FLORIDA!!!!!ALWAYS SUNNY SIDE UP!!!

[BlueChick62]

Hello, Florida Friends!

I'm in Chiefland and we are expecting 25 degree weather tomorrow. I have Bantam Cochins, which are supposed to be cold weather hearty. My coop is small, but I'm worried about the cold weather, since the coop is almost totally open on one end. Other than close up the hardware cloth from drafts (was going to put a tarp over the coop) … should I do anything else?

A worried first winter, chicken-mom,
Teresa

As an aside… I have yet to get my first egg and my chickens are 28 weeks old. I hear Cochins are late layers.

 

[Gingersnap722]

I'm in Plant City, east of Tampa. I always just make sure there is no draft in the coop on cold nights. My girls and guys are always fine.

 

[cmom]

Hello, Florida Friends!

I'm in Chiefland and we are expecting 25 degree weather tomorrow. I have Bantam Cochins, which are supposed to be cold weather hearty. My coop is small, but I'm worried about the cold weather, since the coop is almost totally open on one end. Other than close up the hardware cloth from drafts (was going to put a tarp over the coop) … should I do anything else?

A worried first winter, chicken-mom,
Teresa

As an aside… I have yet to get my first egg

and my chickens are 28 weeks old. I hear Cochins are late layers.

I have a couple of coops that are open on one side too. I put tarps over the open sides. I also put netting over the pens because I had owls getting in and killing birds so when this picture was taken I had moved the birds to other coops and pens. I have had no problems with the cold weather with the birds. Now there are birds back in these coops and pens.

 

[BlueChick62]

Thanks, CMOM and Gingersnap. I'll tarp the coop tomorrow night. I'll have to take it off when I leave for work at 6:30 Wednesday morning, but the temp shouldn't stay that low for too long when the sun comes up!

 

[cmom]

Thanks, CMOM and Gingersnap. I'll tarp the coop tomorrow night. I'll have to take it off when I leave for work at 6:30 Wednesday morning, but the temp shouldn't stay that low for too long when the sun comes up!

I just left the tarp up a little off the ground and the birds go in and out of the coop under the tarp. If it wasn't dark out now I would go out and take a picture.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I just went out with my car headlights to take a picture. I just replaced the old tarps as they were getting rather tattered. I'll take a better picture tomorrow. By leaving the bottoms open I can go in and collect the eggs. I just leave them up instead of taking them off and then having to put them back up. We will be having more cold and also it keeps the rain out and their feed dry in their feeders.

 

[BlueChick62]

You're too sweet, CMOM! I wasn't going to tarp it tonight, but I can hear the wind howling. I think I will go tarp it! Thanks for the pic!

I just went out with my car headlights to take a picture. I just replaced the old tarps as they were getting rather tattered. I'll take a better picture tomorrow. By leaving the bottoms open I can go in and collect the eggs. I just leave them up instead of taking them off and then having to put them back up. We will be having more cold and also it keeps the rain out and their feed dry in their feeders.

 

[BlueChick62]

Not to be outdone by night shots, I just went out and tossed an old table cloth over the open end of my coop. The other end is closed up nicely with only a vent at the tip of the 'A' in the gable. It actually feels pretty nice out there right now! Tomorrow night will be a different story!

 

[Gingersnap722]

It does feel pretty good out there tonight. Tomorrow night, and especially Wednesday morning when I have to go let everyone out, I will be freeeeezing!!!!

 

[FL Crowing Hen]

I'm in Plant City, FL and sell roos and hens. Right now I have Phoenix, Buttercups, Golden Penciled Hamburgs and one Andalusian, all hens. I'll have Golden Laced Wyandottes, Black Sex Links, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, Easter Eggers, Buff Laced Polish and Golden Polish hens soon. I'm getting ready to hatch some out in the next month or so, so I know I'll have some roos for sale. All of the hens have been vaccinated for Marek's and Coccidiosis and are coming up on laying age. They are $20 each and the price is firm.

I am not ready just yet, but I will be interested in a Blue Andalusian Roo in the future. I will definitely check with you when I'm ready.