Colorado

[wsmith]

Well, I have golf balls, not in all the nests (double boxes and they pull all available golf balls into one nest), but all five other layers use the nest boxes, just seem to have one that won't. Wendell, how old are these doms? Guess I could go back into the posts to see when you got them. One of them (39) is getting really red and developing some nice wattles.

18 weeks; mine are doing the same. My show line doms are a week older, but about a week behind in wattle development. however, my show line pullets are bigger, have better coloring, and nearly perfect type for APA standard. My hatchery pullets are, shal we say...varied? BUT the hatchery pullets are way friendlier.

 

[TracieJS]

Excellent news!
Everyone will sleep better tonight!!

 

[TracieJS]

Coop questions

With the weather getting colder, I am hoping that you guys can help me with my coop questions. My coop is 5x5 and about 5 tall in the front and 4 1/2 in the back. There are two roosting perches going N/S about 3 foot up. I have 8 hens (4 that are 15 weeks and 4 that are 10 weeks) who all seem to use the same roost

I have a large window 3x2 (and cleanout door) on the East side. The first perch sits about 1 foot back from this window at about 3 1/2 foot tall (so the birds can actually look out it (and do when they are awake). I have bought pleixglass and drilled holes for fall / winter (one with holes all the way up, the other with only holes only 1/2 way up) and then I have the glass that covers the whole thing. As it is getting colder, how do I ensure they have plenty of ventilation without drafts since the window covers so much space and the roosting bar sits right in front of it (and they prefer the front roost verus the back roost). I do have about a 1/2 inch at the top cut out in the east and west sides. I don't know how to ensure they have ventilation without the drafts. Also, I was thinking of getting a heater or light to keep it about 45 degrees inside (is that about right, too hot, don't need it, what temperature do you keep your coops?) Their outside run is 6 x 12 with a covered roof (about 9 foot tall - their coop sits inside this run) then they have a lower level run again 6x12 but no solid roof. They have feed in water in both the upper and lower pens and water in the coop.

Sorry for rambling... how do I get ventilation without drafts and what temperature should I keep the coop? Do I need extra light now that it is getting dark earlier and earlier? I have a thermometer and it seems to be about 3 or 4 degrees warmer inside the coop than outside (window covering is the one with full holes).

Thanks for all the help!

 

[wsmith]

Coop questions

With the weather getting colder, I am hoping that you guys can help me with my coop questions. My coop is 5x5 and about 5 tall in the front and 4 1/2 in the back. There are two roosting perches going N/S about 3 foot up. I have 8 hens (4 that are 15 weeks and 4 that are 10 weeks) who all seem to use the same roost

I have a large window 3x2 (and cleanout door) on the East side. The first perch sits about 1 foot back from this window at about 3 1/2 foot tall (so the birds can actually look out it (and do when they are awake). I have bought Plexiglas and drilled holes for fall / winter (one with holes all the way up, the other with only holes only 1/2 way up) and then I have the glass that covers the whole thing. As it is getting colder, how do I ensure they have plenty of ventilation without drafts since the window covers so much space and the roosting bar sits right in front of it (and they prefer the front roost verus the back roost). I do have about a 1/2 inch at the top cut out in the east and west sides. I don't know how to ensure they have ventilation without the drafts. Also, I was thinking of getting a heater or light to keep it about 45 degrees inside (is that about right, too hot, don't need it, what temperature do you keep your coops?) Their outside run is 6 x 12 with a covered roof (about 9 foot tall - their coop sits inside this run) then they have a lower level run again 6x12 but no solid roof. They have feed in water in both the upper and lower pens and water in the coop.

Sorry for rambling... how do I get ventilation without drafts and what temperature should I keep the coop? Do I need extra light now that it is getting dark earlier and earlier? I have a thermometer and it seems to be about 3 or 4 degrees warmer inside the coop than outside (window covering is the one with full holes).

Thanks for all the help!

Draft vs Ventilation:

This is just my opinion.....
A draft is uncontrolled cold breeze with no way to escape it, while ventilation is fresh air provided such that, while still outside air temperature, doesn't chill the birds un-necessarily. ( I hope that makes sense. ) Basically, you want indirect air flow, because you still need to get rid of ecessive moisture and smells.. Direct airflow that flows across the birds can make it too cold. Think wind chill. Still cold air they can handle fine. If the ventilation is up high, or in an area of the coop that is away from where they roost, it is better, than having a cold wind from the north blast them with no escape. But with no ventilation, ammonia and moisture build up n the coop, causing respritory issues and bad smells.
Many people, me included do not heat their coops. I go by what worked for my grandparents, my parents, and now me. If ventilation is provided, it will still be a little warmer inside than outside during the winter, with no extra heat source other than the chickens themselves. I have a large Plexiglas window that can be closed in the winter. The chicken door stays open unless bitter cold. My hen house is big enough for them to roost on the end away from the door. I have large screened vents in the peak of the ends, which do not close. With the window, chicken door, and upper vents open, you can see the air circulating inside when then sun shines on the dust in the air. The hen house does not smell. Deep litter on the floor. Chickens need a place for shelter from the wind and rain/snow/etc.
My two cents.....

