Michigan

[AngelaB]

Quote:
Thanks. They are in my garage in a crate. I will have a bigger cage for them in a couple days. I will be keeping them in the garage for a little while.

 

[M.sue]

Thanks guys on the light advice! Always love the feed back....it really helps!

 

[Chickmate]

I agree with chicken grandma, 18 hours seems way too much. I just hung my full spectrum lighting in the coop this afternoon. It's a 4 ft. long double tube light. I was thinking of setting the timer to come on at 7:00 a.m. and go off at 7 p.m. Any of the more experienced "old timers" have any advice? I did rethink my idea of hanging heat lamps in the run and decided it wasn't a good idea. Well, not really a bad idea, just not necessary. I'm going to keep my large hanging feeder and my 5 gal. metal waterer in the run with a heated base under it, plus a waterer and feeder inside the coop as well. My pop door has been open all summer because I am 99% confident nothing can get into the run. Well, except a weasel or mink maybe, but when the snow starts flying I'll have to close it. I had wanted to install an automatic door, but too short on funds to do it this year. I am not a morning person, so leaving the pop door open was an easy (read lazy) way for the chickens to have access to the run as early as they wanted. I'm not looking forward to getting all bundled up to let them out each morning.

Yesterday was beautiful and sunny and what did the crazy chickens do? Mr. and Mrs. Barred Rock
Hang out on the front porch!

Angela - What cute black silkies!
chickendales - I'd love to have one of those buff colored silkies!

 

[M.sue]

I think we will probably have the light come on sooner than 7 more like 6 just for the fact that I have a couple very early layers. We have a 6 or 7 watt bulb in there now on a timer because I found a few eggs dropped from the roost when I went out in the morning, usually around 6:30. One of you guys (sorry can't remember who) suggested to do so because they might of not been able to see to get off the roost. That certainly fixed the problem for the next morning they were in the boxes clucking away.
As for adding day light hours....18 hrs. seemed long to me also. So we will adjust the timer and switch the bulb. We are planning on putting in a 23watt CFL. That should do the trick.
You guys are great with all your helpful advice....I just love BYCers, especially Michigan Threaders!

 

[babigyrl22]

Quote:
Angela congrats on your first egg!!

I am in agreement with Chicken Grandma. Keep those silkies quarantined for a couple of weeks to make sure they are healthy before adding them into your flock. It's a pain but worth it. They are super cute though!

I have two silkie sisters.....they act like two cranky old ladies. They are so hilarious. Not even the big girls mess with them...ever...not if they value their rear end!

I have a heat lamp in the coop in the brooder area, for now. I thought it best since the chicks are getting bigger and having them all try to shove themselves under Blueberry was very awkward for her. Now some are under her....some bathe under the lamp.

 

[fifelakelooper]

Quote:
Those barred rocks are lovely!!!

 

[NovaAman]

I am hoping that the girls will go out in the winter... I don't count on it, but I am hoping. I have a HUGE window in the coop that faces south. I am also going to change one of the doors to a 1/4in think plexi door so they get more light. I have a power cord run in for a light and heated base for the waterer. Only one question? Whats the best timer to use for the light? I mean brand wise. I don't want to get a time have it work for a minute then poop out on me...

 

[1muttsfan]

You will get more eggs in the winter from your chickens if you put them under lights. However, chickens only have a certain number of ova, and when they are used up you stop getting eggs. Confined commercial chickens are kept under lights up to 24 hours a day to maximize their laying, and live very short lives because of it. If you keep your chickens under lights throughout the year you will shorten their effective laying life, meaning that they will lay as many eggs but in a shorter length of time. If you have chickens as a commercial enterprise, then lights are a very effective way of maximizing your investment. If you keep chickens for eggs and enjoyment, and don't need to maximize production in the least amount of time, then your chickens will last longer in your laying flock if you leave them under natural light. You will get just as many eggs, just over a longer period of time.

As I said above, people who know more about chickens than I do suggest early light rather than later so that the lights don't suddenly go off when it is dark out, leaving the chickens to find their roosts in the dark.

 

[NovaAman]

I was only considering turning a light on at 6 am, turning off at 9 am. Its usually light outside by 8 am. I don't want evening light. Right now, they only get the natural light all day and in winter it will be less if they do not go out in the yard, so I only want to supplement a few hours a day over the winter during morning hours. I don't care if they do not lay every day, but I'd like to get a dozen eggs a week out of the 5 that will be laying... If they do not go out of the coop during the winter, it will be like twilight/dawn in there all winter. How depressing. LOL

 

[1muttsfan]

Winter