OHio ~ Come on Buckeyes, let me know your out there!

[kindofodd]

Speaking of cold and prefab coops, with winter coming I was wondering if anyone knows how a prefab coop from TSC will hold up as far as warmth in winter? I really never did have or do have the ability or time to custom build a custom coop. I just really hope I don't have to make any major changes to my prefab coop come colder weather.

I'm with you on the lack of skills/time. We're painting ours with a weatherseal and drilling a small hole just under the top peak to cut down on moisture accumulation (frost bite sucks). Those are the only changes we're making to the coop itself. Outside we will surround it with the straw bales we'll use for bedding over winter and use the deep litter method UNDER the coop. It'll add heat and keep us from lugging poo through the snow to the compost bin.

 

[mamatink7]

I'm with you on the lack of skills/time. We're painting ours with a weatherseal and drilling a small hole just under the top peak to cut down on moisture accumulation (frost bite sucks). Those are the only changes we're making to the coop itself. Outside we will surround it with the straw bales we'll use for bedding over winter and use the deep litter method UNDER the coop. It'll add heat and keep us from lugging poo through the snow to the compost bin.

that's a great idea!

 

[findlaychickens]

Thank you kindofodd such good tips! I've been researching "winterizing" prefab coops on BYC for a while. And almost every thread was filled with people saying you pretty much need to build a coop as a prefab just won't cut it in winter. I'm starting to panic! I know it's only September but it will be here before I know it.

 

[kindofodd]

Thank you kindofodd such good tips! I've been researching "winterizing" prefab coops on BYC for a while. And almost every thread was filled with people saying you pretty much need to build a coop as a prefab just won't cut it in winter. I'm starting to panic! I know it's only September but it will be here before I know it.

As much as I lack skills and time, I have TONS of chicken panic to go around

 

[WVduckchick]

Speaking of cold and prefab coops, with winter coming I was wondering if anyone knows how a prefab coop from TSC will hold up as far as warmth in winter? I really never did have or do have the ability or time to custom build a custom coop. I just really hope I don't have to make any major changes to my prefab coop come colder weather.

I have one, but I wouldn't leave it out in the heavy rain or snow. I just don't think its built sturdy enough to withstand much rain or snow. I have it on the porch of my work shop, but would cover it somehow if I moved it out into the yard. Even a tarp would probably help.

I also screwed a little J-hook up into the peak, and hang a small heat lamp with just a regular bulb (or a plant-grow bulb) in it. It actually warms the area pretty easily, since its such a small space.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Someone told me to use jugs of salt water under the coop. Milk jugs or 2 liter pop bottles would work. The idea is to make the water salty enough that it won't freeze. Then in the day the water will heat up from the sun and in the night it will release that stored heat up into the coop. You'd want to stack the containers up as high under the coop as possible. It would also have the added benefit of blocking wind from swirling around under the coop. I have not tried it yet. My coop is built into a hill and rather large. I've been collecting containers for the last year. But I would be very interested to know if this method works on a smaller scale.

 

[Kraftcrazychick]

I've had a few interested days of chicken-dom lately. Agatha, my broody who had her comb ripped off is recovering. I had to catch her to blue-coat her head while she was in the nest box and she screamed murder. I have never had her fight so much to get away.

I candled the eggs underneath her to check on their development and have a mystery. The eggs who were probably days away from hatching are missing! No shells, no yolk, no baby chicks alive or dead to be found. I checked the coop and the pen looking for them or any indication of a predator and found none.

Do you think she or someone else ate them?

Tilda, the leader who I thought was plucking tails is not the main plucker. I put her in a cat carrier for a few days and the Rooster lost the rest of his tail while she was gone. I did find some yolk under her belly when I had her rejoin the flock. I don't know if this means she broke an egg while in the carrier or she is an egg eater. When she joined the flock all she did was lay around and let the others peck at her. She acts like she hurt her foot as she hobbles and her right foot is curled under when I pick her up.

So, I've pretty much solved nothing. No eggs, no plucking culprit, no chicks.

 

[kindofodd]

I've had a few interested days of chicken-dom lately. Agatha, my broody who had her comb ripped off is recovering. I had to catch her to blue-coat her head while she was in the nest box and she screamed murder. I have never had her fight so much to get away.

I candled the eggs underneath her to check on their development and have a mystery. The eggs who were probably days away from hatching are missing! No shells, no yolk, no baby chicks alive or dead to be found. I checked the coop and the pen looking for them or any indication of a predator and found none.

Do you think she or someone else ate them?

Tilda, the leader who I thought was plucking tails is not the main plucker. I put her in a cat carrier for a few days and the Rooster lost the rest of his tail while she was gone. I did find some yolk under her belly when I had her rejoin the flock. I don't know if this means she broke an egg while in the carrier or she is an egg eater. When she joined the flock all she did was lay around and let the others peck at her. She acts like she hurt her foot as she hobbles and her right foot is curled under when I pick her up.

So, I've pretty much solved nothing. No eggs, no plucking culprit, no chicks.

So sorry, Kcc! Sounds like a rough time! The undeveloped eggs are still there?? Unfortunately, this is sounding a little predator-y. If you google missing eggs, it's a common problem. Sometimes hens hide them elsewhere themselves, other times they're being eaten whole by something (snakes or foxes opting for an easy meal rather than bothering too much with the chickens themselves). That might explain the beat up chickens. Someone suggested sprinkling baby powder in the area to try to identify the culprit. Couldn't hurt?

 

[verrucktes huhn]

Fellow Buckeye here, live in a suburb of Cleveland.

I have 4 Golden Buffs that are great birds, pretty quiet and good layers so far.

 

[mamatink7]

Fellow Buckeye here, live in a suburb of Cleveland.

I have 4 Golden Buffs that are great birds, pretty quiet and good layers so far.

gorgeous. Welcome our Golden Comets are amazing as well. How old are yours?