North to Alaska!

[akcharlie1960]

Anybody in the Anchorage/Mat-Su area have speckled sussex pullets for sale ? I need one of those one buff orp and one RIR. Also looking for a banty roo that's not a mutt or barnyard mix too. Thanks. Charlie

 

[laseterlass]

From DC, lived all over. Been in Anchorage since 1988. Legal to keep up to 5 hens minimum 6000 sq foot lot. Add a hen for every other 1000 sq feet. I ordered my chicks and was going to go underground with it, but it all worked out.

I am pretty excited and am about a third of the way through the coop build. To heat or not to heat? Coop is 4x4x2.5. Insulated, draft free, deep litter method, 5 Orpies. I imagine the ventilation is more about the humid heat than the cold months we have here. I am planning on a few knob size hole under the eaves. Do you think it needs more? I chose specific chickens for the cold. Purchased from efowl.com. I do not know if they are gov regulated, but they arrived in excellent condition after a day and a half in the mail and are sassy as all get out. Has anyone tried one of those floor heat pads? I prefer to not have a light on them. I know eggs will be far and few between, but I prefer them to be comfortable in the winter and possibly lay for more years. Thanks for any advice. Alaska is a little different and I am concerned.

Not only is efowl NPIP approved, but they are a network of several NPIP hatcheries and though they are located in Min, they negotiate the closest hatchery in the network to send you your chicks. Mine were in such great shape because they came from Colorado.

 

[laseterlass]

Quote:
Hi. I have 16 Buff Orpies. If they all survive. I should have an extra. They are in a brooder and probably a few days old maybe a week. Just beginning to get flight feathers. I you can wait for a little bit I will only charge what I paid with Mareks innoculation and shipping. I think $7.75.

There is also a pretty blue Silkie Roo on Cl right now.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=362268
This is the place to go for all the winter stuff... or try a search for "Alaska" "Winter", etc... there are TONS of threads on cold weather care, coops, etc. Here's one I started last year, and generated quite the discussion... https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=421122

My advice is to give them JUST enough heat that the eggs don't freeze... 35°F.

I had 60+ birds in an 8x8' coop and never added heat. 5 birds might need help, but very minimal. If they're acclimated to the colder weather, their down coats will thicken accordingly. There are lots of people from AK on this board, and on Facebook.

 

[heidiinak]

Checking in from Wasilla! We have one rooster and 12 hens. My husband had chickens as a kid growing up but I am a complete newbie! We have had our chickens for a couple of months now and I have to say I am loving every minute of it!

 

[akcharlie1960]

from Chugiak. Started last year with our first ever 3 and just added 3 more last week. Chickens are cool.

 

[laseterlass]

Welcome

We love chickens. In Anchortown with 16 in the brooder to be dispersed to a few homes.

 

[alaskanchicken]

Hey everyone, I am in wasilla. We have 1 blue cochin, 1 white cochin, 1 bo (I think) 1 redblue laced wynadote, (and one chick) and a black ee. I have five babies that survived my mink/weasel attack, and have ordered thirty more to be in on the first week of june. (so If anyone wants some......they should be all hens+four straight run silkies.)

My mom had chickens when I was little. My husband grew up around them also. I never knew they could be so fun to watch!

 

[greenfingers]

Hey, I'm in Wasilla too!! I'm growing out some interesting breeds - I have a pair of Mille Fluer Cochin Bantams, and I think a trio of D'Uccles - the roo is frizzled and so cute! But I am mainly interested in the LF, and have Lavender Orpingtons, Wheaton Marans, Light Sussex and Coronation Sussex, Wheaton Ameraucanas, some EEs and some Cochins that came from Lemon Blue stock, however they are not what I would call Lemon Blue - have 2 roos I am going to have to re-home and they are pretty I just have too many breeds!

I also just got my turkey order from Porters - Blue Palms, Sweetgrass and Calico turkeys! They are very cute at this stage (about a week old). Also I am keeping the 2 Toulouse goslings my friend bought at the Swap Meet! Go to sell chickens, come home with goslings and bunnies!! If anybody has any other color(s) of Sussex, I would love to try some other colors - I'm very impressed with the way the Sussex grow and are so friendly. Of course these are not hatchery birds, so I don't know if that makes the difference! Good to see so many other folks I did not know were in the Valley!

 

[MrsDeb]

greenfingers? You were at the swapmeet?

I'd love to see your Coronations, Light Sussex and Lav Orps ...I also have all 3 breeds (pure, not splits).