New Mexico

[peterjarmo]

I'm starting to think ahead about my first winter with chickens here in Abq. Anybody have any tips for keeping water from freezing? How important is it to have heat in the coop? .. Anybody put lights on timers to keep egg production up?

 

[Whoops]

lol "Done right" is my concern. I have never composted anything before. When I tried to start with worms, they died. This would have chicken poo in it, so I need to learn the best techniques for here.

 

[colburg]

I'm starting to think ahead about my first winter with chickens here in Abq. Anybody have any tips for keeping water from freezing? How important is it to have heat in the coop? .. Anybody put lights on timers to keep egg production up?

Don't heat the coop. You don't get nearly cold enough for that.

All I do is provide a little more windbreak(close the coop door) if the night temps get below about 20F. As long as they can get out of the wind, and don't get wet, they'll be fine.

colburg

 

[Squeaky]

I don't add light for egg production, but on a couple extremely cold nights I've added a red bulb for heat. It's important to change their water several times a day if it starts to freeze.

One thing I learned not to do is to top off a partially frozen plastic container. That's a good way to break it when the water freezes and expands.

 

[Squeaky]

Hi! Westsider here.

 

[Whoops]

Hi Westsider! I am across the river on the East side. (Well, and nearer the mountains.)

 

[BOrion]

Hi there, I live way up north, near the CO border. I use a hanging bucket with chicken nipples. In the winter I put an aquarium heater in it. Works great. I don't heat, but do plug I. The heat lamp if it gets into the teens and below.

 

[CibolaChooks]

lol - so, maybe trading any roos back won't be an issue after all! I still hope they are all hens. I got an easter egger, a barred rock, and a welsummer. They just turned five weeks old and I am amazed how much they changed in a week! They went from being fuzzy, partially feathered chicks to little feather covered chickens.

So, I live in Albuquerque and I want to start composting. Any tips to cut down the smell, roaches, etc? I don't want to be a neighborhood nuisance.

I found that deep litter works amazing in our climate as long as its done in a way it can get wet from the rain or snow. I had up to 40 chickens in a very large coup and it never smelled like chicken pooh.

 

[CibolaChooks]

I'm starting to think ahead about my first winter with chickens here in Abq. Anybody have any tips for keeping water from freezing? How important is it to have heat in the coop? .. Anybody put lights on timers to keep egg production up?

ive read that heat in the coup actually causes more problems than it helps. and it doesn't allow them to fully accumulate to the change in temperature. they rely on it to much if its used and never get used to being in the cold. then if the light burns out they are hurting bad. I also read that it increases the chance for dew and condensation in the coup so then theirs more chance of frost bite.

 

[cheeperchick]

Hi everyone! I am interested in some Dominique pullets for springtime and was wondering if anyone knows where I could get some. I already have an established flock that will be 3 months old this month. I live in southern nm in the Anthony area..Thx!