Colorado

[Percheron chick]

I've had June EEs start Christmas week. Soon.

 

[Latestarter]

If they don't start soon, it will most likely be late February/early March. Mine were end of May chicks and only about 1/2 of them started in that year. The rest waited till spring. (I started with 32 pullet chicks; BO/BA/NH/WW). Good luck and hope you find a couple of early Christmas eggs!

 

[rf12345]

Thank you - wonderful advice and info! The coop is about 3x8 and the run 8x8. I let them all out in the backyard daily to stretch their wings. There is about 14 ft of roosting bar space, but only one of the chickens uses a roosting bar. The others snuggle in their groups on the ground. There are 4 orpingtons, 2 americaunas and 1 barred rock. Good to know I'm not alone in this. I'll pick up some chicken wire tonight and build a temporary run within the run for the littles. It's helpful to know the timeframe, too, that they might need to be separated in the coop/run for quite a while. Thank you!!

top hen does no do most damage. it's the middle and bottom hens that do the damage most to little's. often bottom hen is the one that has no end of picking on new ones. 2-3 weeks chicken wire separation. then try.

 

[rf12345]

chickens do not free rang anymore. have fox problem. 2 injured, but will make it. rooster fought for his bellowed hen the other lead the hens to safer place, then I saw it and made fox to drop the hen. Injured ones already reintegrated , one is in very long chicken "trench" coat because she was de-feathered on her sides and has 1inch about wound. Healing well having the circumstances... Other one fox had by the neck. Chicken got also lucky. Very large fox. Yet to penetrate my fort knox with boulders, logs, skirted 2 feet wire and fully enclosed runs. Fox attacked chickens when they were free ranging. If I was not home I'd have lots of damage.
Fox did not like me (good, go eat rabbits or something and stay away)

 

[lomine]

Feeding layer feed before they are actually laying can delay laying. The lower protien slows development and the higher calcium isn't good for them.

 

[WaddleWagon]

Good morning!

with this FREEZING weather we are having i put more straw in their coop area, tarps up around their run and they have water with heater so it does not freeze and feed. The ducks tend to stay in the run area rather then in their actual coop. Are they going to be ok? I was worried all last night about them. Is there anything else that I should be doing?

Thanks neighbors
Stacy

 

[lomine]

Good morning!

with this FREEZING weather we are having i put more straw in their coop area, tarps up around their run and they have water with heater so it does not freeze and feed. The ducks tend to stay in the run area rather then in their actual coop. Are they going to be ok? I was worried all last night about them. Is there anything else that I should be doing?

Thanks neighbors
Stacy

They should be just fine. You'll want to make sure your coop stays dry. Cold + wet = bad

My ducks venture out in the snow but I'll see them lay down every once in a while. They are doing this to warm their feet. This is the first winter for my chickens and they are not liking the snow. They don't want to walk on it at all. This morning they were hanging out under the deck where I had shoveled and only reluctantly walked there through the mulch I had raked (it's about 10ft from the run door to the patio). It's hard to shovel mulch so I just rake it to turn it a little but there is still snow. Course they could just hang out in the huge run that is completely roofed and wrapped in tarps. It is full of dry deep litter and the wind is blocked, but they would rather huddle together and poop all over my back steps and patio. Poop I can't even clean up because it is frozen.

 

[DC419]

This is my (and the chickens) first winter. I'll admit I thought about them a lot last night. Took a waterer out to them this morning and was relieved to see them giving me the stink eye from inside the coop.

 

[WaddleWagon]

Thanks for the help, I got home to check on them and they seem just fine. More food as nd fresh water again to buckle in for this next cold night

 

[Mtn Margie]

A healthy chicken will be just fine in these temps with water and food. As long as there is not a wind tunnel effect in the coop but still have ventilation, they do great and seem to appreciate the chill more than we do. It was -8 up here......