Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

Maybe he's upset about that guinea being a hen -- .
Or he ran into a glitch with the home made whiz bang plucker. Lol.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Might I also add that when I do add heat to my coop I never want it above 32 F unless Mother Nature has decided on those temps for me. I always want the poop frozen in the coop if possible. Makes for easier removal and keeps humidity down and is better for your chickens' health to be acclimated to the cold. Why add a heater then you ask and many do. Because I think the severe cold ( below 0) for long periods of time is hard on the birds IMHO.
I will also add a nutrient boost and probiotics to the water during those cold spells to help deal with that stress like merrick's blue ribbon or nutri-drench.

 

[KlopKlop]

One thing that I am trying this winter that i want to share before the conversation moves past winter... I built a sort of 'hood' over the top of my roost with a sheet of blue insulating foam (because i had it on hand, not because it needs to be insulated, plywood would work just as well). The idea is to help cut down on drafts near the roost. Here is a photo that is worth more than my words:



My coop has open soffits so i was afraid it would draft down on the girls. My intention is to add a cupola type vent before snow flies so the natural draft goes up.

Now to finish with a question. Considering my plan for the updraft venting, a few of my chickens like to roost in the rafters. I am afraid that will put them right in the draft. will they know better than to roost there or should i block it off? (Note: i did block it so they cant get on top of the hood.)

 

[Bogtown Chick]

LaLa I agree on the AI thing being more of a commercial problem for the reasons you mentioned. When you free range your birds or offer a varied diet with exercise your birds are also going to have fortified immune systems to fight off illnesses. Or they like LaLa said won't be confined spaces with high levels of exposure. There is a difference in our birds and what is sadly being raised in those huge barns.

 

[KlopKlop]

On the side - i checked in on the kitten tonight just to see if it was still there. We saw mama cat run across the lane in the dark earlier when we pulled in, so she is around. I set out just a small bowl of food and my game camera a way away from their den just to see what she looks like. I am thinking maybe i can slowly train her with food to stick around. I really could use a good mouser or two since the coons ran off my last cat.

Am I crazy to think i may attempt tame a likely feral cat?

 

[holm25]

On the side - i checked in on the kitten tonight just to see if it was still there.  We saw mama cat run across the lane in the dark earlier when we pulled in, so she is around.  I set out just a small bowl of food and my game camera a way away from their den just to see what she looks like.  I am thinking maybe i can slowly train her with food to stick around.  I really could use a good mouser or two since the coons ran off my last cat.  

Am I crazy to think i may attempt tame a likely feral cat?

A little crazy. But nothing is impossible.

 

[lalaland]

bogtown, I'm going to look up merricks blue ribbon. not familiar with it....

Minniechickiemama, Ithats a beautiful area.

Klopklop, who could resist a cat? I really would love to have a barn cat for the coop...but not a good idea for me with indoor cats up at the screened porch.

Hey, tomorrow is first day of fall!

 

[scandiafowl]

On the side - i checked in on the kitten tonight just to see if it was still there.  We saw mama cat run across the lane in the dark earlier when we pulled in, so she is around.  I set out just a small bowl of food and my game camera a way away from their den just to see what she looks like.  I am thinking maybe i can slowly train her with food to stick around.  I really could use a good mouser or two since the coons ran off my last cat.  

Am I crazy to think i may attempt tame a likely feral cat?

She will probably always be feral, but if you start handling the kittens they will be tamer.

During my time in Florida I worked with a group that spayed/neutered feral cats and released them. We had a large family of black ferals

 

[Minniechickmama]

One thing that I am trying this winter that i want to share before the conversation moves past winter... I built a sort of 'hood' over the top of my roost with a sheet of blue insulating foam (because i had it on hand, not because it needs to be insulated, plywood would work just as well). The idea is to help cut down on drafts near the roost. Here is a photo that is worth more than my words:



My coop has open soffits so i was afraid it would draft down on the girls. My intention is to add a cupola type vent before snow flies so the natural draft goes up.

Now to finish with a question. Considering my plan for the updraft venting, a few of my chickens like to roost in the rafters. I am afraid that will put them right in the draft. will they know better than to roost there or should i block it off? (Note: i did block it so they cant get on top of the hood.)

Why not tack up chicken wire to keep them from getting in the rafter? It gives you the space for the warmer air to go up and keeps them down where they need to be. If you are talking soffits in the eaves, then that shouldn't create a draft in the coop, just allow a natural airflow.

 

[lalaland]

klo[klop, your "hood" seems like a good idea. Have no thoughts about the rafter and roosting problem, though. Old time chicken house plans often included muslin or burlap curtains that could be pulled around the roosting areaor hung around it to protect from drafts.