North Carolina

[BHep]

Only thing I can suggest to those worrying about the cold temps... DO NOT USE HEAT LAMPS !!!

If your coop is draft free or the birds have a place to get out of the cold..then they will be fine.

 

[Tikkijane]

FVRM, the people that let me down last fall on the Wheaten/Blue Wheatens has caught up and will be setting me some later into the spring...unless they forget again.  I'll remember you need a roo, as I'm sure there will be extras!  I'll also be ordering from someone else even later (hatching eggs only) if you want a different bloodline.  this one pays attention to egg color, and her birds look good.  Further north, though, so must wait.

Went to TSC today and was disappointed to see them with "Americauna" chicks.  People like EEs.  They should call them properly instead of causing more confusion with Ameraucanas.    One of my pet peeves.  Shouldn't feed those, but I guess I do anyway.

They label as shipped from the hatchery. Blame the hatchery for not calling them EEs....

 

[cwhittington]

Hey everyone!
I'm about 1,000 posts behind on here, so trying to catch up.
Hope everyone and their birds are doing well!

Question: What do you all do to keep your coop extra warm. I see it's supposed to be getting into single digits here overnight this week, which I think is the lowest it's ever been here, at least since I've had animals! My coop floor is the ground because I find it easier to keep clean. Can you even do deep litter method with that? I've heard some people say that helps keep the coop warm.

Also, I have my rabbits in a colony. The have shallow burrows and thick coats, but should I be worried about them freezing?

PS-- My first batch of Olive Eggers from my BCM roo are hatching now Heavily feathered legs too, I love that. Excited to be hatching my own eggs for the first time, I've always had to use other peoples.

Here's a good article about DON'Ts for chickens in the winter...pay close attention to #2!

http://blog.mypetchicken.com/2012/11/16/cold-weather-chickens-8-things-not-to-do/

 

[Tikkijane]

Only thing I can suggest to those worrying about the cold temps...  DO NOT USE HEAT LAMPS !!!    

 If your coop is draft free or the birds have a place to get out of the cold..then they will be fine.

X2. Add more bedding for them to hunker down into. I have thermometers in the coops. They are usually at least 10 degrees warmer inside than out.

 

[DonkeyJac]

My chicken coop is in the middle of the pasture, and the donkeys are very good with chickens. When the chickens are out at feeding time you always see chickens in the donkey's feed bowls. The donkeys don't even share with each other.

The chickens use the stalls for dust baths on wet or frozen days.

 

[FVRM]

I made some progress on my spring coop cleaning and upkeep.
I patched up some holes inside the coop where the chickens were digging just in time to stop cold drafts from coming in.

added a new roost pole in one coop and added some better nest boxes to two of my coops.

And was finally rewarded with a faverolle egg probably because they actually like the new box.

I also got some sleep today! i had only slept for 4 hours in a 48 hour period thanks to my jobs

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Dutch! Glad you are back! Deep litter works great on ground. That is what I have done in the past. And with rabbits the problem is too hot rather than too cold. I'll bet you will be fine.

Yeah...I know it's the fault of the hatcheries on the EEs. Told you that I shouldn't feed that pet peeve!

Had a great visit with Coop Scoop and RF today, and a couple of the younguns. I'm not getting nearly enough time with my favorite chicken people!

 

[FVRM]

Ive decided to sell 2 of my mille fleur leghorns ($20 ea.) if anyone is interested send me a pm, I will post some photos here tomorrow. I will also post an ad on craigslist on wednesday. I think they are all laying or at least 2 of the 4 are. They are almost bantam sized and lay a small white egg, the yolk is the same size as the bigger eggs so i guess they have less white.

Fayetteville/dunn/parkton/st. pauls/ hope mills areas I can meet you somewhere

 

[rainbowchick]

Who was it that wanted the "one good snow"?!?
I feel like I'll never get my breeding pens done now!!

 

[lularat]

It may have been me...been wanting a snow all winter and right now we're only getting freezing rain. Coating everything pretty good...just hope the power stays on.