North to Alaska!

[chicksak]

Hi all,
What does everyone use to store their feed? Will it hurt if it freezes? We don't have a garage and the shed gets blocked by snow buts its not heated anyways. Do I have to store it in the house and bring out only what is needed or will it hurt stored outside? Currently I fill the feed bucket and the girls eat it at will, usually graze on it through out the day pending how much free range they get. Maybe I will have to change this for the winter. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

 

[Alaskan]

I use a hanging feeder that holds maybe half a bag of feed.

I store it outside in a covered run area in a garbage can. It is fine if it freezes but
1. Watch condensation that might form since that will cause mold
2. You need to make sure the rodents can't get to it

I store extra bags in my mud porch.

 

[allsummedup]

Freezing it won't hurt I have mine in a plastic trash can on my porch.

 

[chicksak]

What breed of chicken(s) do you think winter the best? Are there any Orphington breeders in Alaska?
Thanks

 

[AK Baha]

It is hard to find a quality breeder in Ak. At least that has been my experience.

 

[chicksak]

That's to bad as I would rather buy from a breeder vs. a hatchery! If my hubby would let me then I would get a roo and do it myself.

 

[Alaskan]

True, (about breeders in alaska)but some backyard type breeders have pretty good birds.

I got some very nice looking French Black Copper Marans from a lady (not hatchery stock), and at the Ninilchik fair, even though most of the birds there were hatchery specials, there were three pairs that were gorgeous. Two pairs of Olandsk Dwarf and one pair of perfect chocolate wyandottes.

The people who have them might not be true breeders, but I would love some fertile eggs from them!

 

[Alaskan]

And chicksak,

Any bird with a small comb will work fine.

I see you are in Wasilla, it doesn't get that cold there, so you might get by with anything.

I actually (because of a fit of insanity) have five leghorns this year. It will be interesting to see if I can get them through the winter with little or no frostbite.

 

[AK Baha]

My birds are born and raised in Ak and are great birds just wish I had more options.

 

[Alaskan]

I am planning on ordering from urch/turnland in the spring. Supposedly his birds are in general much better than standard hatchery.

But, I am finding that there are a great many cool birds in AK.....I couldn't believe that I was looking at two pairs of Olandsk Dwarf!

So, they are out there, just hard to track down.

But, I keep thinking about those Olandsk Dwarf....I wonder if they got them from Greenfire farms, and wherever they got them, you know they were expensive, and why would they pick an expensive chicken with such a giant comb? I wonder if they heat their chicken coop, so don't care about the giant comb?

I am planning on spending way too much on chickens next spring.......but I am only spending money on breeds with tiny combs.

Just, whatever....... But I find it odd.