Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Folly's place]

Along with some wind and rain, some strange white stuff came from the clouds just a few minutes ago. Bah! Humbug!
It is November...
Mary

 

[aart]

Windy as hell here, snowing too.

 

[Sally PB]

The chickens didn't come out this morning, so I put some food and water in the coop. I ordered horizontal nipples a couple days ago to retrofit the waterer I have that has the HNs with cups that attract all kinds of bedding and dirt. Hopefully I can leave a dirt free waterer in there all the time, and not have to worry about wet bedding.

This is their first really cold, windy day. The air in the coop is calm and they seem perfectly content to stay inside.

Does anyone have a list of "help keep them warm" bedtime snacks I can give them on a rotating basis? All I have right now is BOSS. And lots of frozen summer time fruit treats which probably aren't what they need right before they roost.

 

[ChickenMathLady]

@Sally PB ours love grubblies for a protein & calcium snack--I'm not sure if it counts for a keeps them warm but I know those two elements are good. I've heard corn but don't know from experience. Wondering the same.

 

[1muttsfan]

Any scratch grain mix will work.

 

[aart]

Does anyone have a list of "help keep them warm" bedtime snacks I can give them on a rotating basis? All I have right now is BOSS. And lots of frozen summer time fruit treats which probably aren't what they need right before they roost.

Their feathers keep them warm.

Any scratch grain mix will work.

Any feed will work.

Best to have their regular feed to pack the crop at night before roost time.

 

[Sally PB]

Any feed will work.
Best to have their regular feed to pack the crop at night before roost time.

Ah. I was thinking from what I'd read that enticing them to eat a bit just before roost time would "top off" their crop to help keep them warm with the digestive process. I don't know if they are eating right before dark; I'm not usually out there with them at that time. I trust they know what to do.

I guess I'm just helicoptering...

 

[Folly's place]

They do eat before roosting, and filling their crops with normal feed is fine. There's nothing else needed. Having unfrozen water is essential too.
Mary

 

[aart]

I don't know if they are eating right before dark; I'm not usually out there with them at that time. I trust they know what to do.

Time to check that is after dark, feel crops for fullness.

 

[IttyBittyBirdy]

Hi y'all, just thought I'd let you know I have 3 drakes for re-home. I'd prefer them to be pet homes. Near Lansing!