Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[chickenlindz]

Mortie close your eyes and skip this post!

Got eggs?

Btw I like novels too. You keep me entertained.

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Mortie close your eyes and skip this post!

Got eggs?

Btw I like novels too. You keep me entertained.

MY EYES, I HAVENT HAD ANY EGGS EITHER
I like novels too!

 

[Scrambles55]

3... Nugget, Jemma and Minnie P.
Go mortie... go mortie... tell us a story.

 

[mortie]

Okay, okay.

So remember this is my first year of chickening. After much research, I decided on the DLM method of management. It's a little modified since my coop doesn't sit on the ground and I gather it's best if your bedding contacts the dirt but whatever. I went on the principle that if it didn't smell, it was good. Stir it up, toss a bit more bedding in....and it worked great. We made it all summer without changing the bedding, it didn't stink, everyone was happy.

I changed the bedding a couple of months ago and prepared to monitor it the same way I did in the summer.

Then it snowed and the girls started spending a lot of time inside. And pooping a lot inside. When it was above freezing still, it wasn't a big deal because their daytime poops would dry up and the coop could handle the night time ones.

I didn't turn the bedding much. I stuck my head in there, didn't smell anything, and thought it was okay.

Then we had that really cold snap where every day it was below zero. The poops froze right away upon being dropped. This is key. Then one night I closed the pop door. it was the last of the really cold evenings when it was also a bit windy. Prior to that they had experienced colder temps with the door open with no problems. The last few days and nights have been well above zero, and I really don't know what temp the coop is with all of the birds in it.

It's possible that the night I closed the coop door it got warm enough in there to melt the poop and with the reduction in air flow, the humidity rose to the point where people started getting frost bite...but I think that is somewhat unlikely since it was still 0ish that night. Without knowing the actual temp in the coop it's hard to say, but that was the only time the air flow in the coop was reduced, and they had made it through must colder nights just fine with no frostbite.

However, the last few nights have been warmer. It's been above zero and probably about 20 degrees. It's entirely possible that the warmth has been thawing the poops from the deep freeze (the ones from the cold snap that froze rather than drying out during the day like normal) releasing excess moisture into the air and that is what did it and that's why it happened now that it's gotten warmer instead of when it was really cold.

I feel kind of stupid for not seeing that coming. In general, I am not an idiot. I didn't figure frozen poop would hurt anything and with the pop door open, I have lots of ventilation. With it closed, it is enough for 4 chickens but not so much 6, especially if they're spending extra time in the coop. I didn't realize the bedding had turned into a giant ice cube that could potentially release excessive moisture into the air and I didn't think for a second that with the pop door open, it would accumulate enough to cause frostbite. Just completely didn't call it. Should have seen that coming.

Call it leaning winter DLM management....but like I said, it doesn't make me feel any better or fix my injured birds. All 3 of my girls with single combs are probably going to lose parts of them. I imagine it's fairly uncomfortable for them as well. It's hard to see them like they are right now.

I cleaned out all of the frozen bedding. That is not to say I cleaned it ALL out but I was surprised that I couldn't stir it. I see now that if it can't be stirred, it's trouble. All the big chunks came out and I replaced with new bedding, especially at the doorway where they like to sit and poop all day. I will be stirring that and checking it carefully going forward. Smell is not a reliable guide in the winter when it's below zero all the time. Duh. I can't believe I didn't see that one coming. Coop should be a lot dryer now. I'll be removing the large piles that accumulate in their favorite spots.

I hear ya. You're all about to suggest i do a poop board. I don't think I can fit one in there. Easier for me to just scoop out the areas under the roost as needed. The coop was built to be "just right" for 4 birds who spent the majority of their time outside. It's pretty um...cozy for 6 who are spending a good deal of time inside.

I also put some straw down in the run to encourage them to come out more.

No eggs today. Yesterday I got one after I reported none. Today it really was none.

So there you have it. My biggest failure to date with this project. I picked cold hardy birds with pea combs because of this but if you remember these guys were from the farmers market eggs and I had no idea what breeds they would be. Poor Penny.

 

[ronott1]

Okay, okay.

So remember this is my first year of chickening. After much research, I decided on the DLM method of management. It's a little modified since my coop doesn't sit on the ground and I gather it's best if your bedding contacts the dirt but whatever. I went on the principle that if it didn't smell, it was good. Stir it up, toss a bit more bedding in....and it worked great. We made it all summer without changing the bedding, it didn't stink, everyone was happy.

I changed the bedding a couple of months ago and prepared to monitor it the same way I did in the summer.

Then it snowed and the girls started spending a lot of time inside. And pooping a lot inside. When it was above freezing still, it wasn't a big deal because their daytime poops would dry up and the coop could handle the night time ones.

I didn't turn the bedding much. I stuck my head in there, didn't smell anything, and thought it was okay.