 

[Mommato5]

Last winter my girls survived -10 in the coop without even a frost bitten comb! They came out that morning with solid pieces of ice on their feathers and a little sluggish but I gave them some warm oatmeal and all was forgotten. After that, though, we kept a low wattage ceramic heat lamp in there. It warmed it maybe 10 * over the outside temps. I felt better about it. I did not add extra light, though. I didn't want to artificially alter their body functions. The way I see it, the slow down in eggs in the winter provides their body a chance to rest and that's a good thing. Only one of my girls was really effected by the cold temps and that darn chicken didn't lay from October through Febuary!

In the rain this morning, my girls came running out then started shaking their heads and fluffing feathers. It was hilarious! They stayed out in it all morning and when I checked on them around noon they were drenched! LOL They HATE the garden hose but don't mind the sprinkler and didn't seem bothered by the rain either. But when I pull out that garden hose they go running for cover! LOL

 

[pichuris]

Rain = entertainment. My chickens looked like a wet dog errrr wet chickens. LOL My two BO girls I had to do a double take because I didn't recognize them.They shrunk to half their normal size. I should have taken a picture because now they are all dried up and back to normal "size".

 

[Pozees]

Wendell, so happy to hear the good news! And great advice on cold temps, drafts and ventilation, I have also struggled with the best way to manage air flow in my new coop before I move the girls in. I will have ventilation at the long front and back where the metal roof creates space, but will also add a couple of high vents on the short side. I think I mentioned earlier, I plan to insulate, partly because there are too many spaces between boards but also because I want to try and keep it cooler in the summer heat.

My Sussex Sisters were 14 weeks last Saturday and one is beginning to redden noticeably, the rest not yet. I hope my tailless girls don't remain thus, tried to take pics a couple of times but was not successful at getting anything worthwhile. Monday and Tuesday evening my two older girls (RIR and Blue Cochin) were allowed to free range (first time) while I watered and they loved it - tonight when I came home they were, to coin a phrase, mad as wet hens that I would not let them out to play in the mud! None of them seemed the slightest bit bothered by the wetness in their runs and wanted out, but it was so late and so overcast I just didn't have time to stay out with them. I'll have to make it up to them tomorrow I guess

 

[TracieJS]

Thanks WK!

I understand and thats why i am worried - I am stuck with the coop I have which has the big window with te roosting bar in front of it and that's the roost they like best. Should I put the window in and cut holes somewhere else? Unfortunately it's just not tall enough I think there might be a draft wherever i put them. What about a turbine on top? The solid roof over the top of that pen is about 9 foot so I would have room and no rain/snow would get in? :/

 

[marlo1968]

Here are some pictures of Rosemary
Bought at Kiowa county store on April 20th,
they arrived that day.
I purchased an Amercauna,
rosemary is very sweet and will sit in my lap for cuddles,
her/his feathers have blue in the black sections.
puffy cheeks
free to good home

I know I'm 2 months behind but This little guy is totally a rooster. I have one just like him. Mine ended up with red on his shoulders, and a beautiful green sheen to those long tail feathers. I'm sure yours has also ended up this way, they look to be about the same age. Haven't read ahead any farther yet, hope he has found a great home. I've included a pic of my guy, Tim, on June 16th.

 

[wsmith]

Beth update:
The doctors have identified the source of her recurring infection. She has bacteria growing in the pleural fluid in her chest (which is also cancerous). This now takes precendence over all else. Chemo is on hold. Blood pressure is managed, but secondary. She is still in the Critical Care unit at Penrose main, but feels and looks great. We are still hoping she will get moved to a regular room, but it all depends on how things go. They will continue to treat the infection and looking for improvement in the bacterial part, and may end up doing surgery to clean it out within the next couple of days.
We appreciate everyones thoughts and prayers, and service. She thanks everyone for their love. I got her phone charged, but she can't connect to the internet at the hospital on her I-phone for some reason. I will get her on line via the laptop tomorrow and see if she will post something herself. She's stubborn..... , but we love her!

On a poultry note: Our female Narragensett turkey has flown the coop. Literally. She is missing. No feathers on the ground. We think she must have flown over the fence today sometime and wandered off. We will be doing a search tomorrow among the neighbors, but chances are she has become a meal for the area dogs or coyotes.