Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

I actually bought an incubator -- the Nurture Right 360. And yes, I will have a rooster issue. All I can do is sell off some of any type that have a great hatch at birth straight-run, and then for the others try to find an adopter. We are sticking with only one rooster for now -- he is such a good boy! I think for faverolles, houdans and such there may be a market, even for roosters, since these birds are so hard to get. I really don't want to get them from hatcheries, but there just doesn't seem to be other options. Dennis -- who do you know who has faverolles eggs? Can you share the name?

Meanwhile, my adult chickens are using the extra coop I built for the chicks (that was never used) as a "winter house" during the day when they get cold. It is slightly heated and has a sun roof, unlike their coop. They love it. So I have some very spoiled chickens.

My chickens wouldn't come out of their wrapped run any more. Their water is not frozen in the run or coop, so I assume the clear tarp wrap keep the temperature warm there. I have a heated dog bowl in their run. No any other heating source. I know their don't like cold, but I'm afraid to loose power during heavy snow or wind. They are doing good now. If it seems too cold later, I may set up a compost pile behind their coop to make it warmer. I collected lots of leaves already.
 
My chickens wouldn't come out of their wrapped run any more. Their water is not frozen in the run or coop, so I assume the clear tarp wrap keep the temperature warm there. I have a heated dog bowl in their run. No any other heating source. I know their don't like cold, but I'm afraid to loose power during heavy snow or wind. They are doing good now. If it seems too cold later, I may set up a compost pile behind their coop to make it warmer. I collected lots of leaves already.
Throw some shelled corn or mealworms outside the run, that should bring them out. They do not like wind or dampness, in my experience, and we have had a lot of that here lately. It just got really cold and the birds seem happier in the cold than when it was raining.
You are right to not heat them, let them adapt to what they are getting now. If you worry later when the temps really drop, then you can take other actions, like vasoline on their combs to prevent frostbite, or whole shelled corn in the afternoon for overnight extra calories.
I'm giving mine shelled corn every day when I know the weather will be below freezing that night. They go nuts for the corn, it is the only thing that brings them off the roosts some days (boy, I know that feeling).
 
Throw some shelled corn or mealworms outside the run, that should bring them out. They do not like wind or dampness, in my experience, and we have had a lot of that here lately. It just got really cold and the birds seem happier in the cold than when it was raining.
You are right to not heat them, let them adapt to what they are getting now. If you worry later when the temps really drop, then you can take other actions, like vasoline on their combs to prevent frostbite, or whole shelled corn in the afternoon for overnight extra calories.
I'm giving mine shelled corn every day when I know the weather will be below freezing that night. They go nuts for the corn, it is the only thing that brings them off the roosts some days (boy, I know that feeling).

None of my chickens eats dried corn or corn on the cob. :idunno I have to peel fresh corn off the cob to feed them. They also wouldn't touch store bought berries, but love the raspberries and strawberries I grow in my garden. Go figure. I come home after it gets dark., so only time they get treats is morning. I give them extra mealworms now. If I gave them mealworms outside of the run, they came to eat and went back right away.They have chicken Xylophone, steel mirror, and other toys in the run now. Hope that's enough to keep them happy.
 
Hey Wing!!! LTNS Don’t mind me...just lurking.

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I just saw that Sand Hill Preservation Center has updated their poultry pages for 2021. Some really rare stuff here. Just after I said Spitzhaubens were nearly impossible to find from a breeder, I find them listed here: https://www.sandhillpreservation.com/chickens
If anyone is interested in getting "standard bred" chicks for cheap, consider ordering some of the assortments. I know the owner and he is a frequent judge at various county fairs, so he knows what these breeds are supposed to look and act like.
 
I found Sandhill on my own actually, and even downloaded their order form. But then I saw their minimums --25 chicks per order. That is a lot of chicks to have in my basement, and my hubby would probably draw the line there. On the other hand I did find a lovely sounding breeder in NY who will have Spitzhauben hatching eggs in the spring. The Sweet Chicken Homestead. Have any of you ever heard of them?
 
I found Sandhill on my own actually, and even downloaded their order form. But then I saw their minimums --25 chicks per order. That is a lot of chicks to have in my basement, and my hubby would probably draw the line there. On the other hand I did find a lovely sounding breeder in NY who will have Spitzhauben hatching eggs in the spring. The Sweet Chicken Homestead. Have any of you ever heard of them?
Never heard of Sweet Chicken Homestead. Order from Sand Hill and I will buy some with you. Or others in this forum that are close to you. I could easily find 20 chicks that I want.
 

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