I'm an old crow that got adopted by a stray rooster last Jan., he just wondered on our place out here in the boonies. Since then I have added a coop, 3 RIR s and a couple of mix breed hens. Put a roof over part of the fenced in area, 10x10 and they all decided that the rafter was a good place to sleep. I have to admit I am having a good time with the girls, they are fun to watch. One of the reds really likes to be held and petted, I call her cuddles, she also gives me a egg almost every day. Of the 5 girls I average 3 eggs a day, sometimes I get a '4 egg day'. I hope I am ready for winter, I put up LED string lights and enclosed the fence with tarps, they seem quite happy. Oh, I also have 2 sons, both got outa of the army a couple of years ago, one is now a fireman in Rochester NY and the other is a foreman on a drilling team. They both had tours in the sandbox, glad they are home. Been married to a little Irish gal for 37 years now. Did my time with Uncle Sam back in '69 - '72, retired now.
) It's a great way to spend retirement. As for you chickens in winter, just make sure that their coop is well ventilated to get moisture from building up in it, draft free, and dry. Feathers are wonderful insulators, and moisture is a much greater danger than cold. I've raised chickens where winter temperatures dropped to 30 F below zero, and with a dry, draft free coop, they did just fine. I've never used any supplemental light or heating either. Too often heat lamps are the cause of fires, and if you do use supplemental lighting, have the extra lighting on early in the morning, not at dusk, which can mess up their laying cycles. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.
and Welcome To BYC!
