I am a retired PE teacher and my wife is a retired elementary teacher. We moved to a hobby farm about 8 years ago. We have chickens-mostly the "production" type (reddish). We have a 8 year old buff hen still alive and a Rooster that is a mix of all the kinds...