NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

We have two of the windows open about maybe 2". One on each side. We do have some ventilation on the top from front and back but I'm not quite sure if it's good ventilation up there yet. So far they seem to be fine. I'm crossing my fingers I don't kill these girls over winter.

I have a bit of a debbie downer sort of attitude after today. Hahaha

Well now you should be able to see/feel which way the wind generally blows. It would be the side where the snow usually piles up against the house.

My birds have lived in this with part of the front open all winter and were just fine. You'd be amazed at how they can live. There is a book on "Open House" coops or it is Open Front?

The front is covered with fleece. I leave the door open all day. Warm and humid are a death knell to birds. This is why I don't add heat. Chickens exhale a lot of moisture.

This is how it was one year. Last year it was empty. I used carboard under feed bags half way up in the back. Small opening neaqr the top.



Another year I put fleece over the entire front. Over the top are tarps If they start to leak in the spring on a dry day I just add another. This year there is plastic. I reckon a more permanent solution would be good but expensive. Since I might not use them it's one I'd rather not get into.

 

[lisa523]

Well now you should be able to see/feel which way the wind generally blows. It would be the side where the snow usually piles up against the house. My birds have lived in this with part of the front open all winter and were just fine. You'd be amazed at how they can live. There is a book on "Open House" coops or it is Open Front? The front is covered with fleece. I leave the door open all day. Warm and humid are a death knell to birds. This is why I don't add heat. Chickens exhale a lot of moisture. This is how it was one year. Last year it was empty. I used carboard under feed bags half way up in the back. Small opening neaqr the top. Another year I put fleece over the entire front. Over the top are tarps If they start to leak in the spring on a dry day I just add another. This year there is plastic. I reckon a more permanent solution would be good but expensive. Since I might not use them it's one I'd rather not get into.

I cant have our door open all winter for the ladies. They are usually locked in the coop for winter. Sometimes i let them out when i come home from work. I put in flock blocks, hang greens and put scratch under their bedding. I have two vents front and back on the top for air. Last year they did well no one got sick or passed. Im hoping this year is just as good with our -30 weather in wny.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Are you having predator issues ? something on the ground that is making them fly up ?

it's not predators on the ground it's bugs in the sky. They think they are dying if they don't get bugs. I might be forced to buy them crickets and worms over the winter. The flock has a pet rottweiler that keeps them very safe. They eat the bugs for him and he scares everything off for them. He has gone so far as to sleep under a pile of chicks when they were about 7 weeks old. He won't go after an animal he sees as "my pet" only those who threaten my pets or my kids. He's a strange dog.

 

[rancher hicks]

I cant have our door open all winter for the ladies. They are usually locked in the coop for winter. Sometimes i let them out when i come home from work. I put in flock blocks, hang greens and put scratch under their bedding. I have two vents front and back on the top for air. Last year they did well no one got sick or passed. Im hoping this year is just as good with our -30 weather in wny.

I would have no trouble leaving mine in but there isn't enough floor space otherwise. At least not enough to satisfy me.

My other coops have runs that are covered so they have plenty of space. I would like to add hoop runs to the two that haven't any run, but need to relocate them first. I didn't expect to use them year round, but chickenitis set in.

 

[lisa523]

Mine are not in a location where i can add on a run yet. My old coop had a run but it wasnt good for winter. So i bought two new coops and when my brother put them in, it was just temp location..but they havent been moved yet.

This is why i usually free range with our dogs out. They seemed to be ok last year with all the distractions I pit in there. I also put in a mirror on the wall. They seemed to like to figure out who the new chicken is ..lol

 

[Purpletie3]

Mine are not in a location where i can add on a run yet. My old coop had a run but it wasnt good for winter. So i bought two new coops and when my brother put them in, it was just temp location..but they havent been moved yet.

This is why i usually free range with our dogs out. They seemed to be ok last year with all the distractions I pit in there. I also put in a mirror on the wall. They seemed to like to figure out who the new chicken is ..lol

I like your mirror idea. Might help to increase the sunlight in the coops with winter coming also!

 

[Purpletie3]

Hopefully everyone is getting along on their winter list. Today is kicking my butt. Girls are on a slowdown and almost get me electrocuted by refusing to go in their coops last night when a fast and strong electrical storm moved in. Almost thought about leaving them to fend in the nasty...but, couldn't do it.



Zellwin.com is doing a special Christmas Egg carton...100 for $28.00 shipped. I couldn't find cartons under 35 cents. Thought I would share since it's the best buy I have found in a few months. Of course...everyone will think it's Christmas all year...I wish they had Easter ones...to match my colored eggs...

Okay- feeding time since sunset is after 6!

 

[Beer can]

Is anyone using the petroleum jelly on their girls tonight so they don't get frost bite?  I know they said it may snow but weather.com looks like it won't be below temps. I'm guessing we have a bit more time before this happens right?

I've heard petroleum jelly helps but I never tried it, I would think it would make their combs feel wet and colder. This isn't cold. Last winter with weeks of subzero -25 windchill our brownleghorn girls never got frostbite. Welsummer rooster only got it minor on the tips of his comb, went away come spring no damage. Worst frostbite pics I've seen were from roosters dipping their wattles in their drinking water during subzero.

 

[Glasshen]

I tried using gasoline on the chickens a few years ago. I have used it on my son when he was youn, too. The oil does protect a bit, but it got on the feathers on their heads, which made me think the feathers would be not as able to keep them warm...so I stopped using it.

 

[HISIRISHGEM]

I tried using gasoline on the chickens a few years ago. I have used it on my son when he was youn, too. The oil does protect a bit, but it got on the feathers on their heads, which made me think the feathers would be not as able to keep them warm...so I stopped using it.

Gasoline?