North to Alaska!

[AK Baha]

This may be a silly question but I am setting up for winter and was wondering at what temperature do you all turn on the heat lamp?
I will have a:
regular light
Heat lamp
Some sort of water heater
Use shavings on the coop floor

Am I missing anything?
Thanks
Christina

Use a 75-100 watt red flood light in the roost, on a timer that comes on from 7:30 p.m.. to 10:00 a.m. when temps drop to 10 above or less.

 

[Alaskan]

Oh, and as to coop mess, i used to use shavings, and the poop would make this giant frozen teepee on top of the shavings.

Even with no water in the coop, the shavings would freeze together into a giant block. I have high humidity since i am on the coast.

Anyway, this summer I installed poop trays under all of my perches. I think that they are close to miraculous, that is how good they are, and how much cleaner the coop stays. Wow!

I am hoping that the poop trays will = a much cleaner and easier to keep clean coop (i don't think the PDZ will freeze into a solid clump) and the poop trays do greatly increase the square footage of my coop.

Large square footage is vital in the winter to help cut down on cannibalism and related nasties.

 

[Peaches N Chix]

hi all! i live on the kenai peninsula nice to see so many other alaskans! does anyone have black copper marans here or any other type of dark layer?

 

[Alaskan]

I might be. May even be willing to take the shipme t if you are willing to drive to the valley

I would be willing to drive to the valley.....except that i am not sure that mailing to the valley is any better than mailing to Homer. Either way, it is Anchorage plus one extra stop.

But, if you want to go in on an order, that would be great.

 

[Alaskan]

hi all! i live on the kenai peninsula nice to see so many other alaskans! does anyone have black copper marans here or any other type of dark layer?

I have some that i got from a lady here in Homer, she got hers from a lady in the Sterling area i think.

I don't think my rooster is that great. I am wondering if i should just kill him instead of use him for breeding. ( i got fertile eggs in the spring, but because of incubator trouble i only got one rooster)

 

[Peaches N Chix]

would you consider selling a dozen or two fertile eggs? i have found bcm in the valley before but never so close im in kasilof/soldotna area

 

[laseterlass]

There are several people with BCM in the MatsuValley and I believe there are some in Beluga

 

[AkRanger]

Nice to see that we (Alaskans) have an active thread! I live in Palmer.

I'm 100% new to this, so I am seeking as much help as possible. Of course there is there reading, and reading, and reading, and....

But I'm a pretty social guy, and would love to sit with some fellow Valley folks over some coffee (or beer!).

I acquired a coop (yesterday) and I am seeking some birds, I found some young Red sex-links on CL that I am hoping to get a hold of.

Starting by just trying to manage a laying flock, and plan to add meat/dual-purpose when I get the layers squarely handled. All of that in order to supplement feeding 7 children.

To start with; FEED.

Where is the best place for feed, locally? Any non-gmo providers? Any savings in mixing one's own feed?

Some answers are likely already (hidden) here, and I'll keep looking

Cheers!

Matthew

 

[Peaches N Chix]

Thank you, i saw there are a lot in the valley but sadly we made our last trip up for the year last month. I am hoping i can find some more locally if not ill be purchasing hatching eggs from out of state.

 

[laseterlass]

The birds in Beluga are French Perhaps we should state where and what we have

I am in Anchorage With Boggy Bottoms Belgian Danver Cuckoo and Black

English Bantam Chocolate Orpingtons Marc Sacre

Silkies in an assortment of colors and a sizzle hen for eggcitment