Montana

[karlamaria]

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wow sounds like rough territory ! Please let us know how it goes this winter, sounds like your a heck of a chicken farmer! meat birds, I would love to do these but my kids would freak. we were never raised on a farm, my kids see there 5 chickens as family. oye. at least we get eggs, or should I say 1 egg a day so far LOL. welcome and good to see another montana person here!

 

[karlamaria]

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well since this will be my first winter with chickens I am not sure, but I will be addign heat lamps for my girls. I plan to have one lamp going and with the coop insulated pretty good, and the run totally covered with plastic and tarps,and hay or straw laid down for there feet out in the run they should be pretty good.

 

[karlamaria]

how do you all keep water from freezing?? Im thinking the heat lamp will help, but not sure what else will work. looking into this now!

 

[thechickenchick]

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Good Morning fellow Montanans

My DH made water heaters for both of my coops. He mounted a light bulb inside an oilpan. He then placed it upside down on a piece of steel to protect the floor. We have them plugged in to a thermo cube so they come on automatically at 32 degrees. A 40 watt bulb does the trick for a 8 gallon waterer. I hope this helps

 

[cackleberrycoop]

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Good Morning fellow Montanans

My DH made water heaters for both of my coops. He mounted a light bulb inside an oilpan. He then placed it upside down on a piece of steel to protect the floor. We have them plugged in to a thermo cube so they come on automatically at 32 degrees. A 40 watt bulb does the trick for a 8 gallon waterer. I hope this helps

Fabulous! I'll be passing THIS post along to my husband - sounds great.

 

[skillswife]

Well he tries to get it on with the ladies although he isn't terrible successful yet, lol a bit clumsy. We also have silkie Roo that has no interest in crowing or the ladies but has looks like a roo.

As for cold hardy breeds, I got cochins and brahmas as they are supposed to tolerate cold better. But we haven't gone through a winter yet. My mil has brahmas as well and they seem to do well for her, the biggest thing they did to help the laying in the winter was to put another window in the coop to let more natural light in. Where we are in MT we usually have lots of sunshine, but its cold and windy. The sun is the important thing.

 

[skillswife]

Also Karla we have extra garden zucchini squash that we are selling from our organic garden, we will be in Butte on Thursday to move hubby for school, if you are interested. We have smaller round cue ball and eight ball zucchini squash as well as the large black magic zucchini. The cue ball and eight ball squashes are great to stuff and of course our chickens love the scraps!

 

[karlamaria]

Quote:
Good Morning fellow Montanans

My DH made water heaters for both of my coops. He mounted a light bulb inside an oilpan. He then placed it upside down on a piece of steel to protect the floor. We have them plugged in to a thermo cube so they come on automatically at 32 degrees. A 40 watt bulb does the trick for a 8 gallon waterer. I hope this helps

Hey, your hubby needs to sell these to us! What a cool idea, but I'm single amd need help lol, wish I was married to! Sunds like you got a great hubby!

 

[karlamaria]

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Sounds great! Let me know the cost and I will hit the bank. I'm still waiting on checks I ordered last week lol, will pull out some cash! I love squash! But man it's been extremely high priced these last few years. It's pike gold! I will send you my number so when your in town you can call me to meet you!

 

[karlamaria]

Still waiting on the other girls laying, whats taking so long?? its down right cool here, and there not stressed, they are living the good life lol. one has been laying for 2 weeks, while the others of the same age is doing nothing. oye, come on girls come on... ! maybe is I sing to them more... ( maybe thats why there not laying Im singing and they are mad LOL ) anyone else not getting eggs from there now 22 week old chicks ?