Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[Blarneyeggs]

Thoes of you close to Erie. I have chicks that are 27 days old. 10 of them. This is my first winter with chickens. I put them in the barn/coop with a heat lamp and water and such I am just scared they are to cold. Am I being silly or have I messed up? Should I bring them back in side my house? It's like 10 degrees during the day today.

If the chicks haven't been acclimated to the cold by either a broody or by gradual exposure then you have to make sure they are comfortable with the set up, the guys already described how to judge based on their proximity to the light. To improve your chances for a good transition you may set up a draft free area and place a comfy nesting spot in one end with the heat lamp at a comfortable distance for them and food/water at the other side so they have to roam out into the cooler part of the area to eat and drink. doing this will force them to stray out of their comfort zone for at least short times to start getting used to it. If you are doing this though you will have to monitor them closely for chicks getting stuck or lost in the wrong end of the enclosure... sometimes they aren't the brightest.

I just vasolined all my kides combs tonight. my oldest roo hardly has a comb left after 3 years of frost bite of course he's leghorn. but some of my girls stay out in the run on there roost all night watching the voles eat there food. I'n never seen so many as this year.

How are the EE boys doing? Hope you are getting lots of fluffy cheeked little ones!

As far as I know most of my Cubalaya roosters do that on a regular ongoing basis.

Yep, our roos are also 'apartment shoppers' for the girls.... we joke that they are like real estate agents, singing the praises of the great places they manage to find.

I gave Oliver to a new home he was really rough with the girls 1 too many roos and not enough girls for him OMG grab them pounce and Tuxie would chase him off and then he would be back for more, worst teenager I've ever seen :cd but yes I have babies

How cute are these!! My Bella has been asking to come in...now I know it's cold! The problem is, after 5 minutes, she's panting and over heated. I need to get her a better structure for outside, until then, she's in, then out, in then out... I'll put her in the basement tonight. It's a little cooler down there. I don't want her overheating and blowing her coat.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Do you all find your chickens eat less in the winter? I feel like my girls aren't eating as much feed, but perhaps that's because of the reduced laying.

Mine are eating more they find less food free ranging now

Quote: Only if you have a warm place to keep it ..Mine is in my basement

 

[Gramma Chick]

I do ...it is so cute...Lucky to young hens " lets play house ..."

 

[Blarneyeggs]

'Ello crazy chicken people! How have you been? Yes, I know cold. It is a shock to think of how warm it was Sunday.
I am home for a while. A month at least. I am not missing the joys of winter chicken keeping. My m-i-l did laugh at me today as I picked up some eggs at the store. Dh is too sick to drive for fresh eggs.

welcome home! Glad you're getting a break from the road. Hope DH is feeling better soon!

 

[barbiegirl]

I got tied up in holiday craziness and haven't been on BYC in weeks. I'm never going to catch up, so I'll just jump back in here. My chickies started laying! The RIRs anyway, I don't think the black australorps have started laying yet. We are getting about 2 eggs a day (and have 2 RIR and two BA). The first ones were so small, but had really nice shells and good form, etc. I took a few pictures but can't upload them right now.

Now that it's below freezing outside day and night, I was wondering if I need to check for eggs more often or is it okay if they freeze out there if I don't find them right away? I'm checking once a day right now.

Also, what are my options for keeping their water from freezing? I have a great waterer that I love made from a 5 gallon bucket and side-mounted poultry nipples. The waterer has a black lid and the coop has a clear roof so it did pretty well up to this point not freezing solid. This cold snap has proven frustrating though. Yesterday I had to bring it inside to thaw and replaced it with a regular water bowl in the interim. I hated that they had to dip their waddles in the water to get a drink, plus they got the water dirty within minutes. We have a aquarium heater and cut a hole in the top of the bucket for it, but then DH pointed out that it would run constantly since the water would never be able to maintain even the lowest heat setting, it wouldn't take long for it to burn out. What are our other options? could I use some type of heated stand/pad under the bucket if the bucket is plastic? Anything I can pick up easily at TSC or order on amazon?

I love my heated water bowls!! Sometimes Walmart has them in with the dog stuff, that way you don't have to order online. I will never do a winter without them again!!! They are a godsend, really.

Eggs will freeze in this cold. As long as the shell is in one piece and not cracked they are safe to eat. The ones that get cracked I cook up frozen for my dogs! It will happen. sigh.

 

[Bettacreek]

We finally put the livestock tank deicer in and holy cow. In this freezing weather, it defrosted our large kiddie pool completely and melted snow a good 3-4 inches from the pool off of the ground.

 

[stake]

I do ...it is so cute...Lucky to young hens " lets play house ..."

Yeppers, my #2 roo, a ccl has moved from coop#1 to coop#2 and is trying to exert his infulence over the girls....(they mostly try and give him 'space')....well had to change the water three times today....a pair of the girls were having a hard time one small BL and one of the Lav orps who's molting....pulled the BL inside for 15min warm up late in the afternoon...then late in the day the two mentioned decided to stay under coop #1 to roost(cynder blocks block the north winds),,,,,,I chased them into coop #2....so they could hang with their crew...noticed the girls in coop #1 pack themselves into one corner in a scrum....all are 'battoned down'....its going to be a tough night, I'll be up early to check on them....

PS: my wood stove insert can't keep up with the chill....its just nasty out there.....keep warm

 

[stake]

How cute are these!!

My Bella has been asking to come in...now I know it's cold! The problem is, after 5 minutes, she's panting and over heated. I need to get her a better structure for outside, until then, she's in, then out, in then out... I'll put her in the basement tonight. It's a little cooler down there. I don't want her overheating and blowing her coat.

Bella asked to come in??? GP's are built to be outside....wow...my pooch Denny loves to hang in the basement...don't think its an overheating thing with him....

 

[stake]

'Ello crazy chicken people! How have you been? Yes, I know cold. It is a shock to think of how warm it was Sunday.
I am home for a while. A month at least. I am not missing the joys of winter chicken keeping. My m-i-l did laugh at me today as I picked up some eggs at the store. Dh is too sick to drive for fresh eggs.

hey MCC:

Good to hear your not on the road in this cold BS, wind is really honking...sorry you couldn't get some 'real eggs'...if you and the hubby ever make it back down this way I'll have a dozen for you....(for the bater or the frying pan)

 

[stake]

When you don't have a choice...ummm, yeah, you just deal with it. I need to pull about $500 out of my rear for insulation & things will improve greatly. (Praying for Lowes gift cards...lol)

I actually have 6 kids. The 7 & 11 yr olds live with me. My 20 yr old & his gf live in my rv outside the back door of the cabin. My 20 yr old cuts my firewood & the littles & I carry & stack it. The gf sits on her lazy rear & expects everyone to do everything for her. (She's his problem, not mine...but I can tell he's getting really tired of her crap & hopefully will toss her out soon. I'll jump for joy when he does.) My son works full time, helps pay rent & electric & helps with anything I can't do on my own. The drawback, childish gf makes a nuisance of her self & throws a tantrum anytime he helps me or takes me anywhere. I just ignore her & refuse to acknowledge she exists til she gets her head out of her rear. He has been spending a lot of time at my place here lately just to get away from her & I think it's funny...lol

Silkie:

Hope things settle down for you....and you get to focus on what's important....my wood stove can't keep up with the cold and it makes me worry about you....(as I have oil to supplement)...geez...you are leading a tough life....