Michigan

[M.sue]

Chickendales....nice pics there......The Frizzle is absolutely adorable. I would love to get one or two. I'll keep you in mind come early spring!

For those of you who have lights in your coop due to shorter days/ light length....how long do you have your timers set for? A gentleman at the Fowl Fest told my husband he should set ours so they get 18hrs. of light. Does that sound right?

 

[AngelaB]

Two pics to share:

My new silkies. They are sisters:

AND.....

My first ever egg! We found it on the floor in the corner of the coop. So, we have some nesting box training to do....lol

 

[NovaAman]

BREAKFAST!

Get us some better pics of your girls... The front one... I'd be interested in seeing more of her from all angles... How old did you say they are?

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Angela, Congrats on the new girls and the first egg!

 

[AngelaB]

Quote:
I will get more pics tomorrow. We got them this evening and I didn't want to frazzle them too much...lol

They are 15 weeks. (I really hope they are females. The breeder was pretty confident that they were. He had thier brother there, and he was bigger than they were)

 

[chickendales]

M.sue :

Chickendales....nice pics there......The Frizzle is absolutely adorable. I would love to get one or two. I'll keep you in mind come early spring!

For those of you who have lights in your coop due to shorter days/ light length....how long do you have your timers set for? A gentleman at the Fowl Fest told my husband he should set ours so they get 18hrs. of light. Does that sound right?

light turn off at 11 and turn on at 6
thanks i hove have lots babies out her next spring​

 

[1muttsfan]

Teeville it is easier on the hens if you set a timer to come on early rather than to stay on later. If the light suddenly goes out after dark the hens are left in the pitch blanck and can have trouble finding their perch.

My trench was dug 5" deep with a backhoe, you can often find someone who has a small one on a tractor. It gets very cold here and we often don't get a lot of snow, so deep trench and lots of insulation. I ran an electric line in the same trench. I would highly recommend foam board insulation layed over every underground water line, it heads off a world of trouble later if you get unusual cold. Frost also penetrates a lot deeper if the snow cover is compacted or removed, like driveways or shoveled walkways.

 

[chickendales]

my grandpa use leave 60 watt light balb on all night

 

[chicken grandma]

Angela! Congratulations! I encourage you to keep them totally separate from your chickens until you are sure they are healthy. 2 - 4 weeks. Washing hands in between handling them and your flock. Not wearing your shoes from one area into the other either. Good luck!


M.Sue, I think 18 hours of light is very unnatural. Even in Michigan in the summer we have about 16 hours at the very most.
I have always had good egg production and I can say that I have only had the full spectrum light on in the coop for 12 hours at a time. Any more and they get cranky with me!

 

[chickendales]

Quote:
but one thoe energy saver lights on all night in corner would work