Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Oh, don’t worry! I don’t think anyone or anything could ever ruin snow for me! It’s such a beautiful wonder down here!
I did live with lots of it in Colorado in my 20s but that was for such a short time but I loved it! Especially the silence!
It’s only snowed 5 times in my lifetime here and I’m almost 56! It’s sad!

I’ll send you lots and lots

But you have to send me some warmth I’m return ok?

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

So I have something planned. New DVC nest boxes will have to be made, because the old ones had bad designs, such as no vents, no shields to keep bedding in, and no way to clean them properly. I will make new ones next weekend.

 

[SimpleJenn]

I got my Murray McMurray catalog in the mail yesterday. I'm so glad I am still ga-ga in love with my 5 pullets! I don't have any room for more chickens right now. Not even if Widget goes broody and wants to raise some chicks. Not even if I fall in love with another breed.

So... I will page through the catalog and sigh wistfully.

I got mine too! And kiddo has already asked about getting "pompom" chickens. I told her that daddy is in charge of the money and I don't think he'll say yes this spring. We have to expand our run already!
Although we could expand the coop out fairly easily......no! Bad Jenn! No chicken math!

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

I got my Murray McMurray catalog in the mail yesterday. I'm so glad I am still ga-ga in love with my 5 pullets! I don't have any room for more chickens right now. Not even if Widget goes broody and wants to raise some chicks. Not even if I fall in love with another breed.

So... I will page through the catalog and sigh wistfully.

I didn't get mine yet!
even though I want my hens to go broody or incubate eggs, not buy more Stormfeathers and Nightfeathers

 

[notabitail]

I'm lucky because when I was just a little kid, and my sister was in the house, the same thing happened to me. I used to eat "quite a lot" as my parents say, and I ended up just the same
(And my sister was, like, 4 years older than me, so even worse.....)

I'm older than my sister. So at least I have a advantage.

 

[featherhead007]

About bedding, I buy a bundle of shavings from tractor supply company, and cut away all the plastic wrapping. I let the chooks decide where they want to put all of it.
My chooks are very good at decorating their coop and I can’t argue with that.

 

[Desertvalleychickens]

Yep..... In the time that I have these chickens, I may be hatching Dominique crosses, Buff Orpington crosses, Barred Crosses, Light Brahma crosses.....

Where is DVC going????

Tax:

 

[BY Bob]

There is a grey and overcast sky today.

I can't be outside because I'm still ill here and waiting for a call from a locum doctor because our surgery is closed. I just can't beat this cold on my chest.

But princess has been fed and had has some treats. She's been out and about bless her. She's been making the best of things

Yesterday's picture coming up

View attachment 3718662

I sure hope you feel better soon.

 

[BY Bob]

I’ve read a *majority* of Bob’s thread… but have to admit this isn’t ringing any bells. Dare I ask what happened? Was it related to shipping chicks?

It was awful. Go back to August 3rd of 2021 and you can follow the story. It was around then.

 

[Ponypoor]

As long as they have a draft free place - and in that case, well ventilated but not tons of space per chicken - they help keep each other warm.

So, good HIGH ventilation, without drafts and they should be okay. If it is really windy, too, try to add some supplemental heat. I don't have electricity at my coop, so if it is really nasty, I take a 5 gallon and fill it with hot, hot water. Wrap it in corrugated cardboard...and put it in the coop as a mild heat source. It helps some!

As a last resort, some people find a place in their house or garage to move the chickens to if their coop isn't set up for that level of cold, or if they are molting or sick or whatever. Cellars would work well if you have one - cooler than the rest of the house, but not frigid, and easy enough to put shavings down or an old sheet to make for easy clean-up, and a step ladder or a 2x4 on cinder blocks or something serves fine as a temporary roost....a cardboard box with shavings or an old towel serves as an acceptable next box.

Chickens are pretty hardy and cold tolerant as long as they have a draft free shelter......best of luck figuring it out for yur circumstances!

I have found that they do handle cold better than heat. And it’s always easier to add heat than the cool the coop down.