Newbie in Northwest Ohio

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kdwag

kdwag

Chirping
7 Years
Jul 14, 2012
413
8
91
Northwest Ohio
Hello all, found this web site recently and LOVE it. I've been all over the forum and have learned sooo much. I'm in the process of completing my coop and run but cannot find the "perfect" site in the yard yet but hope to have that figured out soon. My one question is during the winter months, do the birds spend much time outside? I've read they are susceptible to frost bite, and, do you need a heat source inside the coop as most of read i've read says no. Ohio winters have become rather unpredictable. After last year's mild temps, who knows, our winter may be the same this year.
 
Welcome kdwag.
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I live in northern Michigan. My coop is uninsulated but I put a 250 watt heat lamp in for when it gets really cold just in case someone isn't feeling well and really wants to be a bit warmer, it hangs about 3 feet off the floor. It really can't keep the coop above freezing temps on some days/nights, at times I've seen it drop to 6 above zero in there. The only time my birds experienced frostbite was a barred rock rooster who did not sleep with his head tucked under a wing so his comb got pretty heavily damaged. It's one of the reasons I switched to birds with rose and pea combs, etc (though I did get some blue andalusians this year which have regular combs so who knows what will happen?

Mainly though you need to keep your water from freezing and I use one of those blue heated dog bowls for that.

As for being outside mine all freak at the sight of snow so unless I shovel it out of the run they won't go outside at all. Depending on the year they almost never go out. I wish they'd get over it though because that just means I have more muck to muck out every spring! (I use the deep litter method so I don't have to muck daily or weekly.)

Hope you find that perfect spot soon!
 
Hello and welcome to BYC
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Glad you joined us!
 
Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan :D

I am even farther north than Swampducks, and use no supplemental heat in my coop - as a matter of fact I leave a window at least cracked open all winter. Heat sources are a fire danger, do not significant heat the whole coop, and make it harder for birds to acclimate to the cold. They can also actually increase the risk of frostbite by increasing the moisture in the air.

My birds will not walk in snow, and yes I do shovel for them some. I also put hay or straw in the run in winter, they liked to walk on and scratch around in it.

Do a search for the deep litter method, you will find lots of information.
 
Welcome! I am from NW Ohio too :). I almost always give my birds access to the run all winter long. We are in the wide open country, so not much to block the winds. Sometimes they go out and sometimes they don't-I always shovel some of the snow out of the run and that seems to help keep them going out. I do not have an insulated coop but I do add a heat lamp with a 250 watt red bulb. I also added an in-line thermostat control that I plug the heat lamp into. That way I can pick what temp I want the coop to get down to before the heat lamp kicks on (usually about 20 degrees). I also spent the $ at Tractor Supply and bought the metal heated base for the metal waterer. Plug it in and forget it. I don't want to fight with frozen waterers at 5 a.m before I leave for work, ya know?! Knock on wood, but no frostbite yet. Not counting last winter which was a breeze-doubt we'll get that lucky twice ;). Good luck with your Chickens!
 

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