New Jersey

[chickengirl1193]

congrats on the eggs! I just got my first eggs last week also! it's so exciting.
it's funny to me how everyone's chickens are so different! some could care less that it's in the negatives while others won't have anything to do with the cold!

 

[Sparkway]

I know. I'm glad they go out. If an egg freezes does it burst? I found two more today but they laid them after I checked this morning. They were cold as ice but I can't tell if frozen. We were waiting til weekend to blow the insides out and save the shells!!!

 

[LeenaB]

They don't burst- the will however crack. We've had cracked eggs. I just end up scrambling them up for the chickens and dogs.

We already use the deep litter method here, so the coop isn't as cold as it would be with sand or another method. So at 8 weeks I'll look at the weather and put the cockerels out for a week to see how they do before I put out the pullets. Loosing a cockerel wouldn't be the worst, but loosing a pullet would be upsetting.

 

[chickengirl1193]

I had one egg that froze and it broke and stuff was oozing out so I tossed it and I had another one that had a crack because it started to freeze but once it thawed it was fine. I think it takes a while for them to freeze completely. I would just check for a crack. that's a great idea to blow them out! And they are delicious to!

 

[chickengirl1193]

They don't burst- the will however crack.  We've had cracked eggs.  I just end up scrambling them up for the chickens and dogs.  

We already use the deep litter method here, so the coop isn't as cold as it would be with sand or another method.  So at 8 weeks I'll look at the weather and put the cockerels out for a week to see how they do before I put out the pullets.  Loosing a cockerel wouldn't be the worst, but loosing a pullet would be upsetting.

that's probably what ill do too lol. I cant tell mine apart yet tho, what are some things to look for to tell them apart?

 

[LeenaB]

I have two black sex linked males- white spots on their heads.

My Rhoad Island Reds are developing very pink combs at 4 weeks and wattles (just the males) the females are still small yellow combs.

My 1 week old chicks, 5 easter eggers X RIR roo and 1 straight RIR. They're still a guess at this point as far as sex.

Sexing them all depends upon whether you have sex linked birds (then it's easy).

I tried vent sexing and honestly I couldn't see a real difference. It was only productive in terms of being covered in chicken poo.

Feather sexing only works on certain breeds and mixes.

 

[chickengirl1193]

I guess I'll have to wait and see then lol. I have 8 EEs.

 

[redlinda1]

How are everyone's chickens handling the cold? Mine have never slept inside the coop they sleep on top of the roof. I put them inside manually and lock them in overnight. You would think after a couple of nights they would figure it out that it's warmer inside than out. Does anyone else's chickens sleep outside in this weather?

 

[ampho]

I am in Northern NJ and no, mine do not want to go outside (not in run anyway) If I let them free on the grass/snow they stay out for a few minutes but then run in when the wind blows...I still have heat in the coop but only keeps it about 10 degrees warmer than outside which this morning was 5 degrees. Hopefully it will warm up next few days!

 

[chickengirl1193]

I am in Northern NJ and no, mine do not want to go outside (not in run anyway) If I let them free on the grass/snow they stay out for a few minutes but then run in when the wind blows...I still have heat in the coop but only keeps it about 10 degrees warmer than outside which this morning was 5 degrees. Hopefully it will warm up next few days!

I'm in north Jersey to and I had to shovel paths in the snow for my girls to walk around lol. I. even put hay down so they wouldn't get cold feet!