Then we had that really cold snap where every day it was below zero. The poops froze right away upon being dropped. This is key. Then one night I closed the pop door. it was the last of the really cold evenings when it was also a bit windy. Prior to that they had experienced colder temps with the door open with no problems. The last few days and nights have been well above zero, and I really don't know what temp the coop is with all of the birds in it.

It's possible that the night I closed the coop door it got warm enough in there to melt the poop and with the reduction in air flow, the humidity rose to the point where people started getting frost bite...but I think that is somewhat unlikely since it was still 0ish that night. Without knowing the actual temp in the coop it's hard to say, but that was the only time the air flow in the coop was reduced, and they had made it through must colder nights just fine with no frostbite.

However, the last few nights have been warmer. It's been above zero and probably about 20 degrees. It's entirely possible that the warmth has been thawing the poops from the deep freeze (the ones from the cold snap that froze rather than drying out during the day like normal) releasing excess moisture into the air and that is what did it and that's why it happened now that it's gotten warmer instead of when it was really cold.

I feel kind of stupid for not seeing that coming. In general, I am not an idiot. I didn't figure frozen poop would hurt anything and with the pop door open, I have lots of ventilation. With it closed, it is enough for 4 chickens but not so much 6, especially if they're spending extra time in the coop. I didn't realize the bedding had turned into a giant ice cube that could potentially release excessive moisture into the air and I didn't think for a second that with the pop door open, it would accumulate enough to cause frostbite. Just completely didn't call it. Should have seen that coming.

Call it leaning winter DLM management....but like I said, it doesn't make me feel any better or fix my injured birds. All 3 of my girls with single combs are probably going to lose parts of them. I imagine it's fairly uncomfortable for them as well. It's hard to see them like they are right now.

I cleaned out all of the frozen bedding. That is not to say I cleaned it ALL out but I was surprised that I couldn't stir it. I see now that if it can't be stirred, it's trouble. All the big chunks came out and I replaced with new bedding, especially at the doorway where they like to sit and poop all day. I will be stirring that and checking it carefully going forward. Smell is not a reliable guide in the winter when it's below zero all the time. Duh. I can't believe I didn't see that one coming. Coop should be a lot dryer now. I'll be removing the large piles that accumulate in their favorite spots.

I hear ya. You're all about to suggest i do a poop board. I don't think I can fit one in there. Easier for me to just scoop out the areas under the roost as needed. The coop was built to be "just right" for 4 birds who spent the majority of their time outside. It's pretty um...cozy for 6 who are spending a good deal of time inside.

I also put some straw down in the run to encourage them to come out more.

No eggs today. Yesterday I got one after I reported none. Today it really was none.

So there you have it. My biggest failure to date with this project. I picked cold hardy birds with pea combs because of this but if you remember these guys were from the farmers market eggs and I had no idea what breeds they would be. Poor Penny.

Thank you!

I liked your novella. If I move to a cold place I will remember this.

 

[chickenlindz]

Mortie sad that you had to be the one to learn this lesson but thanks for sharing. I've been pulling out the bigger frozen poops lately. I do the same version as DLM as you do so this is a good point to remember.

 

[BullChick]

Mortie, you talk too much! I am tired of your novels!! Kidding!
I am ticked you mocked my Cowboys! I haven't been on here in a week, and just saw.

 

[mortie]

That's okay, you'll get your revenge come monday. I blame Aaron's injured calf.

 

[ProjectChick]

Hello,

I am new to this thread and new to chickens. We brought home our babies by accident in late summer. I wanted to let Mortie know that I unfortunately, learned the same lesson as he, only it was the large comb of my Roo that has paid the price. It isn't pretty, but it was caught quick so it could have been worse. I really hate seeing Cog like that, but hopefully it is a lesson learned and not repeated.

I have not read the WHOLE thread, but my girls were hatched mid-august and we still have not seen a single egg from 4 hens? Can someone tell me if this is normal sense it is mid winter now? Or could I be doing something else wrong?

Thanks for your input.

 

[ronott1]

Hello,

I am new to this thread and new to chickens. We brought home our babies by accident in late summer. I wanted to let Mortie know that I unfortunately, learned the same lesson as he, only it was the large comb of my Roo that has paid the price. It isn't pretty, but it was caught quick so it could have been worse. I really hate seeing Cog like that, but hopefully it is a lesson learned and not repeated.

I have not read the WHOLE thread, but my girls were hatched mid-august and we still have not seen a single egg from 4 hens? Can someone tell me if this is normal sense it is mid winter now? Or could I be doing something else wrong?

Thanks for your input.

It is normal--for a lot of breeds, if they do not start laying before the hours of daylight are less the around 12 hours, they will not lay until late winter or when hours of daylight go over 12 again.

Some breeds need 14 hours of light a day to lay well.