East RIver - South Dakota

[SouthDakotan]

Thought I would post (been a while) and see what my fellow South Dakotans are doing for winterizing their coops and what sorts of projects they have done this summer in reference to their birds.

For me --

1- Built a new Pigeon coop. Move then turkeys into the old pigeon coon and am building a new hen house, which will open up the old hen house for the ducks.






2- I've started using wood chip pellets for bedding in my coops. Instead of buying the expensive livestock bedding pellets, I'm just using some of our heating wood pellets. I can get hardwood or softwood pellets (I choose softwood) for my poultry. Sure saves on my bedding!

3- I'm working still to build some solar pop-can collectors for my coops which I hope to have mounted before winter really gets going.

4- I am using the sheeting insulation (blue foam stuff) on the exteriors of my coops, then covering it with new siding. Hoping this will help keep everyone cozy warm over winter.


5- I am collecting more cardboard boxes (bigger the better) to once again do the snow-barrier for them. It gave them a place to stand where they weren't directly on the snow & they seemed to love it last winter.

 

[TheChicknShack]

Wow, you have been busy on the coops! I built a small solar furnace as you suggested and Wow, those things do work well. Thank you! We have also been busy building and growing our flock. If you know anyone who works at 3M, they can get you cardboard.

 

[julie42a]

I'm working on winter too, I decided to use sand in my coop and run so I had 2 tons delivered and am slowly but surely moving it from my driveway to the run and coop. My goal is to have it be six inches deep throughout. I'm amazed how much warmer it already is in my coop at night. I still need to staple up some foam insulation, figure out where to put some more ventilation, figure out what I want to use for a waterer, and put some plastic on the run to create a windbreak.
I'm wondering about adding heat? I'm thinking up here there will probably be days when extra heat will be necessary, but I'm not sure what to use.

 

[jessicaagross]

Hi, I live just outside of Yankton! This will be my fourth winter here, I'm originally from the south east, so much warmer winters. I've had chickens most of my life, but it's a fun challenge to have them in such a different climate.

Any special over winter tips for the birds? I believe this will only be my second winter with birds up here. I was last winter was abnormally cold? I feel terrible, but some of the chickens had frostbite on combs and waddles, a couple who lost a toe too. One hen stood in a puddle from a overflowing horse bucket and actually got stuck. I had to thaw her out with warm water, but she lost most of her toes.

I felt terrible! I kept waiting to see if she needed to be put down this past spring, but she was lively as ever, even without toes. She still perches, lays eggs and unsuccessfully tries to scratch.

I have made quite a few improvements this year, like water nipples instead of open water, and I'm going to keep them confined in a yard/coop all winter, and I'm going to board up a couple of the windows for less of a draft... I'm also trying to grow fodder for fun.

Any and all tips will be considered and appreciated! Good to know I have BYC friends up here in South Dakota!

 

[SD Bird Lady]

Sorry for the late response. I'm about 60miles west of you. Last year was much colder than normal but warmer winters usually have much more snow so its kind of a double edge sword. Sounds like you have a pretty good handle on winter. I have seen where some people put cheap shower curtains on a couple of the run walls to block the wind and I may try that this year. This is only my third winter with birds but I've lived here my entire life.

 

[mystry]

Hello all. I'm in Winfred. (East River) I have Muscovies and Guineas. It's kinda early but I might be interested in a few more of either this spring.

 

[julie42a]

So far things up here in Brown County are going pretty well, despite the crazy cold November. I put up insulation on the ceiling of my shed, and contractor plastic around my run. I have a heat lamp on the ceiling and a small flat panel heater in there with the girls, and a heated dog dish for their water. I also stacked a few straw bales on the outside of the North wall to block the wind and add some extra insulation. On the below zero days I've covered a couple of the vents and hung a blanket over the doors where there's a space. They seem to be acclimating fairly well to the temps, as I've needed much less heat now that it's warmer. They're totally freaked out by snow though, I've tried to let them out into the yard on warmer days because they pick at each other a little when they're confined and they are just not having it! Finally some has melted so they can see grass and they ventured out yesterday, but it's going to be a long winter for them if they don't get used to the white stuff!

 

[mystry]

Mine won't come out of the building when it's cold. The last few days have been nicer and they have been trying to make up for their absense in the neighborhood. lol But I have a heat lamp in there, the guineas sit under it and the ducks around them so they're insulated well.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

Mine are out in about any weather. Except a couple gals in late, very hard, molts. I'm anxious to see what tonight has in store for us. I wouldn't mind a white Christmas.

 

[mystry]

Mine have not molted yet. I got them this summer so I don't know if it's too early or not?