Montana

[Bantambird]

I've hatched about 150 French Marans, but with this crazy weather nobody is going to buy anything, lol. Ah well, once weather gets warmer, I'll have to start building grow out pens. These would be laying by Summer and people might want point of lay pullets.

 

[KMJonzy]

Just thought I would share this great idea for these extra cold and windy nights we have been having in NW Montana. A warm infused water t warm up thier insides. I just made it and gave it to my ducks and they loved it (I added fresh Lemon Balm and Catnip also!)

Ooh, nice! What book is this from?

 

[BreInFlannel]

Ooh, nice! What book is this from?

The Homesteader's Herbal Companion: The Ultimate Guide to Growing, Preserving, and Using Herbs by Amy Fewell
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1493034154/?tag=backy-20

there was a good chapter or two just on herbs for poultry and livestock!

 

[Bantambird]

Only thing I can think of to add is to use the plastic waterers when adding most concoctions, especially acidic ones like vinegar combos, because the metal waterers can corrode and fail, and I use metal waterers in winter because I have melted the plastic ones on my heat plates.
Otherwise, it's pretty neat recipe!

 

[BreInFlannel]

Only thing I can think of to add is to use the plastic waterers when adding most concoctions, especially acidic ones like vinegar combos, because the metal waterers can corrode and fail, and I use metal waterers in winter because I have melted the plastic ones on my heat plates.
Otherwise, it's pretty neat recipe!

I actually just put in a small plastic tub and brought it out there for about an hour at a time twice a day...I didn't want them to be able to jump right in and take a bath in it Also, it was starting to freeze over after about an hour anyway...that was a nasty weather week! But yes! Good reminder about the metal waterers

 

[ivyrakestraw]

Hi there, previous poultry owner in WA, moved back to Alberton (near Missoula) recently. Will be getting chickens (and maybe more) again. Nice to meet y'all! I'll hopefully have Russian Orloffs and Muscovy ducks again this summer. Would love to know if anyone has good cold weather coop plans to share. Thanks.

 

[BigSkyBird]

Welcome to Montana!

My chickens are in an unheated, uninsulated open-air coop (open on the narrower side, facing east, away from the prevailing winds; there is no draft in the west end of the coop, where the roosts are) and they have thrived in our winter. I have 3 pullets and 5 hens (nearly 2 years old). When it was 29 below zero in the morning a few weeks ago, they laid 4 eggs that day. The next day was 25 below in the morning and they laid a 7 eggs.

Damp cold is more dangerous than dry cold, so ventilation is super important. If you heat your coop and the power goes out, your chickens haven’t had time to acclimate and could be in danger. If it suddenly dropped 50 degrees in the fall, I’d temporarily provide heat, but with it typically gradually getting colder my chickens have been happy and healthy.

Here’s a link to my coop page, in case you are curious.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-positive-local-action-coop.72804/

 

[KMJonzy]

The Homesteader's Herbal Companion: The Ultimate Guide to Growing, Preserving, and Using Herbs by Amy Fewell
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1493034154/?tag=backy-20

there was a good chapter or two just on herbs for poultry and livestock!

Thanks!!

 

[406girl4life]

Hello fellow MT chicken people! Located in Jefferson County, have my first flock with three EEs (2 I’m pretty sure are pullets and 1 I think is gonna be a Roos) and three BR pullets!
Just moved them from the brooder to their coop yesterday!

 

[BigSkyBird]

View attachment 1721773 View attachment 1721772 View attachment 1721771 View attachment 1721770 View attachment 1721768 View attachment 1721769 Hello fellow MT chicken people! Located in Jefferson County, have my first flock with three EEs (2 I’m pretty sure are pullets and 1 I think is gonna be a Roos) and three BR pullets!
Just moved them from the brooder to their coop yesterday!

So much fun! Is it the EE with the dark red head that you expect to be a boy?