Colorado

[gardendufus]

I guess if I am cold everyone should be cold. Should I crawl inside and put up board insulation or would a light work? What do you recommend?
Thanks Tracie

Tracie, if I were you, I'd leave them be, they should be plenty warm. Don't forget, you're not wearing a down coat or sleeping with multiple partners. If I were you, I'd block off those nest boxes and block them off so they can't get in there until they are ready to lay.

. They can't say what they are getting because they order the cheapest way possible. Hatchery choice variety packs. So the salesmen can never tell you what's coming because they never know.

When I went this spring (to Widefield) they didn't know enough to tell you what they HAD, either.

ETA: I really didn't mean that to come out harsh, but when I read it it sounds harsh. It isn't.

 

[gardendufus]

 

[coloradogal]

Tracie,

Too much depends on how your set up is before advice can be given. Yes, its true that they have a nice warm coat but the nice coat won't help if the snow is blowing and gets into the coop during a blizzard. They generate between 10 and 15 watts of heat, per hen. But often 4 isn't enough...then you get into the size issue of space in coop. Too small and they can cannibalize each other if locked in during a blizzard. I'm from upstate NY where I have always been taught that you need at least 9. Anything less and you run into issues. last year, I had 6 in an uninsulated coop with reinforced sidewall insulation just for the mild winter nights and tarp thrown over and 5 in an insulated one. Even in the insulated one and vaseline on combs, I had frost bite. During the blizzards, I threw them all in the insulated one, just for the night after it was dark and they did fine together and it was nice and toasty at 9 degrees, it was -4 outside with blowing snow. Last year was a mild winter and told myself, never again would I do that to them or myself. I was up constantly during the night to check on the temps and to make sure the tarps held.

Old timers will tell you that chickens do not need heat but that is with hardened flocks who have bred only the hardiest. There is no gaurantee that your hens will be. Not saying they won't either but with 4 hens, even if only one isn't... that's a huge loss. My hens all survived the winter but then the severe heat struck and I lost a couple. It's hard but I have a sizeable flock so it isn't quite as tough as if I only had a couple.

I hate to be weird but would hate to give you advice that ends up freezing all of yours hens. There are too many variables to give right now. If the coop is attached to a house or garage... I'm sure there would be enough heat just from being part of a permanent structure with insulation, etc.

I always tell people... you plan for the worst day of the winter and the worst day of the summer, the worse wind ever and the worst sun... along with worst predators, etc. They do have plush coats but if the coats get wet from the smallness of a coop, they won't help.

There is an OldTimers thread here and I'm sure they would tell you that 'chickens don't need no heat' and laugh at you for even thinking such blasphemy. But what they also fail to tell you is they have landrace flocks...which means they generally have flocks that are suited ideally for their climate and place. They have also had many generations to insure a good fit. That just isn't the case up here. Ask any one who has tried incubating sea level eggs how difficult things can get.

ps. I'd take a mutt chicken from a reputable landrace colorado flock before i'd take the most expensive lower elevation hen.

ok, ramble off. Maggie, my conure, is cuddled up against my neck and pruning and loving me. When she nestles in, I sometimes have a hard time interupting her. She seems so happy... and when that happens, I tend to write way, way too much.

 

[coloradogal]

Please Please Please.........let's not start this discussion, LOL. Hopefully my 4 new pullets (coming soon to a coop near you) will quench my I want new chickens urge.

Coloradogal......Since water boils at a lower temperature here, maybe extending the time to 20 minutes, or even longer. Have you tried that? Not that I'm hoping you'll do all the testing and come up with a magic number for me or anything like that.

something has to work... or i could just be unable to boil a proper egg. When I moved here, it took months before my bread came out right. Finally, I went to a completely different method. I'm glad because the no-knead method works sooo much better and the long fermentation is so much tastier.

 

[wsmith]

Tracie,

Too much depends on how your set up is before advice can be given. Yes, its true that they have a nice warm coat but the nice coat won't help if the snow is blowing and gets into the coop during a blizzard. They generate between 10 and 15 watts of heat, per hen. But often 4 isn't enough...then you get into the size issue of space in coop. Too small and they can cannibalize each other if locked in during a blizzard. I'm from upstate NY where I have always been taught that you need at least 9. Anything less and you run into issues. last year, I had 6 in an uninsulated coop with reinforced sidewall insulation just for the mild winter nights and tarp thrown over and 5 in an insulated one. Even in the insulated one and vaseline on combs, I had frost bite. During the blizzards, I threw them all in the insulated one, just for the night after it was dark and they did fine together and it was nice and toasty at 9 degrees, it was -4 outside with blowing snow. Last year was a mild winter and told myself, never again would I do that to them or myself. I was up constantly during the night to check on the temps and to make sure the tarps held.

