Texas

[bnjrob]

My hens tried to burn down their coop last night!

Guess it was so cold they needed a fire! I went out this morning and smelled that smoldering smell coming from the coop...opened it up and their heat lamp had fallen so hard to the floor that it knocked the protectors off and there was a burned hold through the floor!!!

What does everyone do to help heat their coops? ....with out burning them down....

I do not heat my coops. Chickens do not require heat in TX unless you have unfeathered chicks that do not have a momma hen to crawl under for warmth.

I have had pullets and cockerels in open air pens all this winter which has been colder than usual and have not had any frostbite, illness, or injury. Chickens are livestock. If you treat them like livestock, you can acclimate them to the weather to survive. If you treat them like pets when it comes to the weather, then they will be poorly acclimated and can die at higher temps in winter and lower temps in summer that should normally not cause them any problems. Chickens have lived for thousands of years without the benefits of electricity to run heat lamps. Give them a roof and wind protection and they will do fine unless they are the only chicken inside of a huge barn. In that case, you give them some good bedding to lay in and then they will be able to keep their body heat even if they are the only chicken inside of a big barn.

 

[jajeanpierre]

My hens tried to burn down their coop last night!

Guess it was so cold they needed a fire! I went out this morning and smelled that smoldering smell coming from the coop...opened it up and their heat lamp had fallen so hard to the floor that it knocked the protectors off and there was a burned hold through the floor!!!

What does everyone do to help heat their coops? ....with out burning them down....

Nothing. I don't think they need heat, only protection from the wind. I saw an article written in the 1930s I think, showing a coop design that had one wall completely open. This was for Maine winters, I think. They found the birds healthier with all that open air circulation. The only issues was wetness into the coop along the open wall from rain.

Chicks, of course, are another story.

I believe the breeder of my macaws in the Dallas/Fort Worth area has her birds outside 24/7, even this winter. She does cover the aviaries in plastic to block the wind. Some of her birds never go into their nest boxes all winter.

If you are going to use a heat lamp, you must attach from two independent points so that if one fails, it doesn't fall. They should not be hung up by the cord.

 

[hungnguyen]

Quote:
You can try the Chick Warmer. About 10 days ago, TexasLisa posted the link for this product. I heard that this is safer than heat lamp. Today is a good day to stay indoor and eat Instant Noodle.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Certain vaccines for ILT are illegal in TX for this reason - makes me wonder how the person got their hands on the stuff - unless they ordered it from outside the state from a company that failed to inform them that it was illegal to use in TX.

People really need to learn the rules about vaccinations before they just start ordering vaccines willy nilly.

The incident was back in the fall of 2003, with the flock destroyed in January 2004. I don't know what the rules were or even are.

 

[Little Wing]

My hens tried to burn down their coop last night!

Guess it was so cold they needed a fire! I went out this morning and smelled that smoldering smell coming from the coop...opened it up and their heat lamp had fallen so hard to the floor that it knocked the protectors off and there was a burned hold through the floor!!!

What does everyone do to help heat their coops? ....with out burning them down....

Wow, you dodged a bullet there! Glad it worked out ok.

You should not need to heat your coop at all unless you have babies. If you do need to use a heat lamp, make sure the fixture hangs from a chain and not just from the cord.

 

[8isenuff]

Thanks for the info guys.

Hi Sage. Tilapia and aquaponics is my next project! I'll have to pick your brain when i get to it!

 

[TexasLisa]

Sage Mind Homestead here
In lovely Paige texas near Elgin Giddings Bastrop and Smithville
New to area about 1.5 yrs
Just getting started w two hens 1 roo and they get along fine even tho only 2 as they grew up together ! Vertical gardens hydroponics 25 Talapia in an aquaponic setup and 6 ferral cats who are now wanting in the house and to be picked up and follow us around everywhere we go who share time between two homesteads ! Very fine site here

Welcome from Rosenberg, TX!!

Lisa

 

[Brookshire11]

Going through Dallas on the way to Ok.

Keep warm.

I woke up to snow. Which was all

...until I had to drive to work lol. It was fine then but I'll admit, there's been some squirrely people on the roads..my husband included. Hensfortherapy, you probably passed right by me. I'm right off 75! lol

Certain vaccines for ILT are illegal in TX for this reason - makes me wonder how the person got their hands on the stuff - unless they ordered it from outside the state from a company that failed to inform them that it was illegal to use in TX.

People really need to learn the rules about vaccinations before they just start ordering vaccines willy nilly.

I'm interested in your stance on worming. Would you share?

 

[lovingmyhens]

Sage Mind Homestead here
In lovely Paige texas near Elgin Giddings Bastrop and Smithville
New to area about 1.5 yrs
Just getting started w two hens 1 roo and they get along fine even tho only 2 as they grew up together ! Vertical gardens hydroponics 25 Talapia in an aquaponic setup and 6 ferral cats who are now wanting in the house and to be picked up and follow us around everywhere we go who share time between two homesteads ! Very fine site here

I'm glad you are enjoying the site! A fine group of people here for sure.
Welcome from Katy, tx. West of Houston.

 

[hensfortherapy]

Sage Mind Homestead here
In lovely Paige texas near Elgin Giddings Bastrop and Smithville
New to area about 1.5 yrs
Just getting started w two hens 1 roo and they get along fine even tho only 2 as they grew up together ! Vertical gardens hydroponics 25 Talapia in an aquaponic setup and 6 ferral cats who are now wanting in the house and to be picked up and follow us around everywhere we go who share time between two homesteads ! Very fine site here

Hi. I have a sister in law who lives in Paige.