NY chicken lover!!!!

[Aria]

Gramma, What Breed of Chicken is the photo you posted? We were given 2 that look
like that chicken and when they lay...their eggs are light blue. Is that chicken Plymouth
Rock...or? Aria

 

[rancher hicks]

See now I realized something. Chickens let up during december. Point? Save your eggs in November if you intend to do a lot of baking for Christmas.
Too it's always good to get a half dozen or so, chicks to raise up. I sold the BO's but the others are laying. Still I've more slackers than layers. It could be because I'm not letting them out til late. I'm just so tired.
A silkie went broody but I pulled her and took the eggs. I'm tempted to give her Delaware eggs as she was sitting on Silkie and brown egg laying EE's.
I am so freaking COLD!!
I bought electric throws and blankets. DW gets so cold. Still getting Chemo but not eating enough. Has new med to help that and I hope it does.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Gramma, What Breed of Chicken is the photo you posted? Aria

I think it is a Plymouth Rock ..it is not my picture ..if yours are laying blue eggs they would not be full they must be mixed with something else as P R usually lay brown eggs I think ..

 

[NNYchick]

I’m concerned about my chickens. This is my first winter, I have read and research all summer about caring for them in the winter. Read no heat keep them dry and draft free. Then I woke up this morning and they have frost on them. I don’t know if it because the pile up to each other instead of roost. I have 8 Silkies in the pen that is 16’ by 8’. I have deep pine shavings and straw on the floor. I don’t know if I’ve left too much ventilation.

I put plastic up on the front except over the door. And left the 2 foot area across the back open and the 2 triangle open area on the ends.
I don’t want to put heat lamp out there but I think I need to get them dried off. Please help me figure out what went wrong.

 

[Aria]

Rancher, So sorry to hear your wife is not well. And my husband is
always cold. I think it is thin blood and old age.
We did have a lot of eggs in November....but our son and daughter
visited for Thanksgiving...and we gave them all our eggs to take home.

But no problem...we purchased 2 dozen and now our chickens are laying again.

I knew you would have use for your Silkies. They are still our favorite breed. One problem...they lay small and few eggs.

We now have only 2 Silkies and 5 chickens that are EE Plymoty Rock mix. Try to stay warm. Aria

 

[rancher hicks]

I’m concerned about my chickens. This is my first winter, I have read and research all summer about caring for them in the winter. Read no heat keep them dry and draft free. Then I woke up this morning and they have frost on them. I don’t know if it because the pile up to each other instead of roost. I have 8 Silkies in the pen that is 16’ by 8’. I have deep pine shavings and straw on the floor. I don’t know if I’ve left too much ventilation.
View attachment 1209807
I put plastic up on the front except over the door. And left the 2 foot area across the back open and the 2 triangle open area on the ends.
I don’t want to put heat lamp out there but I think I need to get them dried off. Please help me figure out what went wrong.

Well now, as I see it.
1. Plastic holds in moisture, so you might try using Fleece on the sides or at least one side.
2. How many chickens do you have? It looks as though you have too much open space. It's a beautiful coop to be sure and I'd love it, but it looks very high. Heat rises so put your roosts up high if you can OR run a cover of fleece to lower the ceiling.

3. I suggest a wall of hay or straw across the back. It will hold in some heat. Too a nice big layer on the floor. It looks as though you're doing the deep litter method and that is great.
4. If you only have a few chickens, i would quarden off an area to make a smaller coop. A coop that size I would think could hold 30+ large birds. If you let them out to run.

Hope some of these ideas help. I wish you well.

 

[rancher hicks]

There is a reason our ancestors build coops like this.

the roost would be near the back so the birds would be near the ceiling keeping the heat where they roosted. Each large bird generates 10 watts of heat.

 

[NNYchick]

Well now, as I see it.
1. Plastic holds in moisture, so you might try using Fleece on the sides or at least one side.
2. How many chickens do you have? It looks as though you have too much open space. It's a beautiful coop to be sure and I'd love it, but it looks very high. Heat rises so put your roosts up high if you can OR run a cover of fleece to lower the ceiling.
View attachment 1209962 3. I suggest a wall of hay or straw across the back. It will hold in some heat. Too a nice big layer on the floor. It looks as though you're doing the deep litter method and that is great.
4. If you only have a few chickens, i would quarden off an area to make a smaller coop. A coop that size I would think could hold 30+ large birds. If you let them out to run.

Hope some of these ideas help. I wish you well.

Thank you, I hadn’t though of fleece, I will see if I can put some up to lower the ceiling. This is where they stay 24/7 while snow is in the ground, that is why we went so large and so much open because I let them out in the yard only when I’m home after work and on weekends. I do have an insulated dog igloo with straw in there for them but they only go in it if I put them in there or lay eggs in it They won’t roost either. My husband built roost but they won’t use those either. My husband thinks they did it to themselves as I have a heated dog bowl in there and they get their whole heads wet and then shake the water off. We brought them in the garage to dry off today while we figure this out. I’m learning that with these Silkies you might as well throw the chicken keeping book out because they march to their own drum.

 

[Gramma Chick]

I’m concerned about my chickens. I have 8 Silkies in the pen that is 16’ by 8’. I have deep pine shavings and straw on the floor. I don’t know if I’ve left too much ventilation.

I would cover all the coop with plastic EXCEPT The area above the door .
You have too much open spaces . Snow and moisture is just blowing in .
The sun will heat it in the day and it will vent the moisture out the front .
Do they always sleep in the same space ? put the igloo there
I would put them in the igloo every night .
Or make another small structure for them to lay in or sleep in .
Dont close the igloo it needs to vent also .
if they dont stay in ..close it then open it after they are asleep
They think it is the hen house not their coop ..
Could you put a box or basket inside for the eggs ?
Eventually they will get used to it ..and may go in their selves .
Silkies dont generally roost at all so that is normal for them .
You could trim the feathers around their face so they dont get so wet when drinking

 

[NNYchick]

I would cover all the coop with plastic EXCEPT The area above the door .
You have too much open spaces . Snow and moisture is just blowing in . We talked about doing that today. I think this is what we are going to do, I believe the space is large enough that the moisture won’t build up and I turn the bedding everyday. I’ll pull the water dish out at night too and put it back in the morning.
The sun will heat it in the day and it will vent the moisture out the front .
Do they always sleep in the same space ? put the igloo there
I would put them in the igloo every night . They sleep right in front of the door to the igloo. I have even put some Christmas lights for a nightlight in there to try to get them to go in on their own. They will stay in there if I go out every night and scoot them a few steps into it. I don’t block it off, except in the morning to try to prevent them from laying in there but they dug around the board and got in there anyway.
Or make another small structure for them to lay in or sleep in .
Dont close the igloo it needs to vent also .
if they dont stay in ..close it then open it after they are asleep
They think it is the hen house not their coop ..
Could you put a box or basket inside for the eggs ? I have made them a nest box, they get in there and kick around the shavings and fake eggs/gulf balls but then lay in the igloo or out on the floor. It’s an Easter everyday here. They like add to the fun by covering them with shavings too. They just started laying in the last month so I’m hoping that gets better. I put the curtain up hoping that would help and I have since moved it.

Eventually they will get used to it ..and may go in their selves .
Silkies dont generally roost at all so that is normal for them .
You could trim the feathers around their face so they dont get so wet when drinking