Alaskan considering a flock

[Bsmac]

Hello! Welcome to BYC! You have gotten some great advice! We have 4 light Brahmas and as mentioned they do well in the winter but do tend to overheat in the summer. They are fine with plenty of shade and cold water. Our Black Jersey Giants do pretty well year round with shade and cold water in the summer as well. Good luck building your flock!

 

[N F C]

Hello @EilidhAk best wishes establishing a flock!

 

[EilidhAk]

Welcome to BYC! I'll bet you left Texas in August. I know I'm ready to move to a winter climate.

Haha, I did in fact! I’ve been in Alaska since 1997, but I still visit family in Texas every year. I hope your AC holds up.

 

[EilidhAk]

I highly recommend reading the article I wrote:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/cold-weather-poultry-housing-and-care.72010/

And... if you are in the woods.. and don't have a dog marking your property, you might want to think about bear proofing and weasel proofing your coop.

But also, eh.... bear proofing is a royal pain. I haven't been without a dog for very long now.... so can't say how much that changes the risk of bear predation. But with a dog, over 25 years, I only had one total decimation from a bear.

Also, which general area are you in? Alaska is a huge state!

I’m in the MatSu, 17 miles outside of Talkeetna. I definitely would ermine proof a coop. My dog kept an ermine family away from the cabin and outhouse last year. It had set up housekeeping under an outbuilding where she couldn’t get to them. Sadly, she passed away from old age last summer. My property was the only one in this neighborhood that never had bear trouble thanks to her. I know I can’t replace her, but I will hopefully get another dog this winter. I won’t start keeping chickens without one. I will definitely read your article. I’ve been in AK since 1997 and I am still happy to learn from others with experience.

 

[janiedoe]

Haha, I did in fact! I’ve been in Alaska since 1997, but I still visit family in Texas every year. I hope your AC holds up.

We actually bought back up window units this year. I hope you visit in the winter.

I’m in the MatSu, 17 miles outside of Talkeetna. I definitely would ermine proof a coop. My dog kept an ermine family away from the cabin and outhouse last year. It had set up housekeeping under an outbuilding where she couldn’t get to them. Sadly, she passed away from old age last summer. My property was the only one in this neighborhood that never had bear trouble thanks to her. I know I can’t replace her, but I will hopefully get another dog this winter. I won’t start keeping chickens without one. I will definitely read your article. I’ve been in AK since 1997 and I am still happy to learn from others with experience.

I'm sorry for the loss of your dog.