NY chicken lover!!!!

[boskelli1571]

not yet. do you recommend any? so far we have considered building a coop with it's own heating system for the water, but we also have a barn and were considering using part of the barn for chickens in the future. Systems we've looked at include geothermal, radiant heat, OWB but that requires chopping wood and idk who in my world would do this...lol. We began barn repair over a year ago, it is 30 x 60 and we are having more work done on it this year. The lower level is suitable for animals and I suppose birds at this time. The barn has a water supply from a well but it isn't up and running at this time. There is an electric supply to the big barn.

Would it seem a viable plan to sequester a portion of the big barn to be used for the poultry in the future? It does have space. There was a chicken coop but it is completely down at this time, didn't make it through the winter. It is not usable at all and will require demolition. That structure was about 15 x 30 and the central part was a chicken coop at one time. We can tell that the previous owner had the coop part insulated, it had nesting boxes, and a cement floor. The roof is totally collapsed now.

would you use the big barn's electricity supply for a water system? is that expensive to do? the barn is NOT heated.

My chicken coop is inside the barn and it works very well for the birds. They are completely out of the weather, have free range in the better months and mooch around the barn when it's too cold outside. I have never put any heating inside the coop - even at -17F this past February. Freezing water is a problem of course. You can either take 2 or 3 trips to the barn during the day or set up a water heater. Try Premier1supplies.com or mypetchicken.com for a selection. I think they run about $40 or so. You would only need electric to one outlet really, so you wouldn't have to get the whole barn wired at once.

 

[Sweetpea3829]

My chicken coop is inside the barn and it works very well for the birds. They are completely out of the weather, have free range in the better months and mooch around the barn when it's too cold outside. I have never put any heating inside the coop - even at -17F this past February. Freezing water is a problem of course. You can either take 2 or 3 trips to the barn during the day or set up a water heater. Try Premier1supplies.com or mypetchicken.com for a selection. I think they run about $40 or so. You would only need electric to one outlet really, so you wouldn't have to get the whole barn wired at once.

We didn't heat our coop either. I felt bad, like they were cold, but really, they were alright. None of ours even had any frostbite.

I did have to take multiple trips out to the coop, though. Sometimes as often as every two hours, on the really cold days. I keep two waterers for this very purpose...put the frozen one next to the wood stove to thaw.

 

[Lynzi777]

I think I have another broody on my hands...

 

[kimmerjo]

So I put 9 eggs under my Broody Silkie!!! They are a mix from my aunts hens.... Golden laced polish , Kraienkoppe and Appenzeller Spitzhauben. The possible father's are a Phoenix or a Japanese rooster she couldn't remember the name of him.... So now we wait....

 

[rancher hicks]

Well at least the ducks are liking this weather. Which of course is why I got them in the first place..

 

[Nuttyfrom6kids]

not yet. do you recommend any?  so far we have considered building a coop with it's own heating system for the water, but we also have a barn and were considering using part of the barn for chickens in the future.  Systems we've looked at include geothermal, radiant heat, OWB but that requires chopping wood and idk who in my world would do this...lol.  We began barn repair over a year ago, it is 30 x 60 and we are having more work done on it this year.  The lower level is suitable for animals and I suppose birds at this time.  The barn has a water supply from a well but it isn't up and running at this time.  There is an electric supply to the big barn.

Would it seem a viable plan to sequester a portion of the big barn to be used for the poultry in the future?  It does have space.  There was a chicken coop but it is completely down at this time, didn't make it through the winter.  It is not usable at all and will require demolition.  That structure was about 15 x 30 and the central part was a chicken coop at one time.  We can tell that the previous owner had the coop part insulated, it had nesting boxes, and a cement floor.  The roof is totally collapsed now. 

would you use the big barn's electricity supply for a water system?  is that expensive to do?  the barn is NOT heated.

Don't recommend any particular brand I purchased mine at reactor supply just drop them in the bucket or watered and plug them in no frozen waters all winter. A barn would be perfect you could build pens and do not get this girl started but you do not need heat. Watch out for the Morehens disease this girl likes to shop and is very girlie I probably have more shoes than the hotel queen but once I started with my chickens that Morehens disease caught up and this girl got lots of chickens and a pair of coach rain boots for my warm weather barn boots. LOL!

 

[SAHchickenmom]

We are almost there!

 

[Pyxis]

Hey all, my grandfather passed away this morning so I may be absent for a few days. Just wanted to check in so that no one was worried if I didn't post for a while.

 

[SunnysideupstateNY]

Well at least the ducks are liking this weather. Which of course is why I got them in the first place..

Rancher, are you to blame for this rainy weather then? You just had to get ducks this year!

Hey all, my grandfather passed away this morning so I may be absent for a few days. Just wanted to check in so that no one was worried if I didn't post for a while.

I'm sorry.

 

[Sweetpea3829]

Hey all, my grandfather passed away this morning so I may be absent for a few days. Just wanted to check in so that no one was worried if I didn't post for a while.

So sorry.