NY chicken lover!!!!

[chick inn]

Hey all, my grandfather passed away this morning so I may be absent for a few days. Just wanted to check in so that no one was worried if I didn't post for a while.

Sorry to hear about your loss

 

[boskelli1571]

Hey all, my grandfather passed away this morning so I may be absent for a few days. Just wanted to check in so that no one was worried if I didn't post for a while.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

Sally, thanks! Yes, that's EXACTLY what's happening. Two of the birds are silkie/cochin mix and they are about the same size. No problems with this hen and roo. BUT add the silkie and it's less than 1/2 the size of the roo, very noticeable how tiny she is when she's wet and those feathers are no longer puffy. The two larger birds roost together, and are "constant companions" and the little silkie kind of sits away from them. I too thought that perhaps the roo was much too big for the silkie. This definitely helps to confirm my suspicions. I thought it was simply due to them being different breeds but now I see that it is because the roo is so much larger than the silkie!

If you ever decide that you need to find a new home for your silkie I will take her in a heart beat!

I think I have another broody on my hands...

I wish that something would go broody here!

Quote: We insulated our coop that we built and I wish now that we hadn't. No heat, just make sure that it isn't drafty.

 

[boskelli1571]

My SIL has left a cooler near the garage for so long, I have half a mind to turn it into an incubator. Well I always have half a mind, but in this case it's thinking of making an incubator.

 

[Glasshen]

On the subject of heated coops, I have to confess with many disclaimers and head hanging that the first winter I put a heat light in the coop. I just could not believe that those poor little things wouldnt suffer and be too cold. Well! They drank tons of water, were breathing with their beaks open and had diarrhea. I turned off the heat light and they were fine.

Therefore, I have seen for myself that the chickens really do not need heat even in our crummy winter weather. Chickens are different than people. And living here, I kind of envy them their spiffy warm feathers that are new each fall, and for some a new set in spring too!

 

[rancher hicks]

Hello all -- been away from the forum for a couple of months (oh those pesky work/life details that get in the way!). Sorry to hear about the recent losses, and hope everyone is otherwise doing well. We added this little bit of ridiculousness to the family last month - he's also keeping us busy and will further postpone any serious poultry breeding on my part. Someday....

I don't know how people do it.

Dogs, rabbits, goats, ducks AND chickens? I would be dead. I barely can take care of what I've got, without dealing with a Dog. My DD's cat is here while she's away and I hate sifting litter. But I do like the cat.

 

[rancher hicks]

Sorry about your grandfather, Pyxis.

I love my heated dog bowl for the winter. It holds a gallon, I run a cord out to the coop and it heats the water enough so it doesn't freeze. If the temp is over 40 it doesn't heat. I just would bring out a jug of water, toss the yucky water and dry the bowl with a paper towel, pour in fresh...done with that chore.

Wouldn't it be easier to drink water in the house and out of a glass?

 

[Lynzi777]

I don't know how people do it. 

Dogs, rabbits, goats, ducks AND chickens?  I would be dead. I barely can take care of what I've got, without dealing with a Dog.  My DD's cat is here while she's away and I hate sifting litter. But I do like the cat. 

Well for someone without a job, it certainly keeps me busy! A cat, dog, 6 bunnies, chickens and ducks! I WISH I could have goats! Lol

 

[featherz]

Hey all, my grandfather passed away this morning so I may be absent for a few days. Just wanted to check in so that no one was worried if I didn't post for a while.

So sorry to hear that!! Our thoughts are with you.

 

[rancher hicks]

On the subject of heated coops, I have to confess with many disclaimers and head hanging that the first winter I put a heat light in the coop. I just could not believe that those poor little things wouldnt suffer and be too cold. Well! They drank tons of water, were breathing with their beaks open and had diarrhea. I turned off the heat light and they were fine.

Therefore, I have seen for myself that the chickens really do not need heat even in our crummy winter weather. Chickens are different than people. And living here, I kind of envy them their spiffy warm feathers that are new each fall, and for some a new set in spring too!

Chickens do not sweat, just like dogs they exhale alot of moisture. Each large fowl generates about 10 watts of heat or something like that. This is what drives up the humidity and just like us a "drier" cold feels less cold. Too, a drier heat feels less hot. Right?

So keep the humidity down and they'll be just fine.

Ventilation should be near the top of the coop, so as the warm moist air floats to the ceiling it is drawn off by the air that passes through the coop.

Insulation is okay as long as the ventilation is sufficient. The birds in this hoop fared much better than those in the wooden coop. When I cleared the snow away they still came out to play. Crazy but true. I have found the angle at which the wind blows so with it in this position it hits the side and not the front or back. The overhang keeps snow from blowing inside.