How Many Eggs Did You Get Today?

[BigBlueHen53]

Beautiful!

Thank you!

 

[Winderdear]

4 eggs today, from Juin, Marzo, Helmi and Brelly

 

[EmmaDonovan]

 

[thistlewick]

12 yesterday!

I gather my eggs in a basket and it just sits outside while I'm cleaning up the poop tables after I let them out.

Yesterday, Pudding (our most curious and friendliest pullet, who follows us around like a puppy, and will 100% just let us pick her up and definitely wants to come in the house...) decided she wanted to GET IN the basket with the eggs, and knocked them all over and fell out, and was so shocked she just stood there for a moment while I was "PUDDING!!! LOOK WHAT YOU DID!!!" lolol


One broke and so actually it was just 11 that made it. BAH!

 

[MargieG]

I know "cold" weather really depends on where you live. I live in northern Minnesota, and our current temps have been down to -29F the last few nights, with a high yesterday of -11F. I have an unheated coop and don't use any kind of heating lamps.

Your chickens should be able to handle temps in the lower teens. They have a body temperature of 105F and can fluff up their feathers to keep warm. Just make sure you don't have any drafts coming up from below them when they roost.



You can try something like a Cozy Coop panel heater...

View attachment 4033337

I bought one when I first got my chickens, but I will admit that I have never used it. The year before I got my backyard chickens, we had some severe low temps down to -40F for over a week. That stressed out a lot of chickens and many chicken owners suffered big losses due to the extend low temps. Our local Fleet store sold out on those Cozy Coop heaters that winter, and I bought one too in anticipation of getting my first flock that spring. They are supposed to be very safe for use inside the coop.

Having said that, I have never used my heating panel. I think most cold weather losses occur because of freezing water, which results in the chickens eating less, at the very time they need to consume more because they are burning off so much body heat. If you have fresh water available 24/7, you would probably be much better off than trying to heat the coop for a few days.

Because of where I live and our long winters, I bought a metal chicken waterer and metal heater base...

View attachment 4033341

At any rate, I would suggest investing in some kind of heated water fount before getting any heating lamps or panels.

That's nice. We have solved last year the water issue. We're using an aquarium heater, that keeps the water warm enough not to freeze. I have bought the heated panel, will install it this coming weekend, this past week I had the heated lamp. However, reading your -40F temp I'm not sure I should really worry about our 10F LOL . Still no eggs but the days are getting longer so hopefully the will resume production soon. Thank you for your suggestions!

 

[Knobby]

4 chicken, 2 duck this morning

 

[SkyAJK]

2 eggs yesterday.....

 

[gtaus]

However, reading your -40F temp I'm not sure I should really worry about our 10F LOL .

Well, that was my point. If you have decided to add extra heating for your chickens, then I would say to keep the heat on through the winter months. From what I understand, if you suddenly take away heat from chickens that are used to it, you might overstress the chickens.

My chickens have weeks and weeks of cooling weather before we get into the dead of winter. I don't know if they grow extra warm feathers, but they seem to fluff up to about twice their normal size.

I wonder if a person adds extra heat in the coop if those new feathers after a molt don't come in as thick and warm?

In any case, I think the most important thing is to have fresh water available 24/7. If the aquarium heater works for you where you live, that's great. I know some people have success with heated dog bowls. Neither of those options would work where I live when we hit the dead of winter.

 

[akroberts1085]

2 yesterday and 4 today

 

[Ponypoor]

22 egg, one obviously broke and messed up two eggs, one is a soft shelled membrane only egg, and one seems to be from my OEGB bantam.

19 eggs, the 2 messy ones and the softshelled one will be enjoyed by the elderly ladies in the morning.

17 eggs are added to the dozens and dozens in the fridge.