Old timers will tell you that chickens do not need heat but that is with hardened flocks who have bred only the hardiest. There is no gaurantee that your hens will be. Not saying they won't either but with 4 hens, even if only one isn't... that's a huge loss. My hens all survived the winter but then the severe heat struck and I lost a couple. It's hard but I have a sizeable flock so it isn't quite as tough as if I only had a couple.

I hate to be weird but would hate to give you advice that ends up freezing all of yours hens. There are too many variables to give right now. If the coop is attached to a house or garage... I'm sure there would be enough heat just from being part of a permanent structure with insulation, etc.

I always tell people... you plan for the worst day of the winter and the worst day of the summer, the worse wind ever and the worst sun... along with worst predators, etc. They do have plush coats but if the coats get wet from the smallness of a coop, they won't help.

There is an OldTimers thread here and I'm sure they would tell you that 'chickens don't need no heat' and laugh at you for even thinking such blasphemy. But what they also fail to tell you is they have landrace flocks...which means they generally have flocks that are suited ideally for their climate and place. They have also had many generations to insure a good fit. That just isn't the case up here. Ask any one who has tried incubating sea level eggs how difficult things can get.

A lot also depends on the breed. The heavier rose and pea comb breeds do better with cold winter temps than the lighter single comb breeds; but they do worse in the heat. Some dual purpose breeds do good in both.
My coops are not insulated. None of our coops while growing up were insulated and not heated. We did get some frostbite on our our Barred Rock roosters during the coldest nights. None of the pea comb EEs ever had a problem. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I agree with prior posters that breed (and breeding) has a lot to do with it. My EEs have never had an issue and my Australorp hasn't either, but my hamburg did get a touch of frostbite. The comb and wattles are the first to see damage, so try to avoid breeds with large ones.

 

[coloradogal]

WK the dominques are pretty but my husband says no more black

Coop is 5x5, 2 5' roosts and 3 external nesting boxes, not insulated. It is raised about 2' off the ground. 2 foot x 11/2 foot window (faces east). I have it out right now but covered part as its windy and rainy.
The girls we just got haven't learned to roost yet ( we have had them three days). They have learned to go in the coop at night but they all crowd into the first nesting box

They did start to perch outside on the large branches 3' x 10' that are in the run today! Whoo! They are 8 weeks old.
I guess if I am cold everyone should be cold. Should I crawl inside and put up board insulation or would a light work? What do you recommend?
Thanks Tracie

If I were you... I'd get 2 more but make arrangements to insure that they have a nice, weather sheltered somewhat run to play in. Most hens don't spend the whole time in the coop and as long as they have a place to escape to, even in a blizzard that is bigger... they should be fine during the day. If you have to, you can put up a tarp, wrap the coop on sides with bubble wrap, add a hay bale on the sides, etc. to help them through the winter. I suspect on the majority of the days, they will be content just to do their henly duties. It's only for the few days a year where things generally suck that the plans have to be in place. If you only kept the 4, the coop is plenty large enough just recognize that you will probably see frostbite through a prolonged cold snap. It bothered me more to see it than I suspect it bothered them.

I'd love to see your pictures.... there is nothing better than some chick porn or coop porn...

 

[coloradogal]

They are actually my last ditch backup plan if Summer can't hatch her eggs for whatever reason. They can't say what they are getting because they order the cheapest way possible. Hatchery choice variety packs. So the salesmen can never tell you what's coming because they never know.

I heard that some of the places around here take chicks also from local people. I don't know if this is true or not. Elizabeth corner knows what they get and Falcon Feed will specialty order chicks in the springs without having a minimum.

 

[coloradogal]

Below are a couple views of the silkie youngsters going to the Wardle Feed swap. 1 dark buff male, 3 blues, a couple light colored females & males, a bantam cochin pullet & a Blackstar pullet.

They are gorgeous... perhaps next year I'll get a chick or two from you to add a little diversity to my current silkie flock. The buff ones are gorgeous... major case of chicken envy.

 

[coloradogal]

A lot also depends on the breed. The heavier rose and pea comb breeds do better with cold winter temps than the lighter single comb breeds; but they do worse in the heat. Some dual purpose breeds do good in both.
My coops are not insulated. None of our coops while growing up were insulated and not heated. We did get some frostbite on our our Barred Rock roosters during the coldest nights. None of the pea comb EEs ever had a problem. Just my 2 cents.

Yup... we talked about that last weekend when I lovingly looked at your beauties... mine with the huge combs lost a bit of them. my brahma was completely fine all winter long and i actually think he enjoyed the crappier weather. the smaller marans cross and leghorn mix was paralyzed by the snow. The lady I bought them from, even though she had a landrace flock, told me that the little leghorn gal wasn't hardened flock yet and that she might have to be brought in the winter. I didn't but made sure she was in the insulated one.

None of our coops growing up were insulated either but they were landrace flocks. there were generation upon generation of chickens so they become like the people, tough.