International Black Copper Marans Thread - Breeding to the SOP

[KF0002]

But when it slips below -30°F, even the marans seek extra heat... I also have some radiant panel heaters that pop on below zero sitting at roosting level.

Wow that sounds really nice. Where do you purchase those? Are they for outdoor use? I would like to put something like that out for my dogs. They don't like coming indoors.

 

[KF0002]

I want to move but my husband is not someone that likes change so we will probably be here forever. I don't like winter at all!

I don't like winter either. We are probably stuck here in Kentucky as well, hubby and I have no desire to live anywhere else. Our winters are pretty mild though, nothing like yours or @Bantambird 's! Bless your hearts!

 

[marchick]

But when it slips below -30°F, even the marans seek extra heat... I also have some radiant panel heaters that pop on below zero sitting at roosting level.

Can you post pictures and information on your panel heaters?

 

[Bantambird]

The radiant heat panels are simple infrared heaters, there are lots of brands of those, I even use a sweeter heater for my baby brooder. To regulate the heaters so they aren't always on, we use a thermocube. It's got a thermometer built in, and you plug your heaters into it. The circuit completes when it gets below zero and turns on the heaters.

 

[KF0002]

I have to with the cream legbars, those birds are wimps!

They thrive fairly well in my climate, aside from frostbitten combs. Quite a few of them even roost in the trees all throughout winter despite having a cozy hen house to sleep in. Live and let live. I imagine their big combs suffer greatly in Montana though.

 

[marchick]

They thrive fairly well in my climate, aside from frostbitten combs. Quite a few of them even roost in the trees all throughout winter despite having a cozy hen house to sleep in. Live and let live. I imagine their big combs suffer greatly in Montana though.

It's cold enough here no way I could ever live in Montana.

 

[KF0002]

The radiant heat panels are simple infrared heaters, there are lots of brands of those, I even use a sweeter heater for my baby brooder. To regulate the heaters so they aren't always on, we use a thermocube. It's got a thermometer built in, and you plug your heaters into it. The circuit completes when it gets below zero and turns on the heaters.

Wow that is really smart! I may have to give that a try! I didn't know such a device existed. That would be good for our chick brooders, as sometimes in early spring the nights are cold but the days are warm. On nights I work and come home to sleep during the day, sometimes by the time I get out to them it is hot in the building. I could set it so it just comes on at night and shuts off when it warms up during the day.

 

[Bantambird]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ADUKRO/?tag=backy-20
That's the thermocube, and we use something similar to this in the coop, mounted on the side of the roost www.chewy.com/cozy-products-flat-panel-chicken-coop/dp/169440
I like these for chicks, but they are an investment, but the turkeys seem to have a much higher survival rate when brooder with infrared heaters versus heat lamps, because poults are completely clueless at hatch https://www.sweeterheater.com/

 

[Bantambird]

I brood poults and chicks together, since they all hatch together, the chicks actually keep the poults from a lot of trouble by leading the way. Guide chicks. Poults also tend to roast themselves to death under heat lamps during the first week if I'm not constantly keeping vigil, but they can't kill themselves as much with that sweeter heater, and it's washable between seasons and is sealed. And it won't catch fire if it gets knocked down.

 

[KF0002]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ADUKRO/?tag=backy-20
That's the thermocube, and we use something similar to this in the coop, mounted on the side of the roost www.chewy.com/cozy-products-flat-panel-chicken-coop/dp/169440
I like these for chicks, but they are an investment, but the turkeys seem to have a much higher survival rate when brooder with infrared heaters versus heat lamps, because poults are completely clueless at hatch https://www.sweeterheater.com/

We use a device I call "the mama hen." Its a heater the chicks go under for warmth, generic for the Brinsea ones. I got in on amazon and the chicks do well with it. The Sweeter heater sounds awesome.. may have to try to get me one.

I have raised turkeys before and they do much better when brooded with baby chicks. Turkey poults don't have very much sense when they are first born. lol

One time, a friend gave me some Eastern Wild Turkey eggs they found while 4-wheeling. The hen had abandoned the nest when they disturbed her while riding. I popped them in my incubator and fussed over those things until they were big well feathered juvenile turkeys. When they outgrew the brooder I turned them out to free range with the chickens AND NEVER SAW THEM AGAIN! They went to the mountains and never came back.