Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

Posting That made me remember that I left the light switch on in one coop. Had to make an undies run in the rain to shut it off! Would hate to screw up their lay cycle by leaving on all night

Atta Boy Kloppers. Only problem with an undie Run is that it P*S$es off the rooster. The flash of white thigh is too much.

Did you go out in your b-day suit like some people on here might according to previous posts? (no names given to protect the guilty) Wouldn't want your undies to get wet in that rain!

Some people? LOL. Me? Ha! Definitely need the grunders.

Good morning!



Y'all have a lovely day, I am going to go enjoy a nice cup of my foo-foo Highlander Grog.

Thanks Minnie....I had some Foo-Foo Highlander Grog myself this AM. Delish.

What is the benefit to timing light? Other than egg production?

Just egg production out of your hens. Personally...as I'm keeping pets I just let them go through a more natural egg cycle without the photo-stimulation.

Would you recommend this over Vaseline for large combs on very cold days?

Definitely works better than vaseline. Bag Balm is waxier and stays on better than Vaseline as it gets colder the consistency turns to a wax-like substance. Actually Did vaseline the first winter and I may has well have used peanut butter. Bag Balm is better but would need reapplications each cold night. As Minnie says too...it invigorates the blood flow a bit too which helps keep things from freezing a bit more.

It was Undies and a CarHartt jacket and winter Clogs.

A site to behold...I'm sure. Rit-rrr...

What is wrong with you people?

You got me all nervous this evil rumor of snow is a fraud. I checked the weather. Look at what I saw:



I took a picture of our weather, as you can see I have at least 10 days to do my weeks worth of work in. SO I might just do nothing all day! I love living in Minnesota's Banana belt.

Well if you are in the Banana Belt then all you should need is a banana hammock for the Undie Run!

Snow. Meh.

@Minniechickmama , definitely looking white. Cute little thing. It holds its own with the maran chicks. Even though it's not ours, we named it Squishy.....aaaaaaaaand we love it. Lol

Oh my heart....

 

[KlopKlop]

Well if you are in the Banana Belt then all you should need is a banana hammock for the Undie Run!

Well... I WAS eating lunch

 

[Bogtown Chick]

In my 8x10 coop how many vents should I have? Right now I just have the windows on each side and some air gaps where the roof and walls meet.

Rich Gabled roofs are harder to get chicken heat and moisture out. The windows help but everything gets collected in the peak for the most part. You could try putting vents in the two side walls that have peaks (near the point) But for these types from what I've seen and reviewed with people that have these roof lines that the whirly cupolas installed right into the roof is the best option for venting out these coops. I have a coop with a similar roof line myself. The best roofs are the simple slant in my humble opinion to avoid frost bite and moisture issues. I will tell you that a bigger coop like that may pose less problems but I guess you do have 19 birds filling it too. Also make sure your roosts are lower and giving head space for the moisture and extra humidity to rise well above combs. Extra poop removed on a regular basis...etc...etc...

 

[NathanZee]

I just went out and it was snowing here too! The last thing I need is moisture for the freshly tilled pen, because ducks + water +dirt = MESS.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Would you recommend this over Vaseline for large combs on very cold days?

Yes, or Vick Vaporub, since they have the menthol in them, it helps stimulate circulation as well as coat. The Vicks also helps them breathe better

 

[Cebarmlds]

Originally Posted by Rich55016

I figured this would be a great place to ask this because I am from MN. Do any of you use horizontal water nipples in the winter here? If so what does yours look like or what are you using for a heater? This is my first winter with chickens. Sorry if this is not the correct place to ask. Any help would be appreciated.

I have horizontal chicken nipples on a 2 gallon bucket with a bird bath heater in it and the lid on, I can get a picture of it tomorrow. It's kept in the run. Last year was the first winter using it and it worked great but last winter was pretty nice. Last year I had it hanging but two weeks ago I switched it to sit on a bucket- just thought it might hold the warmth better.

I have a cookie tin heater inside the coop like the one Bogtownchick posted above, for days they don't want to go out, it sits on bricks. 40 watt bulb max.

 

[Cluckies]

@Cluckies

I like that heated water bucket you posted. What I'm wondering - how many would you need for 35 chickens?

You could use a 5 gallon bucket with the same set up, put 6 nipples on it, we've learned to put the nipples up about midway, or at least a couple of inches up the pail, not right at the bottom of the pail, the heated water rises. For how many, It would depend on how often you want to refill it really. I wouldn't think they would go through a 5 gallon pain in one day? But I've got no idea. Ralphie may know, I think he uses a pail with nipples in the summer and he has many birds? If your chickens fight and won't let one get water, you may need 2. this is all just guestimate, you could go ask on the thread and someone with more chickens and a bigger pail could answer that.

heated waterer

Quote: Hahahaha!

Quote:

Quote: It is the redneck fashion of the week!

Quote:

I just went out and it was snowing here too! The last thing I need is moisture for the freshly tilled pen, because ducks + water +dirt = MESS.

Very messy! but they will probably love it!

 

[Minniechickmama]

You just HAD to go there!!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Would love to hear Judy's take on it!

 

[NathanZee]

Very messy! but they will probably love it!

Yes, they definitely enjoy it!

 

[Minniechickmama]

Hey, about roosters.....

Ralphie's creamer roo crowed after he had been here a few days. tentative crows. but then, he let loose and crowed multiple times in a row. a hen walked over and semi charged him, no contact, roo backed off, and......I think he has been silent ever since.

He is eating, roosting with the flock, behaving normally, but no crowing. I think Ralphie said he is about 4 months old?

One of the benefits of roo's is that wonderful crowing. Do I just have to give it time? Should I be worried somethings going on? Or maybe he just feels too"junior" yet?

I don't think I've ever had a silent rooster unless there was another rooster there.

Only the boldest cockerels are crowing at that age. If he is feeling a little less than a man-bird still, he may take a while before he puts that witch-bird in her place. Just wait until about February when he is feeling randy with the growing daylight and warming temps. Then it will be like Pepe LePew, and he will be all over those girls and crowing about it.

Its snowing!!!! More like flurries but it is snow!!!

I am glad to be in SOUTHERN MN.

Welcome to the undies run world!

The only thing I tend to in the undies is letting dogs out and calling them back in. I don't mind scaring people, I don't like scaring my birds unnecessarily.

It was Undies and a CarHartt jacket and winter Clogs.

Since you didn't go out in your Wife Beater under SHIRT in your undies, you lose points. But since you wore a Carhart, you gained it back. But CLOGS?????? Only if you had your black socks on with them, otherwise, you lose points.

In my 8x10 coop how many vents should I have? Right now I just have the windows on each side and some air gaps where the roof and walls meet.

Which direction does your roof ridge run, East/West, North/South, in a more slanted direction? Is it open to the roof in the inside?

Yes, they definitely enjoy it!

The nice things with ducks is they love to bathe, so they keep themselves clean. Now if they would just clean up the mud behind themselves!