Cold weather concerns

[Clay In Iowa]

Quote:
I understand wind chill all too well. I also understand how it rips the heat from anything exposed to the wind. Like a coop or a nesting box with one wall against the side of the coop. It'll take all the heat my birds can produce and just blow it 4 counties over.

ChickenTender63
Oxford.. I know where it is. I saw something red blow by my kitchen window a few weeks ago. My guess is it's some where in Indiana by now.

I'm not currently a chicken owner. Just over planning like I always do. But I will have about 30 by next summer. I have no plans to sell eggs, but I'm sure I'll give a ton away and maybe sell a few here and there.

Most winters here aren't much to worry about but this past year would make anyone paranoid. It was so cold for so long and about as windy as I've ever seen. It just seemed to go on for ever. Temps most nights were in the single digits and rarely out of the low 20s during the day. And then there was the wind. It never quite,10-15 mph on a good day 30-40 several times for several days at a time with a concurrent drop in temps to, on a few occasions, highs below zero. I was so happy when spring hit. I may be over doing it but

 

[ChickenTender63]

I don't think your overdoing it. I lived there, and I know what it's like. It is unlike any other place I have been in the winter some years.

Some years were really bad, and some weren't, but I do understand what your saying.

If your not using the eggs to sell, then just protect the chickens from freezing and don't worry about a few eggs you do lose. I bet you won't lose more than a dozen a year in a bad winter. That to me, isn't really worth spending a bunch of money or time on protecting, if that makes sense.

If your ever in that part of Iowa, my house is visible from 80. If your heading east, right after you pass the exit on the north side of the highway you will see two places on a dead end gravel lane. One is a greenish color modular home with a small red barn, and the other is a story and a half cape cod style with a red metal building to the south of it. Mine was the cape. I built it in 2000 after we had a tornado come through and tore up the old farm house and barn really bad.

sniff, sniff....................... I sure miss that place

Take care, and I wish you well.

 

[ebonykawai]

I'm so glad to read this about the eggs. Thanks for posting it!

 

[LynneP]

Deep bedding in the nest boxes will help of course. How early do you leave? I have a light that comes on from 5-8am and all my eggs are ready by 7:30 am or so, so I bring them up to the house immediately. Any chance this would work for you? Keeping the water from freezing is the bigger problem as Pat has said the water will freeze before the eggs.

 

[Clay In Iowa]

Love those directions ChickenTender63, only one road # in there. You certainly did live in Iowa (the Midwest).

Lynne I'm up by 4:30 and out by 5:00. My wife is up around 6:00 get the two boys, 3 1/2 and 10 weeks, ready to go and is off to work around 8:00. So I'm just planning to collect eggs when I get home around 3:00. That is until the 3 1/2 year old gets a little bigger (older actually, he's already as big as the 5 year olds in his preschool) and can collect eggs for me in the morning. I figure he collects them and he can sell them and keep the money. Might be the motivator he needs.

 

[LynneP]

You have a busy schedule, Clay. I think you'll probably get in the habit of checking the birds and collecting eggs early once you get established. Good idea about having your son share responsibility. I think water will be more of an issue than the eggs, and it's actually a good thing to see the concern at this stage, before you get underway! Best of luck to you!

 

[Clay In Iowa]

Thanks Lynne,

Part of my master plan it to get things started and let the boys take over the "business". I'll start with a few dozen really good breeder birds instead of hatchery birds. The boys can sell eggs, chicks, layers, what ever. They will be responsible (with guidance) for financing the operation, buying more eggs/birds, food, bigger coop etc with the money they collect. They want to earn more they'll need to expand their flock. They don't want to earn any money and I'll just keep doing all the work and we'll still have nice fresh farm eggs and free range chickens. Works for me either way.

I figure it'll teach them a great deal about how to handle money, and take care of an "investment".

But I'm also away that ol'dad will be doing a lot of the work. It's all good I'll get to spend time with my boys

 

[LynneP]

Of course, dad, you know that the responsibility is really yours! They're pretty youn... Still, it's one of many things you'll be teaching them. The very best to all of you!