NY chicken lover!!!!

[Tab's chicken obsession]

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We've kept our coops shut on the coldest days. Our upper coop we have a heat lamp and lights in and don't open at all really because the diva birds don't want to set foot in the snow. The lower coop has my general layers and BO boys, they've stayed healthy and only showed some signs of frostbite on their combs.
You don't think Nick or Uncle George will pull through? They didn't take to the cold too well?
I hope and pray for the best. Good Luck

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

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Oh my! Look at those eyes! It looks like a perfect match! I hope I came close to the colors or flowers you wanted! Enjoy and you are so welcome...Let me know if you like the jam! MY son's loves his jelly toast!

those hats are great!
your inbox is full too!

 

[rancher hicks]

Tab's chicken obsession :

Quote:
We've kept our coops shut on the coldest days. Our upper coop we have a heat lamp and lights in and don't open at all really because the diva birds don't want to set foot in the snow. The lower coop has my general layers and BO boys, they've stayed healthy and only showed some signs of frostbite on their combs.
You don't think Nick or Uncle George will pull through? They didn't take to the cold too well?
I hope and pray for the best. Good Luck

Nick and Uncle George will be fine except for their combs. I expect had they stayed inside they would have been ok. They are in two separate sides of the coop and each has it's own run, which I just raked the snow off of. Reports of lots of snow tues or weds. The younger roos are ok.
I think if it gets to 5* or lower I'll keep them in. I have rubbed their combs with vaseline but it may have been to little to late. I will do it again though. I do have heat lights in both sides but not enough to raise the temp much.
I will be planning on large thermometers for both runs and inside the coop when I can afford them.
This is the third winter for Nick and he seemed fine last year but this year has been unusually cold. Must be that global warming. I have added another bale of straw to the front run and when I cleaned the coop last week or so I just dumped everything in the back run til spring. All seems dry so they are ok there. Just the darn temps.

Lord I think I may have another broody. Jesus help me! Buckwheat hatched another chick and she still had one egg but I may pull that one. Especially if I have another broody. Just means more work. I get tired just thinking about it.

Take care and stay warm.

Rancher ( I can see some rosecombed RIR's in my future.)​

 

[Tab's chicken obsession]

Rancher
I'm glad to hear that your roos are going to be fine. More babies always mean more work, but they are so cute.

 

[critterranch]

no frostbite here . never had frostbite on my birds. it was 3 here this morning my coop was 34 like always. there water never freezes and i dont use water heaters.when it was -13 it only got down to 22. there water only had a skim of ice. which i didn't think was bad. i dont heat only 75 watt for light on 17hours. how cold does everyone coops get to get frostbite?

 

[rancher hicks]

I let my birds out in the run, which is not completely covered. The coop is uninsulated. I don't have a thermometer in the coop. Have you got any pics of your coop? Since you obviously have a handle on things you might like to share.

Last year I had waterers inside but this year I used nipples and they froze, so I hang fresh water out in the run twice a day.

 

[critterranch]

i will post some pics. i have dail up so it way be a bit. but i have a thermeter from walmart in there its a dail one thats easy to read. Its $4.00. i need it because in summer my coop can get up to a 100 i have to watch it. i check my temp all the time. probly 3 to 5 times a day. it hangs on wall 31/2feet above my water for chickens. which is half way up wall. its a small coop 8x8x8.its in insulated with r-12 fiberglass insulation. i did 6 years ago. it cost $20.0o then.i let my chickens out in moring round 10 and back in around 3 or 4 . even with the door open during that time the water never freezes. i have no run as i free range. i have a snow blower to snow blow walk way but thats it. i do keep coop shut up somedays but they were out today and they were fine. the silkies are the first to go out too its funny. all my chickens are in one coop for warmeth. i like to crowd birds a little bit for winter it keeps them warmer. with all the body heat. one year i did not have enough birds and my coop was really cold. i'll be back going to upload some pics.

 

[critterranch]

these are from our -13 day with a fresh 18 inches of snow. 630 in the morning.
i dont think there is much special about my coop it is DIY shed i built 6 years ago. it looks pretty in pics because i painted it over summer.

my roosts are 2x4s that are mounted 6 feet from floor . i think this may help because of low ceiling and high roosts. naturally heat rises.
my light is mounted 6 feet also from floor on other side off coop. i got some clear christmas light and added to coop for for light. it gives a more even light. no shadows.
i dont like to clean my coop much in winter it makes it colder. i only clean floor every 3-5 weeks. i use pinechips for floor. semi deep litter. i usually dont clean until its 6 inches deep.
when i start i only start with 2 inches of pinechips. it sounds grouse but it keeps them warmer. when i clean it the temp drops in my coop.


the rabbit hutch buried in snow has my call ducks in there they stay warm and started laying 3 days ago
i provide them with swimmimg water in there. a 3 gallon underbed storage tote. i fill in morning and dump at night.
water never freezes. they swim in it too much to freeze.

 

[critterranch]

when my marans roost their backs actually touch the ceiling.

 

[admhotel]

I am thinking about doing an order from John Blehm. I don't think that I want to spend the money on the 25 chicks by myself. Was wondering if anybody is interested in spliting an order with me. Or even more than one person. I would like to get more silvers possibly some wheatens. His website is www.ChickHatchery.com check it out and let me know.