Preparing Your Flock & Coop for WINTER

[coop410silkies]

Yes, I believe this is true. My Easter hatch of Sussex and Silkies started laying well before winter, and some - but not all - continued laying while the others had shut down.. I DO have a line of Speckled Sussex that lays especially well in the cooler months (but often goes broody), even when older, and I think I am just lucky with them. There are so many variables, it's hard to make rules about egg laying in winter. Maybe I can hatch the eggs that get laid in the winter and select for the hens most productive in winter. Would like to hatch for age, too. What do you think?

 

[TalkALittle]

I'd think that if you had hens that were still laying well during their second or third year and layed through the winter that if you bred them to a rooster that was the offspring of a hen that laid well into her third year and through the winter then you'd probably have a good chance of getting birds that had both longevity and winter laying traits.

A possible snag is that since you'd be breeding for long lifespan you'd want to breed your oldest birds but as birds age, fertility rates decrease so your hatch rates may be low. I imagine then that you'd be better off breeding birds that are the offspring of your oldest, best laying birds (unless old-age fertility is also a trait you want to breed for in which case you would breed your old birds). But that means you've got to keep multiple generations of both males and females around for a while before you even find out if they'd be good breeding stock.

 

[prizepete]

I would say 15-25 watts should be plenty, I would use clear bulb though without coating and make sure high enough and protected not to get feathers or dry materials that could start a fire. It's best to have the light early in the morning and turn off when sun comes up(7ish am) to simulate daylight. It wouldn't be an instantaneous result though might take few weeks to have them get adjusted to the lights and have them start laying again but that will also depends on the type and age of your layers.

Thanks, I don't really have a lot of layers, thats not what I am worried about, I haven't gotten eggs in 3-4 weeks, Exept one egg from a hen that I have in the garage that I keep a light on for an hour after dark and that seems to be working well, I am breeding seramas and I just got one and I am worried she might not be fertile, And I think that Its just something to think about

At this point light won't help, daylight is increasing. I upped my protein content and have a few that started up a month ago.

Thanks, I am just thinking ahead, For next year, the days still are not really long enough here right now, I wish they would!

 

[coop410silkies]

I'd think that if you had hens that were still laying well during their second or third year and layed through the winter that if you bred them to a rooster that was the offspring of a hen that laid well into her third year and through the winter then you'd probably have a good chance of getting birds that had both longevity and winter laying traits.

A possible snag is that since you'd be breeding for long lifespan you'd want to breed your oldest birds but as birds age, fertility rates decrease so your hatch rates may be low. I imagine then that you'd be better off breeding birds that are the offspring of your oldest, best laying birds (unless old-age fertility is also a trait you want to breed for in which case you would breed your old birds). But that means you've got to keep multiple generations of both males and females around for a while before you even find out if they'd be good breeding stock.

My thoughts exactly. I did not get very good hatch rates from my oldest hens, but this year I'm hoping to get some chicks from their offspring and see how they lay in the winter (and in their later years). Yeah, it might take a lot of grow outs and a bit of space. Speaking of fertility: it wasn't just a matter of being fertile; the eggs started but quit early on. Even the eggs the Broodies sat didn't hatch. So I guess - at least for the older hens - the ones that hatch and survive are the keeper stock. Would be nice if they looked good, too.

When I set up my breeding pens, I am thinking I will have to pay more attention to collecting eggs in the colder months while they're still laying. Might be part of a winter preparation program.

Thanks for your input. Got me thinking. You are so right.

 

[CanaDawn]

Just wanted to pop on here to post this photo of my "hot house flowers". Serama hens outside by choice (there is a lamp and bedding and places to scratch/feed in the shed behind them, and snow free area in their run to the left of the shed (just a narrow strip, since the cover is off but wide enough for all of them)). Temperature about -3C/27F. When there was no snow last week, they happily were out much of the day at -10C/14F. No comb or foot damage, no issues. They are in fact still laying.

They live in the uninsulated metal garden shed behind them, choose to perch on a narrow door to a coop with shavings and wide perches available, and have one heat lamp (which the silkie seems to enjoy more than the Seramas)

Wanted to give proof that these girls do just fine in Alberta (they were fine last year at -40C/F, they were fine this year (and went out, due to the low snow ("thanks" el nino) where they prefer not to go out onto snow - but will)

 

[motleybeau]

Great picture! My flock is in alberta as well, they did great this year. I think I only turned the heal lamp on once when it was -30C with a wind chill overnight to about -35C. No foot issues at all, and 1 rooster with a little tiny big of frostbite but they are hearty birds!

 

[CanaDawn]

These birds weigh about a pound a piece. They are NOT supposed to be hardy at all.

eta: just did a quick search for your posts re what you have, and those breeds should be just fine through a winter, and it wouldn't surprise me not to need a heat lamp.

 

[motleybeau]

Oh wow! They must really have acclimatized well! Great to see they are still enjoying the outdoors, even with snow

 

[CanaDawn]

they aren't the hothouse flowers they are reputed to be. I did avoid using a heat lamp until about -10C, but that's what you should do with any animal that's going to be outside for the winter (avoid keeping them artificially warm in the fall) and even with the option, they don't use it much. Water freezes in their coop in a few hours, so it's not warm in there.

Basically - the belief that these little birds can't cope isn't accurate, based on my two and their two winters. Small sample size, but I'm not going to fuss about them above -25C in future. (and even then, I think adding fat and meat to their diet and keeping them closed in for those worst days is enough)

 

[PHmaddnes]

6x6x9 greenhouse from Harbor Freight. I put their coop inside along with a banana tree and various potted flower. Planning on adding a tv and bed, wife says I may be living out there with them soon.

I finaly figured out a Summer use for my Chickens winter home.. who'da'thunk'it?.