Consolidated Kansas

[Trish44]

@Stardustrose just make sure not to make things too airtight, air circulation is absolutely essential or the ammonia builds up in the coop & it can cause respiratory problems & thus death. I leave some air moving in my main layer coop all winter. I usually close the north windows on it but leave the south ones open a little & there are vents open all year round plus the window on the people door is always open. I may even leave the chicken door open as well this year since I do have tarps all around the run. The only part that doesn't have a tarp or plastic is the door to the run.

 

[Stardustrose]

@Stardustrose just make sure not to make things too airtight, air circulation is absolutely essential or the ammonia builds up in the coop & it can cause respiratory problems & thus death. I leave some air moving in my main layer coop all winter. I usually close the north windows on it but leave the south ones open a little & there are vents open all year round plus the window on the people door is always open. I may even leave the chicken door open as well this year since I do have tarps all around the run. The only part that doesn't have a tarp or plastic is the door to the run.

Thanks Trish. We have a small window at the top that I leave open and we also put in another round vent at the top across from it, plus the roof on the edge has a small opening on both sides. We are only insulating the thinner walls. The plastic will be around the sides and front, the back is up by the garage and the coop main door I'm leaving uncovered. I'm hoping this will be enough circulation for her. I would feel awful if she died because of something I did.

 

[chicken danz]

@Stardustrose , hay will mold if it gets wet. Well lots of stuff will, but hay tends to more easily than straw or shavings. Feel free to ask any questions you have. There's a lot of experience on this thread even though Trish and myself seem to post more than most of us older members. Ralph Moyer pops in now and then and he too has lots of experience.
I advise people to search answers on veterinarian or university sites rather than a random search like on BYC. The problem with forums is that so much is based on "he said, she said" and old wives tales rather than true experience. Forums are great but you have to weed through a ton of answers to find the truth. The one thing that is a positive is that you can get varying opinions and chose which makes the most logical sense.
I love the fact that you are putting so much care into taking care of your chicken. It shows you really do care about her as a creature.

 

[Trish44]

I agree with Danz, hay is not good bedding, it molds easily & isn't healthy. Hay is for food & straw is for bedding. I do use straw in my outside pens just because it is cheaper & goes further since I have so many pens to put it in. I use it in the winter for some insulation for the chickens from the cold ground. However, in my main laying coop & my breeder coop I use pine shavings. They hold up much better to moisture from droppings & can be turned over to do the deep litter method just adding fresh as needed. I do that in my coops & will clean them out again in Spring. The chickens will scratch through it as well & mix it up but I like to stir it up also to make sure there aren't spots that are getting packed down & wet. There are a lot of things you learn as you go along with chickens, some work out & some don't. We all had to learn at one time & still learn new things every day.

 

[Stardustrose]

Thank you danz and Trish. I'm using pine shavings in her tray area, but the nesting area I have straw. I've been lucky so far, she seems to only poop outside of her coop area where she sleeps. I'm going to have to google around for a Vet site to read up more on how to take care of chickens. I never thought I would love having a chicken, actually I would like another one, just not sure if that will eventually be a problem, since she was given back to me because of her bullying with the other chicken, ducks and guinea. Anyway I find her relaxing to me and enjoy having her.

 

[chicken danz]

Very simply there is little to know about caring for a chicken. Fresh water, a balanced food, some grit, some calcium, and some fresh produce now and then especially in winter when she can't get any naturally. Never give a chicken citrus, avocados, raw green tomatoes or potatoes. Cooked potatoes are fine. Never give them moldy or spoiled food. Black oil sunflower seeds or meal worms are great treats. Too many meal worms will cause diarrhea though because they are very high in protein.
Any time you introduce one chicken to any others there is going to be a pecking order. It's usually only something that lasts a day or two and rarely results in injury. Choosing a breed with the same type disposition always helps.
Any time you have problems be sure to ask. We can always help

 

[Plinky]

Hello Folks, I know many of you chicken people are also duck keepers. I'm seeking duck advice for some friends of ours. A few months ago they got 5 ducklings locally. All have apparently turned out to be males. I would assume that 5 males could/should not be kept together. The breed is Swedish something. They consider them pets so Peking Duck is out of the question. Ideas? Advice? Thanks!

 

[chicken danz]

Male ducks are fine together. Not at all violent toward each other like some animals. However it looks like someone scammed them by selling them all males. Regardless ducks are great pets and wonderful bug eaters so it's not a total loss.

 

[Trish44]

I have 3 male ducks in my group & they really don't fight either. I have two female ducks that for some reason fight but the males seem to get along fine.

 

[Trish44]

Boy it's quiet here. Has everyone all winterized & ready for winter? I have done about all I can other than adding a little more straw in pens but I sure dread the severe cold. Winter is my very least favorite time of year for sure & having chickens & other animals to go out & care for makes it even more so. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone & have a safe holiday!