First Winter coming up! Advice appreciated!

[Kme21]

Hi Everyone!

I'm new here and new to having chickens! We bought 4 broilers and 4 Rhode Island Reds in March. Two broilers died from heart attacks as chicks, one died as he was walking down the ramp (tripped and broke his neck.), and our last sweet broiler (Hooch) is free ranging, laying eggs, and living her best life.

We bought an egg layer variety in June and 4 ended up being roosters. They are fighting and it's not healthy for the rest of the chicks.

My two questions are:

1. We plan to cover our run in plastic/tarp for the winter to prevent snow from getting in and to keep in a little warmer. Hooch can't walk down a ramp (too big and uncoordinated). She's healthy and we love her and would like to make an accessible ramp for her to enter and leave the coop safely. The coop is about 4 feet off of the ground.

2. How young is too young to kill the roosters? Do we keep one who seems to be "in charge"? They are a little over 3 months old. Do we eat them?

I really appreciate it if you made it this far. Ha!

Thanks so much!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Where are you located? Be careful you don't enclose things too much and you end up with a moisture build up. You also don't want stuff heating up in the day time sun than plunging down in temperatures at night. Chickens can handle cold pretty well. A dry chicken is a warm chicken.

You definitely want some wind breaks, and to provide deeper bedding.

I'm unsure how to make that high of a ramp easier, maybe steps?

You can butcher males as young as you want. I personally start by removing the most bold ones. They are often the troublemakers.

 

[alexa009]

Broilers should definitely be culled at least 12 weeks of age. They will live a short lifespan which is why yours died of a heart attack.

 

[RWise]

What are your plans for the future? Will you want to hatch chicks? If yes then select and keep one roo,,, if no then you really dont need him. I start butchering @12 weeks,,,
In the winter I hang a curtain over the north end of the coop to block some wind. Chickens handle cold better than hot.

 

[Kme21]

Thanks everyone! I came up with a ramp plan last night and think we will be butchering all of the roosters!

 

[Trux]

Hi there and glad you joined our flock. You will get better advise for your climate if you add your general location to your profile. If I have cockerels I usually send them to freezer camp at 12 to 13 weeks. They're still tender enough at that age that you don't need to pressure cook them or cook them all day in a crock pot to make them edible. Also pics of your coop will help as to your question of ramp and coverings. There are many experienced keepers here and visual aids always gets you the best advice Once again welcome and enjoy your time here

 

[Kme21]

A little more information!

We are in northwest Iowa, our roosters are 3 silkies and one Rhode Island red.

I added a picture of our coop. This is before it was done and I don't have an after picture, but a ramp from the door down would be what I need! I'm thinking a gentle zig zag ramp maybe? Our broiler is healthy and a great walker but I am worried about her being able to get back up into the coop if she gets cold.

 

[Mrs. K]

What you have is great ventilation. The number one mistake that new chicken people make is wanting their chickens to be warm in the winter. But what you should want is your chickens to be dry. Dry chickens are warm chickens. Good ventilation above their heads is what you need to pull out the wet moist laden air. Don't block that up.

A wind block in the run area, so chickens can get outside, but be out of the wind. Often times the difference in temperature, when one walks out of the wind, but still in the sunshine is amazing. Chickens that have that stay outside more, and that is good for them in the day time.

I would want a run attached.

MRs K

 

[Kme21]

We have a 16x22 attached run just not pictured! Thanks for the advice!