Euskal Oiloa ( Basque Thread)

[skylinepoultry]

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Claire would have to answer you about harsh cold temperment. The Tennessee cold doesn't phase my birds. Confinement is excellent! They are extremely rare in the States. I'm starting a waiting list for hatching eggs Late august and middle september. the Marraduna Basque are my favorite #1 breed and I've got close to 40 breeds thus far. They are the total package in my own personal opinion.

 

[skylinepoultry]

Quote:
Thanks susanC. Ill be drawing up plans for people to copy all my designs late this year. Where do you live?

 

[SusanC]

I'm from Saskatchewan, Canada, so we have even colder temps than Claire -45 degrees Celsius is not uncommon here on cold nights. I keep heat lamps in all of my very well insulated coops. I also use a deep litter system that starts to compost and release heat. I haven't had any frost bitten, but the do have high single combs, so need extra protection.

 

[Pony Trotsky]

That's great! Thank you, SusanC.

I'm in Maine - cold, but rarely that cold. (And yes, it was the comb I was worried about.)

I love the idea of a bird that's pretty, personable and an energetic forager. They sound like a real pleasure to have around!

 

[skylinepoultry]

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WOW! 45- below.. Have you seen that movie grown ups?

 

[SusanC]

And don't forget. That's Celsius, not Fahrenheit! I haven't seen that movie.

 

[skylinepoultry]

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That's nutz!. 114- fahrenheit. I can't fathom being in that kind of cold. I can barely handle 20- fahrenheit

 

[SusanC]

Its a whole lotta fun (not) and in summer, we can hit plus 45 degrees Celsius!

 

[skylinepoultry]

Quote:
I don't think I converted that right did I. What is -45 celcius in Fahremheit.. your summers hit 100's?

 

[Skeffling Lavender Farm]

Hi Guys, gorgeous pictures and chickens. I think Sarge is awesome. He is definitely keeping an eye out. Susan, your birds are growing so fast and lovely. I remember when we were just talking about them even existing at Christmastime!

Sorry, I am away from home working and will be for the next 6 weeks at least so a lot less posting

and dropped my regular laptop on it's side, before I left, breaking the power charger plug in so I can't charge the battery and now they won't send the ones I ordered on ebay because of the Canadapost mail strike

So am now stuck with motel wireless internet with my netbook that crashed in March, hard drive was replaced and I've spent all my free time in the last 2 days installing and downloading programs and and trying in vain to remember all my passwords! Guess I'm lucky I had the spare and so glad I do! The chick pics I took the other day are on the other computer of course, but they really show the brownish feathers coming in on the back so I get two pullets!

I'll post them in a few weeks plus any others! The EO website is coming along, still more to do....

Sounds like we need to visit the breeds area on BYC and wow them! These really are the package. I love the way they are the first ones to come running in the mixed flock

We got to about -30*C this winter and I gave no extra heat to these guys. The roo in the breeding pen was in a less sheltered area of the open downstairs of the barn and did lose his points to frostbite, but his fertility was sky high all winter, from Jan to May when we let everyone loose. The other 2 roos that were further from the huge open barn door door never had any frostbite and all the coops have a minimum 2 feet by 6 feet wire mesh open area "window" as I believe they need air and helps keep the moisture down. Wish I'd had the other roo in a more sheltered spot, but I will know for next time and this was an extra cold winter for us. One of those 2 roos (Speckled Jim) that has no frostbite is 3 and has never had any extra heat in his winter quarters and he just lost the very tips the first year as that year it was colder at -25*C coldest.

I agree on the housing Skyline. I have been reading a lot of hen house building blogs lately and have started one myself and anytime I see a cheap ramshackle one, I tell them get good welded wire, not chicken wire. Better to do that and get plywood or recycled wood off kijiji and craigslist than have something get your chickens 'cos you cheaped out on the wire! Your pens look and sound great! We have to go with smaller welded wire squares 1" or so, so the weasels don't get them and raccoons love chicken up here too. Sound like you have some chicken palaces there!