Moving to cold weather and need advice

[myrtletheturtle]

Hi everyone....
We are military and relocating next week from Savannah, GA to Hopkinsville KY...having lots of worries and troubles trying to bring my 6 feathered kids with me...not sure how they will adapt to the cold and snow, not sure what kind of coop to build/bring or what temporary housing will work while we build something more permanent! Looking for a big dog kennel to use as a run as well but worried about predators. Argh...so many questions!! Anyone have any advice? Anyone living in the Hopkinsville area who could help us out with the particulars?
Thanks so much!! Merry Christmas!

 

[MamaChic21]

if you're looking for a dog run/kennel of some sort, check this site http://www.horizonstructures.com/kennels.asp and http://www.atalarahsap.com/kopek-kulubesi.aspx hope it helps
If not, then if I were you, I would google

Good luck

 

[GAchick]

Or, if you want to leave them here and start over, I will take them off your hands...lol.... I am in Pembroke, right up I16 from you. And sorry to see you go....

 

[patandchickens]

LOL at Kentucky being "cold weather"

Unless you have very large-combed breeds it is unlikely to be a real big problem. Any chance you might be able to put them in a garage while you get permanent quarters set up? Or just knock together a rectangular plywood box, it doesn't have to be fancy or even have a sloped roof (tarp it atop the plywood, will be fine temporarily) til you can do something better. A chainlink dog pen makes a great run, no harder to predatorproof than any other kind of run and generally considerably stronger.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[elmo]

What's the temperature differential? If it's very large, your chickens could have a problem dealing with a sudden temperature shift that they're not acclimated to.

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
This could be a concern...I think Savannah is a pretty warm area, isn't it?? While that area of Kentucky isn't horribly cold, I'm sure there will be decent temp. diffference. Your chickens' normal nightly lows will now probably be their daily highs...lol. Don't know what your accomodations were in GA, but you'll need to insure that they have a draft free solid housing to snuggle into - LOTS of bedding. And whatever run you end up with, try to find a way to cover it, as you WILL have snow, something I'm sure your birds aren't use to. So they'll probably spend most of their time inside the shelter this winter anyhow... Good luck with your move!

 

[PepsNick]

We Georgians will miss you!

 

[myrtletheturtle]

Thanks so much for all of the good advice...we will have an unfinished basement that they can live in temporarily until we get appropriate housing up for them. We will try to build an insulated, draft-free coop! 2 of my girls do have tall combs...are they in danger for frostbite? As for the temperature discrepency, it will be a big change, however we have had an unusually cold few weeks with temps dipping into the teens at night and they have been fine with plastic around their coop to keep out the wind! I really really hope that they make it through this move...I couldn't bear to lose any of my girls!

 

[myrtletheturtle]

Quote:
I checked out the websites and the coops are GORGEOUS...just a bit out of our price range at the moment

Although I couldn't read the second since it is in turkish...

 

[myrtletheturtle]

Quote:
GA Chick: I really want to take them with me but we do have a bantam rooster who is in need of a new home if you have interest in him...I only have standard sized hens and he is 'frustrated' to say the least

He is blue and gold with feathered feet....cutie pie.