overwintering birds?

[tomdeggeater]

Hi Kayri, I'm glad you caught the humor in that, instead of thinking I was just being a smart@ss.
Actually I haven't had chickens since I was a kid on my grandparent's farm.
But I'm planning to get some. Planning to build a coop and run, too. Already drew up a couple of blueprints/plans.
Thanks to this forum I'm learning a lot.
I'm thinking of raising about 4-5 hens and harvesting the eggs. Maybe using the meat when egg production stops. Not looking forward to slaughtering, though.
There's 2 cats in the house now, and they are hunters. So, I'd like to free range a bit in the backyard, but might be forced to keep them in the run, at least until they get big.
Was thinking of RIR's or Leghorns for eggs.
Don't plan on keeping them as pets, but who knows?
I'm open to any advice...
Tom D.

 

[kayri]

Hi Tom, We also have 2 cats, one who is a mighty hunter and keeps out house ringed with small dead rodents. I know she eats a few also, so I really can't imagine how many she is catching. She has unfortunately caught (and eaten) a number of birds also. The other is only a hunter of opportunity, if a baby bird drifts down in front of her, she will lie down on it, but is easily scared off.

We raised our chicks in the upstairs bathroom with the door closed and about a billion signs on it that said KEEP THIS DOOR CLOSED!

When we first put them out in the tractor the cats were both enthralled and tried all of their wily ways to get in there, but luckily never did. By the time they were 2 1/2- 3 months old (all standards, except 1) the cats decided they were too big to hunt. They still like to lie around where the chickens are and sometimes pretend to sneak up on them, but I think it is so they don't lose face. They tried that with some of the giant wild turkeys too, but we knew they were only going to sneak to within 10 ft and then lie down. Today the chickens were almost pecking the cats's tails. If they do that once, I'm sure the cats won't even consider lying anywhere near them.

Our chickens are just for pets, garden bug control/fertilizer and eggs. We have kept 5 of the original 16. They are only 3 1/2 months old now and we love them very much. It is hard to believe that I would love them more if they gave me some eggs, but I would like to try, maybe next spring

Kay

 

[Cheryl]

Another question on wintering the girls. My chicks will be 11 weeks old on Tuesday, presently it is 27 outside, they are still in the basement where it is probably about 60. A local chicken farmer says I MUST keep the coop at 55 due to their age...if DH ever gets the thing done!!! What is your opinion 55?