North Carolina

[NewHomesteader2010]

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You can always visit me for a sewing day or just a friendly visit and "accidentally" drop off a few ducks (so long as there is an instructional manual too)!!

I'm sure DH wouldn't notice for a day or two that something new was out there!!

GOOD LUCK at the auction!!

When should we start closing up the coop? How cold can Orpingtons & Marans handle it?? I don't want any of my guys/girls getting frostbite. Thanks!!

 

[Jloeffler]

NH I am glad you asked about closing up the coop. That's something I'd like to know too.

Beth, good luck at the auction today!!

CSB I could use some advice on raising high strung girl type children!! Didn't you say you'd already been there??

 

[barredrocker]

wakecounty

 

[Jloeffler]

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[BHep]

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X2

 

[BHep]

We have plenty of time...this neck of the woods, before closing up the coops. AND you will be pleasantly surprised to know....that your birds will be outside, braving the weather, even snow. They are pretty hardy.
Now My Polish, Silkies & Seramas do not fair well in the colder weather.... I am sure there are more breeds, ones that I don't have that should be added to that list. Mine get plenty of warm treats and yes.... I do use heat lamps. I know that some people will jump all over that but yes I do. I give my "sensitive" birds heat lamps at night and during real nasty weather. I use 60 watt reptile lamps.
My big birds do fine and I do not give them heat. Just keep the drafts off them. They will be fine.



I HATE having to decide who stays and who goes.

I had the kids in on the decisions of what roosters to keep. We did give a few a reprieve this time. We have 2 Javas...that I swear are roosters, but are just slower to develop. I am holding out with the hope I am wrong and they are hens, otherwise out of 7, there is 1 hen

Then decided to hold on to 1 more BLRW rooster. Both are too pretty.

But.... already, just with the bachelors penned up, there is peace on the ranch. They really are just terrorizing the hens.

Well off to finish chores and out to the auction.

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

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glad to meet you

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

We don't close the coops up through the winter and have never lost a bird to the weather. The birds are healthy and can handle the tempatures, they free access to the coop at all times and if they want to go inside,they do. Young birds are kept inside but it's not heated, chicks do get heat lamps. Everyone has their own way of keeping birds through colder months and it works well for them, you just find what works best for you and your situation.

As for raising girls....well.......raised three and not sure how I survived it with any sanity left much less them.

I think in the long run we just figured out that what worked for one did not always work with another sooooo

was play it by ear with each but used common sense and basic training techniques. Sounds awful, doesn't it

but it worked

 

[ramirezframing]

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I don't go to shows. Didn't even know about the shows before this thread.

The only shows I've been to are at the state fair. lol Thats just to see the birds and not how everyone did.

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

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I don't go to shows. Didn't even know about the shows before this thread.

The only shows I've been to are at the state fair. lol Thats just to see the birds and not how everyone did.

If lots of folks are gonna meet at the Smithfield show it just may get me to come and join in the meet-up......other than that have not been to a chicken show myself.....just a backyard chicken person