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I heard yesterday that El Nino is strengthening, increasing the likelihood of a mild winter for us
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Minniechickmama said:
There were actually more than one, but less than 10, maybe only 5. BUT those were in close proximity to infected confinements and could have been due to poor biosecurity in handling the destroyed flocks. I have heard stories from some of the folks in the hardest hit area, and that is the most likely cause for infections outside the commercial flocks. I believe one backyard flock owner received and infected batch of a poults near Sleepy Eye and had his flock destroyed. That is what I was told, anyway. Of course, mine is not the 'official' word on the matter.
One long-time breeder I spoke with stated they are certain the whole shut down of poultry movement was more to appease the turkey industry than anything else.

Speaking of turkeys, I have 5 or 6 BBWhites going in on October 13th that are not spoken for yet. Nice, pastured birds that should dress 15-20 pounds each. $3.25/lb dressed weight.
Click to expand...
personally, I think the commercial industry has a tough going because the flocks are not exposed to anything and have no immunity. So the virus comes through and their immune systems get flattened. I am grateful nonetheless not to be located anywhere near a chicken factory farm.


About winter - I do use the deep layer method. In the winter, every couple of days I grab the frozen poop and chuck it. I think it adds too much moisture, and the idea of deep layer is to compost and that sure as heck doesn't happen in minnesota in the winter - your coop just won't get deep enough (I think the min to compost is 3'x3'). I toss fresh hay over the poopy parts too.

Also about winter: One of the challenges not mentioned is keeping those grumpy confined and cold chickens happy. So work hard to maximize any floor space in the coop. I buy a flock block each fall because it provides a pecking target - something to do! Besides making sure they get some fresh greens in the winter months, I sprinkle scratch in the bedding to keep them busy. ALso think about the smaller confinement that happens in winter so maybe add a different heights in the coop - a bale or crate they can climb up on. Something to block sight lines to let them get out of each other's way. Because there isn't available animal protein in the winter (no grasshoppers, etc) I usually buy some beef liver and freeze it. If it is frozen you can slice off thin thin slices and throw it in the feed. not frozen, it turns into mush. They wolf it down. I know someone who is skittish about liver, so she throws some raw hamburger out for them. Top dress the feed with occasional grease drippings from cooking.

Apples and cabbage are great for winter boredom but they do freeze....


Figure out how you will keep at least some parts of your run clear of really deep snow. Have some bagged leaves or hay to sprinkle on top of those first light dustings of snow because your chickens are likely going to think they will die if they touch snow, and will refuse initially to walk on it. You need to entice them out. If you have a way of covering part of your run so it is more or less snow free, it is easier on you and the flock.

Watch your coop walls - if you see ice crystals, your humidity is too high and you should create more ventilation. Now, this is true most of the time, but during a mosit winter when the outside humidity is really high for some reason, like it was last winter or the winter before, can[t remember, that won't help but usually we have pretty dry winters.

I keep my water outside the coop so I don't add humidity inside. On super cold days, say horrific windchill or its -30 below, I keep them inside. That is normally just a few days a winter.
 
I'll admit that my coop doesn't have metal vents in the coop. What it does have is 1/2 inch off center with daylight peeking through boards. Windows that are old panes of glass and not sealed tight to their trim work and frames. On 3 walls. and a creaky old wood paneled door. But I'm about to wrap the inside with a reflective foiled bubble wrap to create a warmer place with the use of sunlight through the windows and natural bird warmth. Just something to help but not completely dewinterize my birds. Like cluckies I have a flat paneled heater for days that are 0 or less. It's only a 150 watt radiant heat and it takes the nip out of the air.
Despite the lack of venting I think the windows not being super tight help and with enough head space we don't have frost on the windows and the humidity leaves that coop. That being said I hope the new wrap doesn't hold in an appreciable amount that the bare boards and little spaces might have let out. It's going to be interesting to see what happens this winter with my little Reflectix experiment.

When you say layer system do you mean deep litter? I think deep litter works in southern climates better than ours. Also my door opens to the inside and I don't think if be able to get in the coop. Holm is right on adding humidity as well. I lay down old feed bags under the hens and then pop off the frozen poo with drywall mud scrapers into my compost. It saves on the litter and on humidity for sure.
 
lalaland said:
personally, I think the commercial industry has a tough going because the flocks are not exposed to anything and have no immunity. So the virus comes through and their immune systems get flattened. I am grateful nonetheless not to be located anywhere near a chicken factory farm.


About winter - I do use the deep layer method. In the winter, every couple of days I grab the frozen poop and chuck it. I think it adds too much moisture, and the idea of deep layer is to compost and that sure as heck doesn't happen in minnesota in the winter - your coop just won't get deep enough (I think the min to compost is 3'x3'). I toss fresh hay over the poopy parts too.

Also about winter: One of the challenges not mentioned is keeping those grumpy confined and cold chickens happy. So work hard to maximize any floor space in the coop. I buy a flock block each fall because it provides a pecking target - something to do! Besides making sure they get some fresh greens in the winter months, I sprinkle scratch in the bedding to keep them busy. ALso think about the smaller confinement that happens in winter so maybe add a different heights in the coop - a bale or crate they can climb up on. Something to block sight lines to let them get out of each other's way. Because there isn't available animal protein in the winter (no grasshoppers, etc) I usually buy some beef liver and freeze it. If it is frozen you can slice off thin thin slices and throw it in the feed. not frozen, it turns into mush. They wolf it down. I know someone who is skittish about liver, so she throws some raw hamburger out for them. Top dress the feed with occasional grease drippings from cooking.

Apples and cabbage are great for winter boredom but they do freeze....


Figure out how you will keep at least some parts of your run clear of really deep snow. Have some bagged leaves or hay to sprinkle on top of those first light dustings of snow because your chickens are likely going to think they will die if they touch snow, and will refuse initially to walk on it. You need to entice them out. If you have a way of covering part of your run so it is more or less snow free, it is easier on you and the flock.

Watch your coop walls - if you see ice crystals, your humidity is too high and you should create more ventilation. Now, this is true most of the time, but during a mosit winter when the outside humidity is really high for some reason, like it was last winter or the winter before, can[t remember, that won't help but usually we have pretty dry winters.

I keep my water outside the coop so I don't add humidity inside. On super cold days, say horrific windchill or its -30 below, I keep them inside. That is normally just a few days a winter.
Click to expand...

Excellent point about the ice crystals on walls. That equals condensation, if it is on the walls it can get on the birds combs, wattles and feet.

The other thing about the snow in the run, if it warms, is wet - wet on skin will = frostbite. Avoid it. I have had chickens get completely frozen feet, and I have had some just lose a toe or two. I can't imagine how painful that must be. Frozen feet and legs and they must be put down and that is no fun. I have had a Cornish hen who insisted on sleeping in the corner under the roost where it got the coldest and went out one morning to find her feet turned to icicles and just wanted to scream.


The layer method some of you mentioned? I don't know if this is the same thing, I lay a layer of shavings, they lay a layer of poop. I lay a layer of shavings, they lay a layer of poop ;) LOL Not my idea of a method, but it is layers. Actually, I don't let it build up too bad in winter. I have a big ice chipper/scraper I use to break the chunks up. Having a vinyl floor cover makes it so I can pry it up and break it if it is frozen, like around the waterer where they make the wet mess.
 

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