As chicks during the winter, comb type is not relevant. Additionally, depending conditions the chicks and juveniles are NOT AS COLD TOLERANT AS ADULTS. Full cold tolerance is not realized until first adult feather set is fully in.
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Single comb won't work? Or is that similar? I'm researching and single comb looks much larger
With single combs prepare for extra care and frustration if frostbite sets in. That's why I am advocating the Woods Open Air Coop. The physics of air flow in that coop fight well against frostbite. Like Blooie said, it's all about air flow. Most novices don't build coops with correct ventilation and have frostbite issues. Because they build "pretty" coops, not functional ones. I am just trying to help you out so you don't run into problems. There are very distinct air flow patterns, building math specifications and lighting specifications for successful chicken coop. You need to provide 10 lumens of extra light per 10 sq. ft. for successful laying during darker shorter winter days . A 20 watt incandescent blub will do that. Ventilation is provide correctly by the Woods Coop. For large fowl you need 4 sq. ft. per adult bird inside and 10 sq. feet per bird in the yard outside. 1/2 those numbers for bantam birds. Perches should be no farther than 12 to 18 inches off the ground for adult large fowl so they don't hurt their feet and legs getting off them. Nest boxes should be 12x12 or 12x14 for larger heavy fowl. Don't make the boxes so large that 2 birds can squeeze in or they will, and break eggs they lay. 1 nest box per 5 laying hens. Buy a solar operated spotlight "Portofino" brand at Lowes. Position it so it shines thru the window onto the floor of the coop at night. Just enough light to reassure your birds if they hear scary sounds.
Best,
Karen
Just wait till Spring is the best advice. Build your coop during the remaining winter months and be ready to go this Spring. Honestly, you will be much happier.
It's the part that 'juts out' that makes it so effective. That part is where the fresh air comes in. And it must be sticking out like that to prevent the roosting birds from being exposed to drafting air.Basically think of the woods design but without the part that "juts out" in the front, window will just go on the front of the shed style building, Large eaves, probably a gutter, salt box style 7 ft tall in front sloping to 5 in the back
My porch faces south. I'm going to watch the yard and see where most sun is.
Single comb won't work? Or is that similar? I'm researching and single comb looks much larger
I think what you meant RR is that people north of Mass don't necessarily have problems with frost bite. Not that people north of Mass never have problems with frost bite! Agreed, moisture management is key.Once they are feathered out the risk to healthy chickens in freezing weather is not that they will freeze to death, but the danger from frostbite. Ventilation is directly related to frostbite risk. People in Georgia have caused frostbite on their chickens by keeping the coop so airtight the moisture from their breathing, their poop, waterers, or other sources can’t escape. People a lot further north than Massachusetts don’t have problems with frostbite. Frostbite normally affects the comb and wattles.
There are many different types and sizes of combs on chickens, single, rose, pea, cushion, and walnut being a few. Some single combs are quite large, some not so much. Some walnut combs are large, others not so much. The larger the comb the more susceptible the comb is to frostbite. The same is true of the wattles. Some people keep single combed chickens through weather colder than you will see and don’t have those problems. Some people with chickens with smaller combs still get frostbite. There are different factors involved. But a chicken with a smaller comb has less chance of getting frostbite than one with a larger comb.
It’s like a lot of things to do with chickens. It is not that all single combed chickens will get frostbite while a pea combed chicken will never get frostbite. It’s more of a probability. The smaller combed chickens are less likely to get frostbite in freezing weather. You are playing the odds.