Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[Farmer Mike S]

Would anybody recommend or give any advice as far as wrapping the run in plastic is concerned? It's starting to sound like a good idea because the chickens don't go outside much in the cold, and my coops only 4x4 which is a bit small for 5 chickens.

 

[Katt66]

Would anybody recommend or give any advice as far as wrapping the run in plastic is concerned? It's starting to sound like a good idea because the chickens don't go outside much in the cold, and my coops only 4x4 which is a bit small for 5 chickens.

Growing up my Mom never bothered to cover the run in plastic. Her chickens didn't seem to mind either way.
I did put plastic over ours this year (first year keeping my own chickens in my own little version of a chicken coop and run) I mainly put plastic over ours simply because the snow drifts and blows like crazy across our yard. I kid you not, I can go out, spend an hour shoveling, look out the window ten minutes after I finish and you'd swear the walkways weren't touched.

When deciding to put plastic over my run it was as I was envisioning the snow blowing and drifting into the run and up against the retaining wall which makes up the back side to the point where the poor chickens would come down the coop ramp and disappear with a poof of snow and feathers into 3 ft deep drifts.

Here's a shot of our coop and run from this morning:


I have literally seen the snow build up against that retaining wall higher than the bottom row of newer cinder block off to the far left side there. This morning's actually the first day I let everybody out since late last week. Not because of the cold but because of everything being wet and thawed. I didn't want them making a muddy mess right around the coop. (Project for spring time is to put pavers or mulch or sand or stone or something around the whole coop.) I didn't take into consideration how much foot traffic would wear away the grass and make mud. Like I said in a previous post somewhere, this is the first time I've kept my own chickens and first time I've had any type of outdoor animals in sixteen years.

From what I've seen so far having plastic around their run is like giving them a greenhouse to live in as long as it's closed up. I did leave the top open above the door for some ventilation because I was afraid of moisture buildup and frostbite. Speaking of which, that's my White Leghorn pullet there. The cold doesn't seem to be bothering her. Her adorable floppy little red comb seems fine so far. So I guess I'm doing ok with the coop ventilation thing. It was down to seven last night and only slightly warmer the night before. I went out and checked out on everybody a couple of times. They all seem warm and happy and seriously are not acting any different than they were when it was in the 40's.


And on a warmer note:

A baby picture from this past summer of my daughter letting the babies run around the veggie garden. Peedles was so cute when he was a chick. Oh warm weather I miss you so!.

 

[Farmer Mike S]

Growing up my Mom never bothered to cover the run in plastic. Her chickens didn't seem to mind either way. I did put plastic over ours this year (first year keeping my own chickens in my own little version of a chicken coop and run) I mainly put plastic over ours simply because the snow drifts and blows like crazy across our yard. I kid you not, I can go out, spend an hour shoveling, look out the window ten minutes after I finish and you'd swear the walkways weren't touched. When deciding to put plastic over my run it was as I was envisioning the snow blowing and drifting into the run and up against the retaining wall which makes up the back side to the point where the poor chickens would come down the coop ramp and disappear with a poof of snow and feathers into 3 ft deep drifts. Here's a shot of our coop and run from this morning: I have literally seen the snow build up against that retaining wall higher than the bottom row of newer cinder block off to the far left side there. This morning's actually the first day I let everybody out since late last week. Not because of the cold but because of everything being wet and thawed. I didn't want them making a muddy mess right around the coop. (Project for spring time is to put pavers or mulch or sand or stone or something around the whole coop.) I didn't take into consideration how much foot traffic would wear away the grass and make mud. Like I said in a previous post somewhere, this is the first time I've kept my own chickens and first time I've had any type of outdoor animals in sixteen years. From what I've seen so far having plastic around their run is like giving them a greenhouse to live in as long as it's closed up. I did leave the top open above the door for some ventilation because I was afraid of moisture buildup and frostbite. Speaking of which, that's my White Leghorn pullet there. The cold doesn't seem to be bothering her. Her adorable floppy little red comb seems fine so far. So I guess I'm doing ok with the coop ventilation thing. It was down to seven last night and only slightly warmer the night before. I went out and checked out on everybody a couple of times. They all seem warm and happy and seriously are not acting any different than they were when it was in the 40's. And on a warmer note: A baby picture from this past summer of my daughter letting the babies run around the veggie garden. Peedles was so cute when he was a chick. Oh warm weather I miss you so!.

Yea I'm starting to look into the plastic, but I'm not a chicken so I will never know their opinion on the cold! Now I'm about 20 minutes out of philly so my winters aren't too bad, but it still gets cold. But this is my first winter with chickens so I'm trying to get some input on what to do

 

[roseschickies]

Looking Like I have too many Rooster.. Come Spring ( and don't tell the BF) I Will be looking to add 4 or 5 more ladies.( I need a white layer and an Blue Layer any recommendations?) Also I do not want chicks, Would like Young pullets I have a least that I can tell, 1 Langshan Rooster & my Brahma is a Rooster. Once they crow, it's either Freezer Camp or if they get lucky a new home. The Brahma is a sissy though... And I am not sure if the only Bantam Egg that hatched is a boy. not sure how to tell with that yet.. But Boy oh BOY!! Is that the cuttest little thing in the world!!! (Blarney If it is a Roo, would you want it back?)

