Looking for Winter Advice- What do you wish you had known

[WildfireJane]

Last winter my rooster got his waddles hurt from the metal water fountain that froze on the outside metal wall. I couldn't understand where the blood was coming from until I saw him, poor guy. Boy did I feel bad. I'm getting a heater base for my 2 gal metal water fountain this year. Jane

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
I think the 2x4s are more for the large breeds, but you nailed it... gives them a little more flat space for tucking all the toes in.

My larger breeds really like the 2x4s for added stability. They don't like the smaller 2x2s or rounds.

 

[kimboolah]

OK, I have read this whole thread and learned alot! I live in northern Wisconsin and it's already snowed here--twice! I have 20 chickens in all- 12 big girls and 8 EE's that I got in late August. They are all in the same coop but seperated by fencing because the big girls won't play nice/and/or the little ones are hysterical about everything.
So, I get the ventilation thing, but my problem is that my coop is actuallly part of my husbands shed that he unwillingly gave up for the chooks. it has two walls that are actually not outside walls, but are part of the whole garage shed, so I am not worried much about cold on those two sides. The people door side/the side that has the attached run is south facing and that is the only door for people and chooks. I should rig something differend for them for the winter--will they use a dog door? For those of you who have pop doors, do you leave them wide open to let the birds go in and out all day and let the cold wind blow in thru it? I would like to either make a sep. pop door for them or cut a hole in the people door with a dog door on it. Think that would work? I don't see how leaving the people door wide open would keep them very cozy (however I was in there yesterday and it was really windy and the air was pretty still in there, so I was happy about that!).

Whatcha think?

 

[PortageGirl]

Usually havinjg the pop door open during the day is no trouble, but you can hang burlap, toweling, strips of canvas or those plastic strips they use in walk in coolers over it if it's a problem. It might take them a little while to figure things out, but they usually will esp if you start with it only partially covering and progressively cover it more and more.

 

[Monk]

Quote:
I lure my birds in the coop when I have some chores to take care of in the run. And close the pop door to keep them secured in the coop when the run door open. They simple push though the pop door to get out, especially when they know I am hanging a cabbage for them! When I lure them into the run to do chores in the coop, again I close the pop door to keep them out. A couple of birds have been able to somehow open the pop door enough to get in! It was quite a suprise having two hens in my face all of the sudden, I have to get a latch for the pop door!
I may try the plastic stripe for my pop door. I leave my pop door open 24-7, this winter it may be a great idea for heat retention and cut down on an unwanted draft??? I don't think my birds would hesitate busting through them though!

 

[PortageGirl]

Ooh, I always latch my pop door at night!!! Woodsy area, we have evil raccoons! They can open things and get in for a free chicken smorgasbord if it's not latched!!

I get what you mean about them getting out past a burlap or plastic door though!

 

[babszoo]

I used a bird bath de-icer like the one below
http://www.tractorsupply.com/livest...ers/allied-pail-and-bird-bath-de-icer-2170738
I drilled a hole in the top of my 5 gal galvinized waterer, just big enough for the cord to fit through. feed it through from the inside so the de-icer is half way down. Siliconed around the hole to seal it and now i have unfrozen clean water for my birds. The heated dog dish lets the water get dirty.
You can use the same waterer for summer and winter just wrap the cord up and tie to handle for the summer.
lift the lid fill up and replace the lid no water mess.

 

[segnenlea]

Hi all~ I am Christi and strictly a southern girl by heart. I live in North east Mississippi and maybe ... maybe get one light half inch snow a year... if my kids are lucky! This has been a GREAT topic to learn from and I just wanted to say thanks. I have 5 RIR hens and my dh built a tractor coop for them. It is a framed coop ( about 3 foot above the ground) with all sides enclosed and an open door in front. It has a ramp to the ground with a detachable run ( that is 8 ft long x 5 ft wide) that is covered with chicken wire on the bottom, hard wire mesh on the sides and tin for the roof. The bottom of the coop is hard wire mesh with hay on top for my babies to sleep and lay their eggs. Since it is only 50 ft from the side of our house, I figured I would replace their water everyday during winter. It only gets below 30 degrees a few times (in January and February). Since they sleep in the coop at night anyway, can I just take their water jug in to our house for the night? Or should I leave it out for them just in case?
Again, thanks for all the great advice~ we definitely needed it!

Christi

 

[chickenmeadow]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain, thanks for the reply. I will keep an eye on the round roost issue (3/4" pvc my bantam size, plastic for no mites) to make sure their toes are protected during sleep in the cold weather; there are also some 4" flat roosting areas there too, that will give them options. It's getting colder every day here in Oregon & it's good to start early with the winter ideas. Take care!

 

[LynneP]

Birds are funny, mine have great roosts but prefer to sleep on a platform only a bit lower than the roosts, and the drape their wings over each other at night. I like the platform, too, they tend to place droppings at the back which I can scrape each morning, then treat the platform with a tiny bit of fo-grade DE. Platforms are great for winter too, indoors and out, to keep feet warm and allow the birds to get closer to sunny windows in the coop.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, cold here too!