NY chicken lover!!!!

[stonykill]

all of this talk of drafts and cold and chickens has got me laughing my butt off over here. About 25 of my Sumatra's INSIST on living in tree's all year long. The other day it rained, then snowed then was zero with a below zero wind chill. Those stubborn Sumatra's went to bed in their tree's and DID NOT DIE! They flew down, ate, and then foraged the rest of the day. Just like any other day.
Now of course if you listen to the "experts" at ALBC or any other supposed chicken expert they will tell you Sumatra's can NOT handle the cold. Idiots, every last one of those "experts". It is mainly my original now 6 year old flock that sleeps in tree's. Look Peeps! Drafts and cold WON'T kill your chickens UNLESS you coddle and baby them with things like heat, keeping food and water IN the coop so they WILL NOT come out when it is cold.


There are 2 things keeping chickens have taught me. The average human has ruined the natural instincts of chickens. AND the so called "chicken experts" who write books and judge chickens don't know nuttin!

I feel a new article for my blog coming on.......

 

[rancher hicks]

all of this talk of drafts and cold and chickens has got me laughing my butt off over here. About 25 of my Sumatra's INSIST on living in tree's all year long. The other day it rained, then snowed then was zero with a below zero wind chill. Those stubborn Sumatra's went to bed in their tree's and DID NOT DIE! They flew down, ate, and then foraged the rest of the day. Just like any other day.
Now of course if you listen to the "experts" at ALBC or any other supposed chicken expert they will tell you Sumatra's can NOT handle the cold. Idiots, every last one of those "experts". It is mainly my original now 6 year old flock that sleeps in tree's. Look Peeps! Drafts and cold WON'T kill your chickens UNLESS you coddle and baby them with things like heat, keeping food and water IN the coop so they WILL NOT come out when it is cold.


There are 2 things keeping chickens have taught me. The average human has ruined the natural instincts of chickens. AND the so called "chicken experts" who write books and judge chickens don't know nuttin!

I feel a new article for my blog coming on.......

Well I saw on the news that, How cold is it? Hell (Michigan) just froze over and I believe it, since I agree with Stony Burke. The only ones making money on chickens are those who sell, nambie pambie, heat lights and other stuff to coddle birds. Oh and those who sell replacement birds after those who've been pampered get sick and die.

Heck, my best coop is this one. I open the door and the chickens go out and stand in the yard. Nutters for sure but I got 5 eggs from 6 hens yesterday. The wooden coop is the worst, with one egg from my Dels. I'm tempted to pull the plastic off and say to heck with it.



I love ya all but of course, to each his/her own.

Rancher

 

[horsekeeper]

Have to agree with Stony and Rancher. I have turkeys and extra chickens in a divided temporary coop made of a dog kennel wired securely and mulch hay. Not one bit of frostbite and everyone looks hardy and healthy. I lost two young roos back in November, but they were both very skinny and I think they had something else going on.



There is only a single layer of tarp on it and it is still 15-20 degrees warmer inside the pen, even with gaps all over the place that let in wind and snow. Bedded with mulch hay and fed with pellets and whole corn.

The roosters in the "real" coop have frostbite. Go figure!



The pekin ducks and embden geese are living even rougher and spend most of their time out in the open.





I keep reminding myself that they are like the horses and naturally adjust to the weather conditions if you let them. The horses had a layer of snow on their backs that tells us their winter fur is doing it's job and keeping the body heat in. They too prefer to be outside and mostly go inside just to eat and poop

 

[Lynzi777]

I meant to mention yesterday how all my birds seem to be doing well and also no frostbite here. No water in the coops and if I did bring it to them because they refused to leave the coop (which has been 1 day maybe) it was removed before dark. All has been good here and I haven't been doing anything different that I would in the summer months.

 

[rancher hicks]

I really think they wooden floors hold the moisture. I wonder if most old time coops had wooden floors? Seems to me with a layer of hardware cloth underneath the initial layer of dirt it would be fine from digging preds.

Of course any pred that is determined to get your birds will find a way.

 

[Lynzi777]

Just saw an ad on CL for a crested cream legbar pair, I believe Miquwid was looking to add those this year since her pair that was supposed to be that breed turned out not to be??? Not sure what the difference is between crested cream and just cream but I think that's a good deal - $50 for the adult pair? No waiting for chicks to grow out ;-)

 

[Metella]

OH ! Too bad it is over 4 hours one way for me - I want some true blue eggs and this would be a very deal considering the cost from hatcheries ....

Boooo Hooo

Hope Midquid comes on in time to see them !!!!

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

 

[rancher hicks]

Donkey-

 

[JLaw]

Donkey-

Kong