calling any one from missouri

[ChickenCanoe]

Question, I am headed to Springfield for 3 day, and have no layers at this time( my chickens are too young yet). I was just going to leave my coop closed to keep them warm and to prevent water from freezing. Otherwise if I open the door to the run, I'm afraid the water will freeze and I have one 8 wk old chick(youngest, rest are 12 wks) that I'm afraid will get to cold. I'm new to this, so I was just wondering if you all thought they would be ok.

IMO, if your coop is tight enough to keep water from freezing when the temp in in the teens, it doesn't have enough ventilation.
The 8 week old should be feathered enough to handle those temps.

I would find someone to give them fresh water morning and night or rig up a heated waterer.

 

[misschickenlittle]

Has anyone had necropsy done in MO? I went outside just now and found 3 dead birds. I think it's Mareks, but unsure. I have one bird that shows the signs of Mareks and she's been quarantined since symptoms arrived, but she's still alive. The three that died never showed symptoms, but were laying at one end of the run together. All three of their necks were very twisted when I found them. Do you guys think it's disease?

Why do you think it's Mareks? I heard you can take them to the University and pay for a necropsy...

It stinks when you lose birds. I've lost a few recently but not to disease. They got in the duck pool and drowned. Yuck!

 

[cdonze43]

IMO, if your coop is tight enough to keep water from freezing when the temp in in the teens, it doesn't have enough ventilation.
The 8 week old should be feathered enough to handle those temps.

I would find someone to give them fresh water morning and night or rig up a heated waterer.

It would freeze the water, but I have a ceramic heater bulb on a timer to keep the water thawed....it worked the last two days and temps aren't suppose to be as cold over thanksgiving.

 

[CGinJCMO]

I'm considering leaving my chickens' pop door open over night one night while I'm gone. I have a heated waterer and a feeder that can hold 50 lbs. so I'm good there. The thing I'm worried about is predators...there's a fence but not sure if it's enough to protect them overnight since I've always closed the pop door. Not enough interior space to keep door closed the whole time. I'll just have to hope for the best. Chances are they will be fine. Next door neighbors are elderly and I don't want to have them walking my uneven downhill yard and worry about them getting hurt.

CG

 

[misschickenlittle]

In my experience... Unless the predator has been trying to find a way in, 1 night does not make a difference. But that's just what I have experienced.

 

[stlcards]

Why do you think it's Mareks? I heard you can take them to the University and pay for a necropsy...

It stinks when you lose birds. I've lost a few recently but not to disease. They got in the duck pool and drowned. Yuck!

I think Mareks because of the twisted necks. From what I've read the neurological symptoms of head turning, walking backwards in circles and blindness point to Mareks. The one quarantined Silkie has all 3 of those. That being said, she's still alive. The dead ones had twisted necks also. Does that happen with rigor mortise?

 

[misschickenlittle]

Wow. I've never seen that... So sorry for your loss!

 

[Wild Thyme Farm]

Hello
Anyone here around the Lick area?

 

[mrballance]

I'm considering leaving my chickens' pop door open over night one night while I'm gone. I have a heated waterer and a feeder that can hold 50 lbs. so I'm good there. The thing I'm worried about is predators...there's a fence but not sure if it's enough to protect them overnight since I've always closed the pop door. Not enough interior space to keep door closed the whole time. I'll just have to hope for the best. Chances are they will be fine. Next door neighbors are elderly and I don't want to have them walking my uneven downhill yard and worry about them getting hurt.

CG

In the future you should get a Automatic door. Best purchase I ever made. I have a pullet shut chicken door.

 

[Gifa]

In the future you should get a Automatic door. Best purchase I ever made. I have a pullet shut chicken door.

Same here... My girls are protected by a fully enclosed run, but I still like that automatic door shutting them in at night... It's been working beautifully since July 6th 2012 on the solar panel and the original battery charge.