NY chicken lover!!!!

[NNYchick]

So this I what I did- took out igloo dog house packed straw up the walls, have 12”+ of straw on floor and shoveled snow up the side on the outside of that corner to help insulate. Everyone is moved out the only one unhappy is my broody because she can’t find the eggs I stole.

 

[Aria]

I purchased a small Igloo at a church sale one year. And I am just
storing it. Wish I could think of using it for our Chickens. Aria

 

[NNYchick]

I purchased a small Igloo at a church sale one year. And I am just
storing it. Wish I could think of using it for our Chickens. Aria

This was an XL one and I thought it would be great for 8 them although they all fit in it with plenty of room, I believe it was what was causing them to have frost on them from breathing on each other and not enough ventilation. They didn't go in it by themselves at night either they would stay if I but them in there. They would go in there during the day to lay eggs, big pain in the rear to say the least. I may keep it around to use as a maternity ward for hen and chicks later on.

 

[Gramma Chick]

This was an XL one and I thought it would be great for 8 them although they all fit in it with plenty of room, I believe it was what was causing them to have frost on them from breathing on each other and not enough ventilation.

Part of the problem was it was too cold outside ..Frost Builds up more on thin plastic ..No insulation . There was alot of frost build up inside my coop where there was just plastic on the outside . and I have 22 Chickens
I dont remember did you say there was a vent on top of the igloo ?

 

[Purple Iris]

Hi all, thought I'd send an update from nr Buffalo, as I've got a new phone that takes much better pictures than my old one - hence even more chicken pictures than before!

Made a few changes in the coop this winter, used to have the heated water bowl inside a plastic milk crate on the floor, but this didn't stop the poop from going in the water, so, as the girls never use the upper nest box anyway, I tucked it into that top slot, they can still access it fine and the water is staying much cleaner with that roof over it.

Picked up lots of tips on this thread, this years bedding is dry leaves and pine needles I collected in the garden over the fall. Also hung one of the metal box type feeders, usually used for suet blocks for wild birds, but been putting some fresh fruit and veg like apples and kale in that to help combat winter boredom. As you'll see in the photos, they are all enjoying that.

Our 2 oldest chickens don't lay in the winter at all, but our Red Sexlink Ginger started laying at the end of the summer, and is still laying 4-6 eggs a week, despite the wintery weather, and lack of daylight - (we don't use any heat lamps or supplemental light). Our newest additions, the Easter Eggers Dove (white one) and Princess Di (brown one) are 30 weeks now, and seeing some reddening in their mini combs, so looking forward to some blue shelled eggs.

My coworkers are really catching on to the kind of things the chickens will eat - the kale came from an Edible Arrangement one of them received, another brought me the peelings and cores when she baked an apple pie, and just today I came home with a bag full of watermelon rind for them to work on.

Temps here didn't get too bad, last weekend was our coldest, down to -2, the chickens have no interest in leaving the coop, even though they have a covered greenhouse style run, but I physically lift them out onto the porch when I need to get in there to clean, so the other pics are of them enjoying some grains on a snowy day.

Enjoy the pictures.
Gramma, how is Cowboy doing?

 

[LuvMyChicks1491]

Just checking in. Haven't stopped by in way too long. Things here are fine. Birds made it through the freezing temps no problem. Family is hanging in there. Hope that all is well with everyone else. Miss you guys In a place now where I'll be able to back more often.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Cowboy is doing better . The swelling in his wattles has gone down .
He may still lose some of his wattles and comb.
He gets his spa treatment about 2 times a day .
Wash food off his wattles and dab him with egg white ..if I am home
He is spoiled and inside ...
I had to work on Monday ..So I went down cellar turned the light on and made sure he had food and water for the day .
I go upstairs ..he is down stairs crowing ..
He is still in his cage ..I leave it open at night ..
It was like he was asking could he come out ..
I usually take him out and then let him eat and drink on my chicken food table .

Then we go upstairs and wash his wattles ...and apply egg white ..

 

[Gramma Chick]

Cowboy has lost his throne ..the other 3 roosters tried to beat the tar out of him ..
I swear they can see a weakness ...
I didnt think I needed to reintroduce him like you do with new chickens ...
So he is still separate from them ..I put one hen with him and he seemed to perk up and ate without me feeding him .. I think he was depressed or lonesome .
I may put a small cage in the coop so he can be with them but the other Roos cant get to him He will lose a small portion of his wattles and some points on his comb...but most of it remained intact

 

[Purple Iris]

Sorry to hear the other boys picked on Cowboy, but glad your TLC is helping his wattles and comb, and he's perked up with some company.

 

[PhoredaBurds]

Hey. Hope everyone is fairing well in this cold snowy weather. Thursday & Friday were such a tease. Back to the bitter tundra for now. Stay warm everyone!!