Minnesota!

[Minniechickmama]

I love my all three of my breeds. I have been doing the deep litter method since I started raising them. In the winter time the chickens get time in the center of the barn. I give them a choice to go outside but rarely do. I have 6 pens inside, each has a heated dish but the broilers have three of them. I mix their bedding twice a day with oats for them to scratch for. Each breeder pen gets at least three hours out in the center. They get out every other day so they all get a turn. Once a week i add some fresh bedding added. I will also add 20 lbs of barn lime to each pen after I remove all the wet spots from the water. I do have a double window fan that circulates the air 24/7 over their heads. Plus I open the area under the doors to allow more air flow if a mild breeze during the day. At night I plug them back up do to predators. I also have holes in the ceiling that lead to the hay loft. I would usually plug them all up to conserve the heat. This year I am keeping them open for more ventilation. I also will be putting some fine mesh over them to prevent anything falling through them like wild pigeon's.

Personally, I would cover those holes in the mow floor overhead. Warm air rises and you will lose your heated air up through the holes. Cold air sinks, and that will just filter down to where the birds are.

 

[Triplell]

Okay I will give it a go and see how things go. I am always willing to try something if what I am doing dont work. The hens I got from you are really growing and settling in. They are still aloof to me but in time they are learning my routine and calls. I have different ones for follow me, come get treats( grain), and to coop up. It makes things easier when I half to put them in early.
There are window that I could open but they are all at roost level. With no way to open just a little bit I keep them closed. This barn is drafty enough when the wind blows.

 

[aussiegal318]

Last year I had frozen waddles on my big boy, a Rhode Island White (at least that is what the guy told me & definitely a guy, by Grantsburg WI, not to get anything from). This year, my son made me a waterer with the nipples & a 5 gal bucket, if I need to keep it from freezing I can drop a bucket heater in it. This year I also disconnected the heater that they (hubby & contractor) put in; it doesn't have a shut off, just a thermostat. Of course, they told me that the girls didn't need any windows, but because I "squawked" loudly, I got 1 small window facing north. I have to have a light on even in summer so the girls know to wake up.they did add 2 vents at ceiling level. Last year I put 2 straw bales in the coop to add an extra level & more mass. I tried deep litter last year, but hate the smell after about a month. I figure I must be doing something wrong.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Last year I had frozen waddles on my big boy, a Rhode Island White (at least that is what the guy told me & definitely a guy, by Grantsburg WI, not to get anything from). This year, my son made me a waterer with the nipples & a 5 gal bucket, if I need to keep it from freezing I can drop a bucket heater in it. This year I also disconnected the heater that they (hubby & contractor) put in; it doesn't have a shut off, just a thermostat. Of course, they told me that the girls didn't need any windows, but because I "squawked" loudly, I got 1 small window facing north. I have to have a light on even in summer so the girls know to wake up.they did add 2 vents at ceiling level. Last year I put 2 straw bales in the coop to add an extra level & more mass. I tried deep litter last year, but hate the smell after about a month. I figure I must be doing something wrong.

Your contractors really did you no favors with a north facing window! That is the last side to put one on. I am glad you squawked and got one, but as you already know, it doesn't help much. The smell you have is NOT good. Yes, chicken poop smells, but if it is too warm and you have wet poop, it is going to smell and will even burn your eyes to be in it. So, is it that? Or was the straw wet? Deep litter is excellent but must be kept clean and dry.

 

[aussiegal318]

I'm going to guess too warm being I couldn't turn the heater off I disconnected it this year, again told them I didn't need one that I could use heat lamps as needed. Cheer up they talked about in floor heating!

 

[aussiegal318]

Is barn lime safe for chickens? Won't they eat it?

 

[Luckytaz]

Aussiegal318,
You don't need heat in your coop, unless you have young chicks. The only heat I use is for water.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

well, this is funny and maybe you have heard about this local egg company up in wrenshall. they are in a contest to get a free ad during the superbowl You vote by clicking, don't have to fill anything out.
take a look! https://www.smallbusinessbiggame.com/#MN/Locally-Laid-Egg-Company/382873

Has Everybody been following Locally Laid Egg Company? Just little over a week of voting for getting a superbowl commercial. I have no gain in doing this other than helping out a fellow Minnesotan that loves chickens and their business revolves around treating birds humanely for eggs. I'm all for that and good treatment of a small time farmer. I've been voting and reading about them all this last week. Super fun to read the blog too. Just type in VoteLoLa.com and it takes you right to an easy VOTE button. I hope everybody checks it out. It would be fun to see that commercial on game day! GO LoLa!!!

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

I just voted! Looks like you get one vote per day, so we need to go there once s day to vote again.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Yes!~

you can vote everyday and then from multiple devices too. I got the kids voting on their ipod touches, and the kindle...etc....

Fun stuff. I can imagine that commercial would be super adorable!