Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[OldMissionChick]

I'm in the no heat camp, heat lamps can cause fires and they are not really necessary.......and I'm not convinced petroleum jelly will prevent frostbite. Ventilation is much more important to keep humidity as low as possible, humidity is what most often causes frostbite at near freezing temps. The water you definitely want to keep thawed....this worked great last year. Just carried out a gallon of warm water every day to top it off....and cost like $3 a month. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples

What do you do about keeping them from getting bored in the winter?

 

[aart]

Quote: Not much....I have plenty of space....toss out some scratch in the mid afternoon, sometimes give them some fodder if it's too nasty for them to go out into the run.
I don't worry too much about them being 'bored', just make sure they have food and liquid water...and I do have a bin with some sandy dirt in it for dusting inside in the winter.

ETA: the first winter(year) is nerve racking, but you'll get thru it, learn a few hopefully not too hard lessons....next year will be much more pleasant.

 

[OldMissionChick]

Not much....I have plenty of space....toss out some scratch in the mid afternoon, sometimes give them some fodder if it's too nasty for them to go out into the run.
I don't worry too much about them being 'bored', just make sure they have food and liquid water...and I do have a bin with some sandy dirt in it for dusting inside in the winter.

ETA: the first winter(year) is nerve racking, but you'll get thru it, learn a few hopefully not too hard lessons....next year will be much more pleasant. 

God I hope so! I plan on buying another sack of oats to fodder. Along with lots of kitchen scraps.
Now they do currently free range. With the amount of snow we get here and hungry predators I dont know if I should let them out of their run.

 

[aart]

Quote: Mine are confined to coop and run all the time anyway....and I shovel parts of it out and another part of it is under the coop. If you normally free range you might want to start confining them just to get them used to it, most of mine don't much like to walk on snow.

 

[RaZ]

What do you do about keeping them from getting bored in the winter?

Drive a spike or tent stake through a head of cabbage and suspend it about a foot above the coop floor. Chicken tether ball.
Deep litter seems to keep mine entertained when they are forced to stay inside. Throw a handful of mealworms and let them dig for treats.

I don't heat the coop. I have a thermometer and hygrometer in there so I can monitor the conditions. Inside temp is usually 5 - 10 degrees above outside ambient.
My birds also have access to the run all day long. They will go out in all but the worst weather.

Cold isn't the real problem. The main issues are dampness and drafts. Keeping liquid water can be a challenge so plan on having extra water founts that you can swap out a few times a day.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

My girls love it outside but I'm afraid they will freeze. I don't know when they were hatched (guessing they about 5 weeks old) but they do have quite a bit of feathers. Right now it's drizzling and we brought them in THEY ARE MAD! Also what snacks could I give them? I have a small pumpkin that broke open would it be ok for them to snack on it?

Yes on pumpkins as already said as long as it isn't molded. The seeds are a natural wormer. They will also relish seeds from any vegetable/fruits. Cukes, melons, tomatoes, watermelon, kale, lettuce, spinach, grapes, strawberries...apples. Meats, baked potato with sour cream, yogurt (natural greek is best for them.) Don't give too much bread types as it can cause a crop souring. Hope that helps the "treat" idea.

 

[1muttsfan]

X2 about the no heat, and I agree with aart. You will find your winter easier to get through if you have a heated waterer. And make sure your coop has vents to release the warm, moist air at the high point of your coop, or moisture will build up and the combination of high humidity (condensates on the wattles and comb) and cold temps increase the risk of frostbite. Most people in their first year close their coops up too tightly. Birds are naturally insulated against the cold and tolerate cold better than high temps. I also shovel out part of the run, and spread a little straw if there is snow to give them something to pick through and encourage them to come outside. They do not like to walk around in or on the snow (I don't blame them!).

 

[OldMissionChick]

Had our first fox encounter this morning I knew it was bound to happen soon with the weather change. Thankfully it didn't get close enough for a kill. Anyone have ideas for a repellent other than lead poisoning?

 

[1muttsfan]

Keep your chickens penned for a week or two to discourage your visitor.

 

[OldMissionChick]

Keep your chickens penned for a week or two to discourage your visitor.

yeah they are ticked that I didn't let them out yet. Glad a haven't. They are definitely staying in! Especially since our 7 ducks took themselves for a walk yesterday and I couldn't find them.