Michigan

[Jared77]

On the topic of cold how many folks insulate their coops? Mines still in the design phase thats why I ask.

Plan on caulking all the seams to help cut drafts but wondered about insulation.

 

[Olive Hill]

We do not insulate. For our setup I just don't see the need. Because we truly free range (no fences) dawn to dusk, 365 days per year we stock coops to roost space, not floor square footage. Which means at night we have more chickens in the same space as most others. With the concentration of body heat and our selection for cold hardy birds in the flock insulation just doesn't make sense here. YMMV.

 

[Ferrret]

Well the maybe broody one had an egg under her with the wooden ones. She abandoned the box when I took the eggs but now she's cozy in there again, even though there's no eggs to sit on. Would it be any harm for a silkie to sleep in the nest box alone instead of roosting with the others? Or should I try and break her of this habit now?

 

[justcelia]

Quote:
To heck with the chickens, I think the cold and lack of sun has gotten to me!

Quote:
Well I don't know about very difficult, but they're certainly time consuming. Probably wouldn't be so bad if not for being the first time I'd ever made them, there's a learning curve. LOL!

I didn't think about making the balls perfectly smooth, for instance, so mine are a little bumpy -- well, the candy coating shows every little bump so they don't turn out as pretty. Live and learn. I'll have to snap some pictures of them before I send them to school tomorrow morning. Someday I may want to remember what came of those wasted hours... or not.

Make sure you post those pics! We wanna congatulate ya! :LOL:

Celia
Not gonna cook!

 

[justcelia]

Quote:
We insulated the wall that wa going to be to the wind, now it's the side against the garage!

Make sure you give the caulk plenty of time to cure, that stuff smells nasty. I would hate for chickens to have to be cooped (Cooped!) up with it.
And make sure there are no bits sticking up. Chickens will eat ANYTHING!

We caulked ours from the ooutside, just to be sure the girls didn't have caulk added to their diet!

Our coop area is 3'X 4' and 3' high with an added egg box. Ventilation along the top. The run area is wrapped in clear plastic (again, except for the top). I understand Brahmas are cold hardy. What type of chicken are you getting/have?

 

[michickenwrangler]

Mine's not insulated.

 

[Opa]

Snow storm has fizzled out and I for one am not unhappy that I won't need to shovel.

 

[SillyChicken]

Roads are pretty bad in my area so be careful if you have to be out driving (southern lower mi). I'm glad there's a little snow out there, I hope it sticks long enough for me to go hunting tomorrow morning.

 

[Opa]

I hope the snow holds as well but with the predicted highs for today I don't think we will have any. I did take a deer yesterday in my backyard. It sure was nice to be able to put it on a sled, hook the sled's tow rope over my trucks hitchball and then tow the deer up to the shop. Amazing how easy a sled slides on a mowed lawn. That makes 3 for the season and 4 more to take.

 

[RIRJen]

OMG OMG OMG!!!

I got an egg from my sussex! YAYEE!! Bout frickin' time! ...Totally going to eat it tomorrow morning