Someone asked me how I know so much about chickens and I told them I read. Here's the latest on adding heat to the coop.
"New keepers often imagine that chickens need to be kept warm in cold weather, which isn't the case. They are perfectly hardy - and happy - as long as they're kept away from both draughts and damp surroundings. " Prolonged exposure to damp conditions within the house can lead to respiratory illness, something chickens are particularly at risk from, and which can prove extremely debilitating. So always check that there's plenty of ventilation provided, and that it isn't at the chicken height when the birds are roosting on the perches. Under the eaves of roofs and at the top of side walls is the best place for ventilation holes and / or slots to be located.
However it's not just a lack of ventilation that can promote a damp environment. The droppings produced first thing in the morning can be very wet, soaking into shavings if your late letting your birds out and in wet weather, the birds themselves bring in water and mud as they come and go. " This to-ing and fro - ing during the day can also lead to the ground directly outside the house becoming poached and muddy.
To help with this, the area at the bottom of the ramp - or just outside the pop hole - can be spread with gravel or hardwood chippings." - Practical Poultry magazine.
For me I think I'll clean in front of the pop hole and fill in with river stones and gravel a foot or so. Right now I have large flat rocks they have to jump up on before entering the coop.
Take care,
Rancher
forgot two more marans chicks and another EE. Still more eggs to go. NOT including the incubator for which today is lock down.
"New keepers often imagine that chickens need to be kept warm in cold weather, which isn't the case. They are perfectly hardy - and happy - as long as they're kept away from both draughts and damp surroundings. " Prolonged exposure to damp conditions within the house can lead to respiratory illness, something chickens are particularly at risk from, and which can prove extremely debilitating. So always check that there's plenty of ventilation provided, and that it isn't at the chicken height when the birds are roosting on the perches. Under the eaves of roofs and at the top of side walls is the best place for ventilation holes and / or slots to be located.
However it's not just a lack of ventilation that can promote a damp environment. The droppings produced first thing in the morning can be very wet, soaking into shavings if your late letting your birds out and in wet weather, the birds themselves bring in water and mud as they come and go. " This to-ing and fro - ing during the day can also lead to the ground directly outside the house becoming poached and muddy.
To help with this, the area at the bottom of the ramp - or just outside the pop hole - can be spread with gravel or hardwood chippings." - Practical Poultry magazine.
For me I think I'll clean in front of the pop hole and fill in with river stones and gravel a foot or so. Right now I have large flat rocks they have to jump up on before entering the coop.
Take care,
Rancher
forgot two more marans chicks and another EE. Still more eggs to go. NOT including the incubator for which today is lock down.
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