 

[Silvester]

I have the reverse problem of most I think...

My "coop" is a horse stall - 10' x 14' x 10'.
The adjacent space is another horse stall of similar size.
I can close the windows and a sliding door on a breeze way that connects both to the run area, but there is no door on the far end of the breeze way.
The walls are all board and batten with minimal gaps and the floor is compacted sand/gravel with deep litter.
I've adjusted the door to the run to only open on the bottom half and put the two halves of a large resin dog house out in the run so they have shelter from the wind.

This is my first time with chickens and I'm very concerned about the cold hurting them.
I'd like to build a door for the end of the breeze way or at least hang a Goodwill quilt.

I'm seeing that most recommend NOT putting in a heater or heat lamp... Would a heat lamp on a timer be ill advised?

I think I at least need to get one of those heated dog water bowls as the plastic waterers are freezing over night now and the swim pond for my ducks was frozen over this morning.

 

[Katt66]

I took my hanging plastic waters out when the temp started dropping below freezing. It was a waste to fill them every day only to have to thaw and empty them and refill again the next day. That and I was afraid I'd break the brittle plastic once it was frozen and filled with expanded frozen water.

Right now I have a crock type dog bowl in for the quail and one of these "Chicken Canteens" I picked up at Country Junction last pay day for the chickens.


I only bought one because I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it and how it was going to actually work.
I wish I'd have gotten three more now after 2 weeks in use. It's only 16 oz so they drink it all throughout the day. If I have to I just refill it once. At night I take it inside and fill and replace in the morning. I know this isn't a practical solution for anybody with large numbers of chickens. But for my little coop I love it. I ordered 2 more off Ebay and plan on putting one in for the quail as well and a second one for the chickens.

 

[wingstone]

Looking Like I have too many Rooster.. Come Spring ( and don't tell the BF) I Will be looking to add 4 or 5 more ladies.( I need a white layer and an Blue Layer any recommendations?) Also I do not want chicks, Would like Young pullets I have a least that I can tell, 1 Langshan Rooster & my Brahma is a Rooster. Once they crow, it's either Freezer Camp or if they get lucky a new home. The Brahma is a sissy though... And I am not sure if the only Bantam Egg that hatched is a boy. not sure how to tell with that yet.. But Boy oh BOY!! Is that the cuttest little thing in the world!!! (Blarney If it is a Roo, would you want it back?)

Rose, you know you can always bring your extra rooster's up to me,,,,,,,But be aware that their stay will depend on how well they behave, and what kind of mood I am in......

folks I often take extra roosters but you must be aware that some will not have a long happy life...

I wonder what a langshan rooster would do in the meat breeding experiment,,,they are slow growers I think, but would add good size.(just thinking out loud again )

 

[FarAwayBoy]

We were there this past weekend too Blarney! Might have passed right by each other and not known it! haha My family and I love Longwood too! My wife has a membership, my son in under 4 and I get in for free due to work

We're only bout 15 minutes or so away ourselves. A bit surprised they don't have chickens hanging out somewhere on property.

 

[Silvester]

Anyone in the Milton/Lewisburg/Williamsport area that would be willing to take roosters for hens or chicks?

I have two brown wyandott roosters and would like to trade them for a hen (or two) that is not a red sex link or buff orpington.
I also have a pekin drake and two rouen drakes that I'd like to trade for non pekin ducks.

 

[roseschickies]

Rose, you know you can always bring your extra rooster's up to me,,,,,,,But be aware that their stay will depend on how well they behave, and what kind of mood I am in......

folks I often take extra roosters but you must be aware that some will not have a long happy life...

I wonder what a langshan rooster would do in the meat breeding experiment,,,they are slow growers I think, but would add good size.(just thinking out loud again )

Did you see the picture of the Brahma!! He is HUGE! and not even a year old yet.. I got him from the MD swap, how long ago was that? I don't think I will go to one of those again. I am very disappointed. I went looking for some BCMs, I had a reliable source from BYC, I apologies for not going with them. But I was excited to go to the swap, as a 1st time experience. Now the BCMs I got lay Dark green eggs (Don;t get me wrong, they are cool looking eggs, but not what I Paid for), the Brahma is a Roster, 1 Died horribly in the beginning.. So I have 1 Blue Maran that needs to prove itself and lay me a nice dark chocolate Egg.. with no Speckles..

My other chicks, they where just fun since I had a broody, The one Mili Flour Batam Cochin I got from Blarney, I have a suspicion is a Rooster, fingers crossed it isn't, and the Lang is from Ladyhawk, and yeah they get huge! But if either want them back they get 1st dibs