Illinois...

[Molpet]

I was panning to process my turkey hens) last weekend. The weather was cold, it started to snow, and we were given a turkey from a friend. So, the turkeys got to stay another week. I doubt they mind. In fact, today they got some leftover green beans, dressing, cranberry sauce, & veggie tray. (No turkey since we try to avoid cannibalism.) My dad was joking that I was "doing it wrong" and "trying to stuff them while still alive".

I hope everyone had a great time visiting with friends & family today.

Dec 1st is when my relatives are having turkey day. So it was 45f here and I processed a couple of cockerels... I have gotten some weird looking testicles out of some of these boys this year , not sure why / discolored testicle in heritage mix... cause?

 

[webbysmeme]

First time chicken owners naturally worry. Just make sure that chickens are dry during winter and out of drafty windy areas.
Straw as run bedding is good because it does not absorb water as hay will. You may find some at Cement Supply locations. Contractors use it to cover the cement as it cures in winter.
As long as chickens have food and fresh water, they will show you that they are hardier than you thought.

I have a question. I need to know about molting? I went away for a couple of weeks, my husband put a heat lamp in the coop. I know they don't need it, I did my research, I got good, cold hardy girls.
When I got home, my beautiful Mrs. Red had no feathers all around her neck and down her chest. Is that molting? She looks pitiful Did the heat lamp cause it? Since they've had the lamp, can we just take it away? I'm just sick about my beauty.
I did have time to fix hubby and I a very good dinner. And he even helped clean up! I hope you all had a nice day with family and friends. We prefer to stay close to home on holidays, if the kids don't want to come, it's their loss

 

[cavemanrich]

Not sure if the heat lamp had anything to do with it..
It did not get anywhere near for adding any supplemental heat yet.
In my opinion, if it was like below ZERO degrees F. and you placed a heat source to bring it up to +15*F , then it would be OK. You don't want a large temperature difference/swing from outdoor to inside coop.
Turn off heat source and let chickens hardy up/acclimate to the cooling temps.
Make sure your ventilation is sufficient. If not sure, then read up some threads associated with VENTILATION. Ventilation is key to successful winter chicken housing.

 

[Justso]

I have a question. I need to know about molting? I went away for a couple of weeks, my husband put a heat lamp in the coop. I know they don't need it, I did my research, I got good, cold hardy girls.
When I got home, my beautiful Mrs. Red had no feathers all around her neck and down her chest. Is that molting? She looks pitiful Did the heat lamp cause it? Since they've had the lamp, can we just take it away? I'm just sick about my beauty.
I did have time to fix hubby and I a very good dinner. And he even helped clean up! I hope you all had a nice day with family and friends. We prefer to stay close to home on holidays, if the kids don't want to come, it's their loss

I've had some pretty naked chickens this year too. I think you would be just fine with taking the heat away, they find ways to keep each other warm. Our weather really hasn't been that cold, either.
I noticed my most naked chicken has been crawling into the nesting box at night. Everyone is on the mend now though!
They sure are in misery today with the rain.

 

[Faraday40]

I've got a little of everything going on inside my coop these days.

1. Hawks have been camping in our backyard, so chickens are locked up - but safe. (Finding remains of other small wildlife in the grass)
2. Molting feathers everywhere. Even a few March pullets (who laid a couple eggs) stopped laying and decided to molt. All the hens are in different stages of molt. Some are done & look fantastic - others just starting the process. Mr Wonderful looks like Mr Pathetic.
3. Two hens are broody. Not much egg laying going on, so I guess the broodys decided to take over the nest boxes. Why do they insist on doing it in the winter???
4. My "useless bantams" have become my strongest layers. How did that happen?
5. The turkeys are still here. i didn't want to leave them in the tractor during the storm (only has a 1/2 roof) , so they're sleeping with the chickens tonight.

 

[Molpet]

Had a coopers hawk flying next to the chicken run. It was twisting through the trees and when I looked higher there was a red tail chasing it

The turkeys have been eating the molting feathers, so just wing and tail feathers around. And the Chipmunks have been after them. I have been getting about a half dz eggs a day... Thankfully the last broody hatched Sept 30

 

[cavemanrich]

Does this describe activity among your trees.

 

[BReeder!]

Had a coopers hawk flying next to the chicken run. It was twisting through the trees and when I looked higher there was a red tail chasing it

The turkeys have been eating the molting feathers, so just wing and tail feathers around. And the Chipmunks have been after them. I have been getting about a half dz eggs a day... Thankfully the last broody hatched Sept 30

I am jealous. My 7 girls are only providing 1 egg every 2 days right now. It is pitiful. I had to buy eggs Thanksgiving morning. It seems that all the hens are molting or just going into winter no egg mode but 1. I have decided against supplementing light in the coop and am hoping to avoid heating the coop as well.

 

[Molpet]

Does this describe activity among your trees.
View attachment 1599814

Yes

 

[Molpet]

I am jealous. My 7 girls are only providing 1 egg every 2 days right now. It is pitiful. I had to buy eggs Thanksgiving morning. It seems that all the hens are molting or just going into winter no egg mode but 1. I have decided against supplementing light in the coop and am hoping to avoid heating the coop as well.

one coop has 12 girls and I get 2 eggs every other day
Another coop has 8 hens and 2 eggs from them
The big coop has been giving 4 eggs... not sure how many hens are in there