Okies in the BYC The Original

[MAllen]

I have a question for you Okies.

Do you close your chickens up in the coop at night during the winter, and if you do is this to keep predators out or is it to keep heat in??

We've been going out every night and closing up the chicken door and letting them out in the morning. I'm just wondering if this is really necessary.

 

[Buster52]

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I figured these were yours...

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/grd/1394766786.html

 

[Buster52]

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I close my coop up at night year round, although mostly because I don't have a closed run. I think it does help with the cold. The door is so tiny it probably doesn't make much difference.

 

[artsyrobin]

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yep- i do.... am paranoid about that racoon that raids the bird feeders- so they go in every nite and let them out in the morning

 

[Sooner]

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OH how funny I am already using that for Madison's guinia pig! I never thought to use it for chicks. Think I will try it out on them after I figure out a bottom.

 

[BetsyOK]

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I close mine up year 'round, mostly because of a previous raccoon attack, but also for warmth in the winter. I close them up late in the summertime.

 

[poultryand bees]

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I keep live traps set - year round - for varmits. The only time I close the doors is when it is below freezing and the wind is blowing. The Great Pyranees keeps varmits out of the uncovered yard with my laying hens. The grow-out run attached to a shed is covered - which doesn't prevent anything from diggin in, but does discourage the larger varmits. The peacocks get a tarp across one end of their pen as a windbreak when it gets really cold. The guineas and turkeys free range so they are on their own for choosing shelter, and although there are pole barns and such to get out of the wind, most will just hunker down on top of the covered runs at night, where they feel safe from predators.

If I ever see evidence of a raccoon, I will re-think everything.

 

[CityClucks]

Howdy folks! I just got caught up on posts from last night - had to bow out of the chat early because I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer!

I'm glad you asked the "closing the coop" question, MAllen - My dilemma is cold versus ventilation during the winter. Unless I find a reason to shut it, the pop door into their enclosed run will stay open all winter. So far, even with all this rain and in wind, the coop has stayed dry and tight.

I have a huge picture storm window on the north side of the coop and smaller storm windows on the south and east sides. This photo shows the big north window (lower roost in front of it) and the smaller east window with the higher roost in front of it. The screens on all windows are covered by hardward cloth. I'm thinking of sliding the glass closed on these two windows since they roost in front of them at night.

This photo shows the south window - it's over the nesting boxes. I'm thinking of leaving the glass slid back on this one so half of it will be screened in (reinforced with hardware cloth) but otherwise open to the south.

What do you all think?

 

[Buster52]

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This comes at a perfect time. I've been wondering what to do about my free range turkeys during the winter months. I was thinking I might need to start locking them up during the cold nights, which would mean either building a new structure or modifying an old one. Are you saying your turkeys are outside all year? How do they fare during the winter months?

I don't worry much about predators any more, either, because of my dog. I would say "dogs", but the Pyrs are so young they aren't much good for anything.

 

[Buster52]

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Nice setup. Question, though...

Your chickens have their own microwave?