Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[1muttsfan]

Yes my Arkansas Blues have what's called a messy pea comb - not as pretty as show birds, but small enough to not frostbite

 

[chickflick]

Fancy is doing better. Much more alert. Not 100% yet, but hopefully on her way. Emergency vet put her on antibiotics. Our vet couldn't really find anything amiss. But to keep her on the meds. A real puzzle. I thought she was done for. Fancy is a papillon. Have her litter mate, too. Milo. Thanks for your concern. I was really scared.

 

[Sally PB]

So glad to hear that! Hugs for both of you!

 

[RaZ]

A few months back, my dog Bella went through a bad spell with her hips and not being able to walk or move properly. The kindness and advice from folks on this forum helped me to get her better. I used the gabapentin that I had taken for my neuropathy to help get her better. She has been doing great since then. Now she is getting daily treats of glucosamine and chondroitin to help lubricate the joints.

Heating a coop in winter is really un-necessary as long as the coop is dry and draft free. After all the chickens have a down coat on. Still people will worry about their birds. But chickens are pretty hardy. In my coop, I use a deep litter mix of straw and wood chips. It is currently about 12 - 15 inches deep so the floor isn't cold on their feet. The roosting bars are flat to allow the birds to squat over their feet to stay warm overnight. There is enough spacing to let them form pecking order as they see fit. I've noticed that in colder weather, the birds will tend to huddle closer and share body heat throughout the night. Even the lowest order hen is allowed to join the mass at night. My only concession to human worry is that I have a remote thermometer in the coop that tells me the coop temperature inside. It is usually 5-10 degrees warmer than the outdoor temp.

I've been using this method for more than 10 years and have never had a cold related issue with my birds other than a bit of frostbite on a comb that got wet from the waterer. It was nothing life-threatening. Just an appearance thing.

 

[RaZ]

Another thing I did was to do an experiment on the idea that the deep litter method creates heat as the litter composts. That idea is often posted on various websites as an effective way to heat a coop in winter.
I did a 2 year study as part of my master's research project. I had sensors for temperature and humidity buried within the litter and for ambient air within the coop. The idea that composting litter provided warmth was debunked.
In order for composting to work requires the right balance of green and brown material AND a considerable amount of moisture. Moisture in a winter coop is detrimental to the health of chickens. That works against of maintaining healthy poultry in winter. So if a deep litter substrate actually results in composting to occur then it is too wet for healthy poultry.

Message me if you have questions about this experiment.

 

[aart]

The idea that composting litter provided warmth was debunked.
In order for composting to work requires the right balance of green and brown material AND a considerable amount of moisture.

I've never believed it....the moisture part is the kicker.

 

[Folly's place]

Deep litter is more comfortable on the feet, and may have goodies buried that need to be found, all good entertainment for the birds. 'Cooking' compost piles are damp, and not the thing inside a coop!
Having heated waterers is the only thing, IMO.
Maybe where it's -20F all the time, but that's not here.
Mary

 

[Sally PB]

A good compost pile is "as damp as a wrung out sponge." Sounds like deep litter is a recipe for disaster for chickens.

So having tapped into the collective wisdom here, I'm not putting any supplemental heat in the coop next week when we get down to zero at night. I think tomorrow's water will have a dose of chick electrolytes in it. And chickie snack for the next week will be warm mash.

I'll be out several times a day to make sure they're ok, and to get any eggs before they freeze.

But it doesn't mean I won't worry...

 

[Folly's place]

My birds, at least many of them, have reconciled themselves to the snow, and are moving around out there looking for goodies near the horses and their hay.
Today is nice, nearly 32F and sunny, and no wind. Feels great! All too soon it's going to be teens and near zero, not so nice.
With sun, our coop is warmer than outside, also helpful.
Lots of eggs too. Twenty the day before yesterday, ten yesterday, and so far fifteen today. The refrigerator is filling up!
Mary

 

[1muttsfan]

There isn't anything wrong with deep litter method. You just should not count on the contents breaking down due to composting. It makes great compost when you remove it from the coop and add it to a mulch pile.