The Middle Tennessee Thread

[Cinny]

Little worried about the girls tonight.....their coop is insulated and I've been using the layer method .....hoping they will be ok....supposed to be cold hardy breeds but this is my first winter and I'm starting to freak out a little. Can't lose another one, after loosing Sophie. ...and yes I am way too attached to my babies.
What is everyone else doing?

 

[pickledchicken]

Cinny I have just been closing my coop up at night as not to have any drafts or wind on them. I wouldn't worry too much they should be OK it sounds like they have a wonderful home and lots of care.

 

[Cinny]

Cinny I have just been closing my coop up at night as not to have any drafts or wind on them. I wouldn't worry too much they should be OK it sounds like they have a wonderful home and lots of care.

I have vented floors as well as a door where the plexiglass comes out and a window in the back. Naturallly I put the glass in and kept the window closed .....should I put both the wooden covers over the floor vents or leave one with a 6" space so they will have some ventilation.
(the back 24" of the coop is wire, but I have wood that covers that up completely if needed but if I cover it all up they will have no ventilation tonight)

 

[DMRippy]

Chickens should really be ok in this weather. Frostbite on combs might be all you really need to worry about especially if they are big birds. I just moved some juvies outside and they could not even seem to find the FOOD

So we LOCKED them in the coop, and they will stay there for the next couple of days. Maybe that help with the COLD nights and make them think of the coop as home. I have plastic over the runs to keep the wind off of them. The wind is the real issue. Don't block ventilation that will cause way more issues in the cold than the cold. This year is much warmer than last. The cold snaps have been short only a day or 2 at a time. Last year it lasted for a couple of weeks in the teens. It is almost over and if they have had time to get used to the cold they will be fine.

 

[DMRippy]

I know several people have said they wanted eggs from various breeds I have, I have started a waiting list so I can better keep up. If you want to be added to the lists, PM what you want (chicks or eggs) and the breed and when you want them and I will put you down.

Breeds

BLRW
Silver Penciled Wyandotte Bantams
Choc Wyandottes (might be late summer for them)
Wheaten Ameraucanas
Lavender/Split Ameraucanas
Copper Marans
Cuckoo and Blue Cuckoo Marans (summer maybe)
Blue and Reg Barred Rocks from the Good Shepard Roo
Sex Linked Marans
Sex Linked EE
GNH x reg NH
Sex Links (blue and black)
Super Blue Egg Layers (White Leghorns x Lav Am)

I have guineas too
Pearl, Pied Pearl, Lavender, Royal Purple, White, and Coral Blues ALL running together. (I also have some hatching eggs coming in the spring with maybe some other colors)

Late Spring Early Summer
Autosexing Olive Egger (CCL roo x Blue Cuckoo Marans)

I am sure I am forgetting something..... not sure yet, but I might have White Wyandottes... I still can't sex them for sure. 1 roo the other 2 are still iffy.

 

[DMRippy]

One of our BCM roos was dead in his coop this morning. He was fine last night and this morning, gone. Last night wasn't even that cold.

Sorry for your loss.

My blue copper did that too... fine one day dead the next. Do you have a spare?

I didn't really.... I have some I am growing out now. I hatched every egg for about 2 weeks. Hoping to get a replacement just like my roo. I am using his brother now, hoping he stays alive.

 

[Cinny]

Thanks Donna and Chad for the info and good advice.....I just need to take a deep breath and remember all I've learned these past 10 months from my friends on BYC!!

 

[heirloomorps]

Sorry for your loss.

My blue copper did that too... fine one day dead the next. Do you have a spare?

I didn't really.... I have some I am growing out now. I hatched every egg for about 2 weeks. Hoping to get a replacement just like my roo. I am using his brother now, hoping he stays alive.

We don't have a spare but we have seven two month old chicks... none are showing any signs of a comb right now but I am hoping one of them is a roo. For now, our fix is to split the three hens between our other pens.

 

[lesgo54]

hello mid tn. im still in the planning stages of getting chickens. but ill be looking to buy some this spring AFTER i build a coop/run. van buren county. anybody else near me. ide like to visit and look at your coop for idea's. for mine

 

[pickledchicken]

hello mid tn. im still in the planning stages of getting chickens. but ill be looking to buy some this spring AFTER i build a coop/run. van buren county. anybody else near me. ide like to visit and look at your coop for idea's. for mine

I'm in Sparta Tn welcome aboard !!!