Surviving Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

By deep litter method I was meaning a layer of straw covered by 1-2 inches of shavings. Every couple of weeks cleaning the coop down to the bare cement. I used the term deep litter as I know it will need a little more cushion for heavy breeds to hop/fall from the roosts.

Here is the fan we intend to install. http://www.qcsupply.com/10404-12-durafan-select-speed-shutter-fans.html

More thoughts on fans? Please give more advice on fans.

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Sorry about misunderstanding your deep litter method. Do you already have cement down or is this a shed with a cement floor already? I would say Cement is a pretty cold substrate to start out with as far as holding cold to the floor. Nice to hose out in the summer....but that's about it. you would need to go at least 4-6 inches of litter to help with cold seeping through to feet. In my Run with frozen mud clay underneath or forest floor converted I actually put in about 10-12 inches of oak leaves, mixed with straw. It's pretty cushy though.

All the frozen poop shuffles to the ground when they scratch through the leaves and straw. And a couple weeks ago we had a below zero day...I knelt down in that bedding (with Carhart bibs on) and my knee started to feel warmer. Very insulating. The reason I ask is Chickens roost alot when they're feet are cold. If the building is not already built i would suggest (for our winters anyways) Wood Floor joists with insulation between the joists and then covered to avoid mouse chewing...etc. underneath the floor layment. That's what I should have done with mine when I built it. I like to see chickens on their feet eating in the winter. Again just my two cents.

That's a nice big venting fan. will it be fore a relatively large coop? What is the size of your coop? These would go in the peak of a Gabled roof line. If you have just one side on your roof with a slant (the best for wintering chickens in my opinion) then you want it framed in at the top of the tallest wall. If that makes sense.

 

[holm25]

Who here will attend the 2016 Western Wisconsin poultry show? That will most likely be my first show this year!!

 

[duluthralphie]

Who here will attend the 2016 Western Wisconsin poultry show? That will most likely be my first show this year!!

Give me some details on this, I might, or I might not..



NOW the good news..

Tomorrow's hatch has started tonight. I have 3 new baby Speckled Sussex!! All three of their eggs hatched. They are little cuties..


And I have 1 Creamette hatch, a little White sport! SO far this is the best hatch. Heck 4 hatched the day before they should of instead of the day after...

 

[Bogtown Chick]

NOW the good news..

Tomorrow's hatch has started tonight. I have 3 new baby Speckled Sussex!! All three of their eggs hatched. They are little cuties..


And I have 1 Creamette hatch, a little White sport! SO far this is the best hatch. Heck 4 hatched the day before they should of instead of the day after...

I'd like to see some young British Babies.

 

[duluthralphie]

BC here are the young British Babes:

They are kind of hard to see, they packed together when I told them to say "cheese".

Note the newly hatched little Creamer and the white sport..

 

[Bogtown Chick]

What fun to have this going on in your house. I love it.

 

[Cebarmlds]

BC here are the young British Babes:

They are kind of hard to see, they packed together when I told them to say "cheese".

Note the newly hatched little Creamer and the white sport..

Is White Sport an official name? can they be sexed at hatch?

 

[duluthralphie]

Is White Sport an official name? can they be sexed at hatch?

Jerry can tell you better than I. I have not looked at the head yet, I am hoping to find a remnant of a spot. I would not be very confident in my ability to sex them.


I saw the name on here, so who knows, As Minnie always said "do not believe everything you read on BYC". If you do a search for white sport a thread come up to them.

I wonder if they can be entered in a bird show in the open division, if the APA adopts a SOP for CLBs.


They have some pictures of adult birds on the threads. They are beautiful birds, until the first winter when they get the Minnesota cushion comb.

 

[KlopKlop]

We had 4 eggs on the coop floor last night, cracked. I was thinking a hen scratched them out and they froze until I fed them to my dogs and realized they aren't froze and one of them had a kitten paw print on it.....
Somebody is getting a talking to today!

 

[duluthralphie]

Here is this morning's Fuzzy Butt pictures!

These are the Speckled Sussex. I am very happy with them, they are large, appear healthy and active, all the toes are straight and the feet point straight ahead..

I love the yellow bellies. King George might be a bellybutton but his babies are perfect.

Now I just need to find a home for them. If I don't it is no biggie, I can never have too many chickens...(not Judy's belief at all).

And here is the latest white sport, I think I see a spot on his head. Which means I have a breeding pair of white sports in 5-6 months!!!


Jerry And EJB, I can really use your help on whether what I see is the right mark. Hope the picture works.