We just dealt with a problem the past few days though with the Starlings really taking over. Had to cover the 2 X 2" wire with chicken wire and netting...to keep them out. What a pain they were!!!!!! Made a mess in my coop too...which was otherwise very clean.
I wouldn't be too overly concerned. My Cochin rooster's turned yellowish and is turning black on the tips. My friend in Esko said her's does that but the comb is back to normal in the spring. I have a heat lamp hanging and a thermometer to check humidity. The coop got down to 8 below last...
Ha! He is SO tired of working on it, he still has to finish the chicken wire on the top, just attached netting to about 1/3 of it. He can't wait to be done!!!!! Perfectionist, but very slow. :))
Well our coop is done now for the winter. We *may* add insulation up in the ceiling next summer if necessary but with 5 windows and the vent around the entire eave and then a large vent up at the peak...with a fan, hopefully they will remain cool enough. We are not going to add any heat this...
Hahaha! Yes, as a matter of fact I do have two sisters but I am not sure either one would want chickens!!! We just wanted the chickens close for watering etc in the winter. Their coop is on the way to the barn...and when my husband snowblows the drive, he can probably get in easily to...
Well howdy neighbor! :) We used the rolled green roofing too!!!! It's still in construction phase.... Hubby is nailing up the hardware cloth
over the eave vent that runs around it.
Well we bought Cochins because they are so winter hardy with the larger body size and feathering all over their legs etc. I am thinking with 10 hens and one rooster, they will huddle in to a ball when it gets cold. I plan to provide very thick hay as bedding (cleaned out every other day as I...
Are heaters really necessary? I ask because I have horses...and so many people blanket them but they are actually better off left au naturel....with all the hay they can eat and warm water...as long as they have a wind break and no wet coming down. Dry, with plenty of hay, they do not even...
Thank you for posting about the flat panel heater...those of you who mentioned it. Looking forward to picking one up. I hope not to heat at all. We have an 8 X 12 with a huge amount of ventilation..... and really want to allow our Cochins to just acclimate and adjust. House will be...
I live in Mahtowa, MN and this will be our first winter with a dozen Cochins. After all the reading I've done, we plan to keep our 8 X 12 coop open all day, every day, regardless of temps...and closed at night only because of predators. We have an enclosed area with chicken wire on the top but...