New Member

[sourland]

Congratulations on your retirement, and welcome to BYC.

 

[Sallimom]

So many nice comments, thank you! As for winter prep, I am thinking about moving them from their coop (which is good size but they only use it to roost at night) into the barn. They will have more room to move around during the day and they have the goats to help retain heat in there too.
I was going to get a heat lamp and put it on a timer to provide a little extra warmth during the day when everyone is active, and to help with slowing down water freezes. I may have to rethink this...

 

[fldiver97]

Welcome Lots of info on winterizing coops and runs. I don’t use heat lamps, too worried about fire or power outages that will suddenly leave the chickens to deal with very cold environment. Dry, well ventilated and draft free are most important.

 

[BlueBaby]

Hello, and welcome! Glad that you joined! Good luck with your flock and goat's!

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Try using a sweeter heater for safe heat!

 

[Jac Jac]

(1) I am new to chickens. I got my first chickens as babies last March.
(2) I have six chicken
(3) Three are Buff Orphingtons and three are Rhode Island Reds

(4) I love these chickens. They come when I call them. They let me pet them and pick them up.

(5) I also have six Nigerian Dwarf goats. They share the same area as my chickens.

(6) I retired last April and started this hobby. Both the goats and chickens are completely new. We live on seven acres with a nice big barn, have for many rears, but I never had time to take this up. I am having the best time!

(7) I spent a good year reading and studying about both these goats and chickens before I brought them home. Until recently everything was going well. Now, I am worried about the coming winter and want to make sure I do everything to keep them safe and comfortable.

So you have chosen to be united with a bunch of Cluckers and Buttheads (goat parents). Welcome, welcome, welcome. So happy to for you to be with us. Now, don't be shy. We expect you to jump in and make yourself and your animal family right at home. We have a lot in common with the Orps and RIR so I'll be talking to you soon. Again I say welcome to you and the family. We love you already.

 

[drumstick diva]

So glad you joined us at Backyard Chickens, the pulse beat of the chicken community. Chickens generally can handle cold much better than heat.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC.

Here are some links to useful resources:

• List of guides on how to use the site - “How to...” guides
• Great go-to resource - Learning Centre
• Good starting point for browsing the site - Articles
• Insightful feedback on how members manage their flocks - Topic of the Week back-catalogue
• Excellent sources of local information - U.S. States thread list
• http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/winter-chicken-keeping
  
  http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/winter-coop-temperatures
  
  Topic of the week - Winter chicken keeping

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community! Best wishes and have lots of fun!

 

[Cynthia12]

WELCOME!