The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

Quote: I read your feed. You are good to go with this forever. Once they start laying, or even now, offer additional calcium like shells so the hens can choose to eat it or not.. It is the added calcium that is harmful.

 

[jlynnet]

Delisha said Sunny, so I was confused I should have guessed!

I just figured she meant Stoney. Good article!

 

[Bulldogma]

Leahs Mom I think you said you are making a hoop coop as well? My friend came up with the idea of old skis under the 2x4s so that I can move it around when I need to. Guess who will be watching craigs list and garage sales for old skis?

That would be me - I should be finishing it up today. The farm we live on is mostly cleared which, in combination with a number of good outside cats, seems to deter predators. Needless to say, we're still reinforcing the hoop coop with layers of wire and a wire apron around the bottom of the outside to deter diggers. I also plan to hang battery-operated motion sensor lights on each end (found some at CVS Pharmacy in the "As Seen on TV" section - LOL!

It's not the optimal setup if you live in an area with a lot of predators, but our biggest concerns seem to be hawks and coyotes.

 

[Bulldogma]

Aoxa -
I don't know how you deal with those horrifically cold temperatures / wind chill!!! I simply wouldn't survive up there! We're having a cold snap in the 20's - 30's and I'm miserable! Of course my birds seem to be just fine, but it takes me hours to warm back up after being outside!

I'll post photos of the hoop coop later. All the parts I worked on are straight and level, and all the parts I let my DH and DS do by themselves are... not! LOL! The back is slanted like a carnival fun house. But... it's solid and will protect the birds, so I'm OK with it. Doesn't have to be pretty to work, right?

I pick up the Dark Cornish on Saturday morning. Yay!

 

[Mumsy]

That would be me - I should be finishing it up today. The farm we live on is mostly cleared which, in combination with a number of good outside cats, seems to deter predators. Needless to say, we're still reinforcing the hoop coop with layers of wire and a wire apron around the bottom of the outside to deter diggers. I also plan to hang battery-operated motion sensor lights on each end (found some at CVS Pharmacy in the "As Seen on TV" section - LOL!

It's not the optimal setup if you live in an area with a lot of predators, but our biggest concerns seem to be hawks and coyotes.

I finished my hoop coop and we set up motion detector's too. They work great. Even a cat and the chickens can set them off. So when the flock is secured for the night and that light goes off we go outside and take a look around. We haven't seen sign of the local raccoon since installing them. Electric fence and the motion detector lights are my first line of defense. We don't have small mammal predators. Raccoons, hawks, and Great Horned owls are my biggest foes.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Aoxa -
I don't know how you deal with those horrifically cold temperatures / wind chill!!! I simply wouldn't survive up there! We're having a cold snap in the 20's - 30's and I'm miserable! Of course my birds seem to be just fine, but it takes me hours to warm back up after being outside!

I'll post photos of the hoop coop later. All the parts I worked on are straight and level, and all the parts I let my DH and DS do by themselves are... not! LOL! The back is slanted like a carnival fun house. But... it's solid and will protect the birds, so I'm OK with it. Doesn't have to be pretty to work, right?

I pick up the Dark Cornish on Saturday morning. Yay!

I'm a bit further north in VA than you are and it was 16 when I got up with a wind-chill of 7. My only concern with the birds is that this came so fast - no time for them to acclimate. We went from high 40's and 50's straight to the teens. Coldest snap in 4 years, they're saying.

I put extra leaves/shavings in the coop before the snap arrived and then tarped the "windy" side of the coop to keep out that wind. Still plenty of ventilation. The girls weren't in any hurry to venture out this morning, that's for sure. Neither was I! I took a good look at their combs and everyone seems to have fared okay - no frostbite.

I'm with you, have no idea how anyone handles these bitter temps and much worse on a daily basis.

 

[aoxa]

I'm a bit further north in VA than you are and it was 16 when I got up with a wind-chill of 7. My only concern with the birds is that this came so fast - no time for them to acclimate. We went from high 40's and 50's straight to the teens. Coldest snap in 4 years, they're saying.

I put extra leaves/shavings in the coop before the snap arrived and then tarped the "windy" side of the coop to keep out that wind. Still plenty of ventilation. The girls weren't in any hurry to venture out this morning, that's for sure. Neither was I! I took a good look at their combs and everyone seems to have fared okay - no frostbite.

I'm with you, have no idea how anyone handles these bitter temps and much worse on a daily basis.

It was 45 on Sunday. Down to -41 on Tuesday night.

It's easier to handle when you are used to them, that's for sure. Hard to keep warm when you are used to nice temps.

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Quote: I love my Genesis.

 

[aoxa]

I love my Genesis.

It's the best I've seen for the price. I did hours and hours of research.

Also has the best viewing window Love watching the chicks hatch!

 

[Mtn Laurel]

It was 45 on Sunday. Down to -41 on Tuesday night.

It's easier to handle when you are used to them, that's for sure. Hard to keep warm when you are used to nice temps.

I cannot even imagine. Have never experienced a temp that low. My hat's off to you, that's for sure!