- Jan 26, 2014
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Hi,
I live in northern Michigan and received some chickens/peacocks from a friend who was moving in December. I have 6 Americauna's and 2 peacocks. Despite the temperatures being btw -10 and 10 degrees daily for the last few weeks, I'm still getting eggs every day. They are eating good, drinking good, and seem well. I have been reading on a few blogs (trying to get some more chicken education under my belt) and I'm concerned by coop may be adding to the problem of moisture/frostbite potential. Please help me! I don't see black frostbit yet but since I was reading about all this last night, I looked at my hens this am and a few of their combs are very pale/whiter in color. Is that the start of frostbite? My coop is 6x9 with pine shavings. I know I do have some moisture in there b/c the door/window has frozen/frost on the inside. I have one red lamp that I keep on. My water bucket is a 2 gal bucket that is heated. Besides their door to go out to the run, there is no other air getting in. Its constructed from pole barn siding, is off the ground, and has a 9 foot ceiling for the peacocks. Its not insulated, just the metal sides and a glass door with a window. Even with the lamp on I don't feel a significant change in temp besides being out of the wind, but I do have front on the inside.I have read that I need to add another vent. Any suggestions? The door has a window I could crack a smidge too? I have one hen who is missing a few feathers but she came like that to me in early Dec and I think its actually getting better. I also have read that I should not provide heat...which I did b/c I felt bad for them...but regardless, if I need to stop using the light b/c of the moisture how do I do that in this cold of temp with out stressing them out? Do I shot it off for a few hours a day and gradually get longer and longer...? I should tell you I feed a mash and a little scratch once a day.
Thanks, I'm open for help!
jp
I live in northern Michigan and received some chickens/peacocks from a friend who was moving in December. I have 6 Americauna's and 2 peacocks. Despite the temperatures being btw -10 and 10 degrees daily for the last few weeks, I'm still getting eggs every day. They are eating good, drinking good, and seem well. I have been reading on a few blogs (trying to get some more chicken education under my belt) and I'm concerned by coop may be adding to the problem of moisture/frostbite potential. Please help me! I don't see black frostbit yet but since I was reading about all this last night, I looked at my hens this am and a few of their combs are very pale/whiter in color. Is that the start of frostbite? My coop is 6x9 with pine shavings. I know I do have some moisture in there b/c the door/window has frozen/frost on the inside. I have one red lamp that I keep on. My water bucket is a 2 gal bucket that is heated. Besides their door to go out to the run, there is no other air getting in. Its constructed from pole barn siding, is off the ground, and has a 9 foot ceiling for the peacocks. Its not insulated, just the metal sides and a glass door with a window. Even with the lamp on I don't feel a significant change in temp besides being out of the wind, but I do have front on the inside.I have read that I need to add another vent. Any suggestions? The door has a window I could crack a smidge too? I have one hen who is missing a few feathers but she came like that to me in early Dec and I think its actually getting better. I also have read that I should not provide heat...which I did b/c I felt bad for them...but regardless, if I need to stop using the light b/c of the moisture how do I do that in this cold of temp with out stressing them out? Do I shot it off for a few hours a day and gradually get longer and longer...? I should tell you I feed a mash and a little scratch once a day.
Thanks, I'm open for help!
jp