Idaho?

[Daloorashens]

Crossing my fingers for the marans from pawtraitart for their dark colored eggs=) wish I lived by Caldwell, I'd be passing by Dunlap most likely!!

 

[Freechicken]

Hi all! We are new to Idaho Falls and new to chickens, building our first coop and run this week. I have a question for all the locals here- I've heard that winters here can get pretty nasty and I can already see that wind is a big factor as well. Do you think it is necessary to insulate the coop? Thanks!

Greg and Sharon

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

I do not think it is necessary to insulate----i throw a heat lamp in mine to turn on if it is subzero (I think they would still be fine, lots do not do this.....but they can sit right under the heat if they want, the insulation not needed.....I do think it is important however to provide a windbreak in the run area during the winter----and our run is covered on top year round which helps alot, if not covered then it gets muddy and icy and then they go in the coop with mud caked on their legs and the eggs/nests get muddy.....messy. SInce we covered ours the dirt stays fluffy and they are much happier. In the winter we staple plastic up on the south and west sides of the run for a windbreak, plus it keeps snow from blowing in and piling up in the run.

Welcome to BYC Freechicken!!

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

Daloorashens I love that you have 18 chickens lol

woops looks like 19 haha

 

[thebirdguy]

Hi all! We are new to Idaho Falls and new to chickens, building our first coop and run this week. I have a question for all the locals here- I've heard that winters here can get pretty nasty and I can already see that wind is a big factor as well. Do you think it is necessary to insulate the coop? Thanks!

Greg and Sharon

As long as they can get out of the wind and the wet (and are out during the summer and fall to gradually acclimate to cold temps) they will be fine. The cold won't hurt them at all, it is when they get wet that the cold and wind will be a problem.

Best of luck and welcome to BYC!! We need more good members in Idaho Falls.. If you need any chickens.. let me know.. LOL

 

[Daloorashens]

Ha ha Casa, yes, right now I have 19 chickens... .but actually only 3 of them could actually be defined as a 'hen' (that is if you go by the definition that they are a hen at 1 year of age) all the rest are pullets and chicks of unidentified gender=) But, yes, unless the coop at Mom's can be expanded tremendously, some of them will need to find new homes.... Chicken anyone, lol!!

and welcome Freechicken!! I had chickens when I was younger, and they did fine as long as they could get out of the wind and not get wet... if it got really, really cold (way below zero) I would hang a lamp out there with them... admittedly, some winters I lost chickens, but they were always the old ones (5-6 years old) since I kept them till the end...

The coop we built here this spring is a lot better (tighter, better roof, not at all drafty) than the one I had when I was younger... I suspect they'll be fine this winter....

 

[JoLeneh]

Hi, I'm real new at BYC my sister has given me 6 silkies that are 5 weeks old and 1 that is 10 weeks old. Then on her way to IF she picked up 2 polish, 2 Wyandotte, 2 Ameraucanas then she picked up 6 eggs 3 road Island red, 3 Ameraucanas. At this time I have the chickens in the garage I'm not sure how old they need to be to be outside full time. are you in IF?

 

[JoLeneh]

I might have some, I'm also in IF.

 

[Daloorashens]

Jolene, your 10wk old chick should be ok outside, it should be feathered, right?? My 5 week old chicks I've been taking outside during the day and putting them back in the garage at night, except these past few days that were super cold, they stayed in the garage with the light, especially last night.... Jolene, you're Hattie's sister, right?? I got some of the Ameraucanas from her, too, I live in Ammon...

 

[JoLeneh]

Yes I am Hattie's sister, I feel so lost without her. I have had the older chicks outside some, on the warm days and in the garage at night with the light also . I guess I just need to do more research on these cute chicks . I'm worried about knowing how to tell if any are roosters. My limit is 6 hens so I will have to thin some out, that will be hard for sure. hope to meet you one day.