NY chicken lover!!!!

[pritchro]

I'm from Oswego County...3 miles south of Lake Ontario. I have 3 hens that I keep in my garage for the winter.

 

[Cass]

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I wish I had that option. My birds were standing on one foot outside today. I picked up a couple of them and took them inside the building ray had the heater running in. To warm them up. Poor birds. It's really really cold out there, I hope they are alive tomorrow. On and up note, I got 2 eggs this morning. And I got them inside before they froze.

 

[happyhensny]

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[stonykill]

Quote:
I wish I had that option. My birds were standing on one foot outside today. I picked up a couple of them and took them inside the building ray had the heater running in. To warm them up. Poor birds. It's really really cold out there, I hope they are alive tomorrow. On and up note, I got 2 eggs this morning. And I got them inside before they froze.

really? My birds, all of them could have cared less about the cold. Now if it snowed the RIR's never would have left the coop.

I got 6 Sumatra eggs today, and 1 EE egg and 1 Barred rock egg. My RIR's are just coming off of the molt and aren't laying. 2 broody's due to hatch soon. Crazy Sumatra girls think it is spring time...

 

[featherz]

Quote:
I wish I had that option. My birds were standing on one foot outside today. I picked up a couple of them and took them inside the building ray had the heater running in. To warm them up. Poor birds. It's really really cold out there, I hope they are alive tomorrow. On and up note, I got 2 eggs this morning. And I got them inside before they froze.

they will be fine. Don't worry! Keep them outside, it won't help them to keep bringing them in.

I had those d'uccles outside all last winter and it was -26.

 

[Cass]

Quote:
I wish I had that option. My birds were standing on one foot outside today. I picked up a couple of them and took them inside the building ray had the heater running in. To warm them up. Poor birds. It's really really cold out there, I hope they are alive tomorrow. On an up note, I got 2 eggs this morning. And I got them inside before they froze.

they will be fine. Don't worry! Keep them outside, it won't help them to keep bringing them in.

I had those d'uccles outside all last winter and it was -26.

I'm gonna keep them outside, without supplimental heat (no power, no choice, really), but I can't promise I won't worry. I worry most about the chick out there. He isn't even 4 weeks old, poor lil' thing, but he's getting to big to fit under his momma's wing. No matter how much he scrunches down his head sticks out. LOL

And how did you know it was the D'uccles I picked up and brought inside to warm up? Just cuz they're my babies?

I hope to have power out there by Christmas to plug in a water dish. I hate hate hate getting up early on the weekend to make sure they have water and when it gets to where it stays cold all day, I won't be home before they go to roost to give them wet water before bed. I might look into getting a fixture to put in supplimental light come February to jump start spring laying. Would LOVE to have extra eggs to give to food pantry for Easter Holiday basket hand out.

 

[rancher hicks]

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From Syracuse. Three chickens? huh . Well you just wait we can fix that. Three chickens indeed! I hope to be hatching next month and when the replacements are close to laying I'll give you some Del hens. They are great layers. I do wish they had Rosecombs though.

Now for the rest you need to build a small run at least. Cover it with plastic and put in some straw so they can at least get some fresh air. The hoop coop runs are very easy. Two cattle panels and some 2x4's. Straw just gets raked out or added to. In the spring rake it out and build a compost pile for them to scratch in during the warm days of spring, summer and fall.

 

[stonykill]

Quote:

From Syracuse. Three chickens? huh . Well you just wait we can fix that. Three chickens indeed! I hope to be hatching next month and when the replacements are close to laying I'll give you some Del hens. They are great layers. I do wish they had Rosecombs though.

Now for the rest you need to build a small run at least. Cover it with plastic and put in some straw so they can at least get some fresh air. The hoop coop runs are very easy. Two cattle panels and some 2x4's. Straw just gets raked out or added to. In the spring rake it out and build a compost pile for them to scratch in during the warm days of spring, summer and fall.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/23908_winter_jan_2011_002.jpg https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/23908_swedish_marans_011.jpg

Rancher, I just love your setups!

 

[vmdanielsen]

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[rancher hicks]

Thanks..

You can see in the pic the bolt that holds the panels together. The runs are just 8' x 5' or 6' covered with chicken wire and then "bolted" together. No nails mostly. Corners are all screwed with metal connectors. I started out with a run that was 8x 16 then the next spring built another panel and made it bigger. 8 x 24. Stringers for the roof are also metal that just screw in and allow the sliding in of 2 x 4s. The only pounding was the metal staples for the chicken wire. Simpson Home Project Connectors from Home Depot. A little expensive I suppose but easy to use and assemble. Also easy to take a part and add too.

Not as easy as the hoop coop runs which I recommend also. Easier to build and the snow will slide right off, though not as good for when it rains. The plastic hold the humidity and that's not good. So far so good. I'll keep you posted. I do think come spring I'll put in a raised bed floor so it's drier. I'll fill it with gravel and sand. I've covered the run with chickens wire and now have it covered with plastic. When it's warm out it got very humid. Not good for chickens. I'm always redesigning things. I try to make all doors wheel barrow wide for easy cleaning. The hoop coop has front and back doors. And of course everything is screwed for easy removal and modification. I'm already imagining a vent/window design for the sides.

Hoop coops are also good for sheep and goats and ponies. ..................... no none of those. DW would kill me. Though I expect sheep would be easier to care for than chickens.