ITS negative 7 here and im scared!

[SueT]

It hasn't snowed this much this winter, (yet) I took this pic 7 years ago. We had guineas before we had chickens. These birds were free range for tick control and stopped going into their coop at a young age. They slept in trees year round even tho there were open sheds they could have used. I am not saying it's a good idea, and wouldn't do it again, but I did learn how weather tolerant poultry can be. In spite of that, Blanche didn't mind a warm ride on cold winter days....

 

[lazy gardener]

And you should use something elese to use other than straw it molds like hay an is more for cows an horses. I use wood chips. I plan to change to sand but look into other options for a litter method and also your chickens will try an eat it.

Really? Everything ive read makes me want to stay away. Plus maine has crazy weather some times it really nice an than really cold an frozen. I personally wont use it. But will deep litter with other materials.

Hey Chelsey, I'm not picking on you, honest! Have you visited on the Maine thread? I'm in Central Maine, and have been avoiding shavings like the plague. IME, shavings do not insulate as well as hay or straw. Shavings are much more apt to create ammonia issues. My preferred bedding is dry leaves, but when they are in short supply, I'll bust open a bale of hay that I've stored in the coop for just that purpose. I like to put 3 bales in and make a tunnel/pyramid for winter entertainment. The hay WITH leaves makes a fair mix, and I'll be honest. I buy mulch hay, and it may already be moldy with a powdery white mold between the flakes, when I break a bale open. No issues in my coop, what so ever.

I've found that experience is a far better teacher than some of the "they say" statements that are continually perpetrated. I take all of the "they say" statements, sift them with a lot of grains of salt, and ask if "what they say" actually makes sense. Then, I'll play around with it to see if "what they say" is applicable to my situation.

I'm glad you're using deep litter. I've been doing so for 4 years, though my experience with it actually composting on my sheet flooring over plywood floor is variable. I generally do a fall clean out, while leaving some behind, and then build the litter up through the winter and spring. May clean out a bit at end of spring, and let it go again till late fall. I'm pleased with how well it works in the warmer months. Never any odor.

 

[BantyChooks]

I have to concur with everyone else, they should be fine. We had a week of -20 nights back in 1994 after a blizzard, my first winter with chickens & I was too dumb to worry! They all did fine.

Same here... I always just added a bit of heat once it hit -40 or so and didn't worry for the rest. I was rather amused to join BYC and see people worried about temperatures in the 20's. No offence to any that might have been the worriers, lol.

 

[Chelseyb123]

Hey Chelsey, I'm not picking on you, honest! Have you visited on the Maine thread? I'm in Central Maine, and have been avoiding shavings like the plague. IME, shavings do not insulate as well as hay or straw. Shavings are much more apt to create ammonia issues. My preferred bedding is dry leaves, but when they are in short supply, I'll bust open a bale of hay that I've stored in the coop for just that purpose. I like to put 3 bales in and make a tunnel/pyramid for winter entertainment. The hay WITH leaves makes a fair mix, and I'll be honest. I buy mulch hay, and it may already be moldy with a powdery white mold between the flakes, when I break a bale open. No issues in my coop, what so ever.

I've found that experience is a far better teacher than some of the "they say" statements that are continually perpetrated. I take all of the "they say" statements, sift them with a lot of grains of salt, and ask if "what they say" actually makes sensehe Then, I'll play around with it to see if "what they say" is applicable to my situation.

I'm glad you're using deep litter. I've been doing so for 4 years, though my experience with it actually composting on my sheet flooring over plywood floor is variable. I generally do a fall clean out, while leaving some behind, and then build the litter up through the winter and spring. May clean out a bit at end of spring, and let it go again till late fall. I'm pleased with how well it works in the warmer months. Never any odor.

Oh no thank you for the advice am no i have not been on the maine tread. An i did use leaves in the fall. But if so many on here are using it i may give it a try. Since weather is going to crappy freezing mix it wiyh the leaves an wood chips i have.

Hey Chelsey, I'm not picking on you, honest! Have you visited on the Maine thread? I'm in Central Maine, and have been avoiding shavings like the plague. IME, shavings do not insulate as well as hay or straw. Shavings are much more apt to create ammonia issues. My preferred bedding is dry leaves, but when they are in short supply, I'll bust open a bale of hay that I've stored in the coop for just that purpose. I like to put 3 bales in and make a tunnel/pyramid for winter entertainment. The hay WITH leaves makes a fair mix, and I'll be honest. I buy mulch hay, and it may already be moldy with a powdery white mold between the flakes, when I break a bale open. No issues in my coop, what so ever.

I've found that experience is a far better teacher than some of the "they say" statements that are continually perpetrated. I take all of the "they say" statements, sift them with a lot of grains of salt, and ask if "what they say" actually makes sense. Then, I'll play around with it to see if "what they say" is applicable to my situation.

I'm glad you're using deep litter. I've been doing so for 4 years, though my experience with it actually composting on my sheet flooring over plywood floor is variable. I generally do a fall clean out, while leaving some behind, and then build the litter up through the winter and spring. May clean out a bit at end of spring, and let it go again till late fall. I'm pleased with how well it works in the warmer months. Never any odor.

 

[lazy gardener]

BTW, Chelsey, I'd advise you against using sand until you've visited a coop that does use sand. I have reactive airway disease. While a sand floored coop may look good, I find that my lungs absolutely can't take it! The poo, even when raked daily will break down into tiny dusty particles over time. It sifts it's way down between the sand particles. This mess becomes very easily air borne. And any time the sand gets wet, you end up with poo/sand mud pies.

 

[PonyRaindrop]

I second that

 

[path.otto]

Sand, in addition to being incredibly heavy, has no insulation properties whatsoever. The R value is approximately 1/ft., the same as concrete. I can't imagine using it in a coop, or run for that matter. There may be benefits I'm not aware of.

 

[lazy gardener]

I can not think of a single benefit of sand, especially when comparing it to DL.

 

[Chelseyb123]

I figured that as long as the coop was dry the sand would Be easier to clean like cat litter. But whatever lol. i got mulch hay today an took your guys advise. I mixed it in and opened up some more vents an the door to the coop to help air out some of the dust after spreading it around. Ill see how it goes and continue to deep litter.