The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Lacy Blues]

I am SO glad to see that mine are molting now. Last year it wasn't until December when it was ungodly cold.

Do y'all think that's an indication of a hard winter coming....or are my birds just getting into a more normal molt cycle?

My birds usually wait until its really cold to molt too. This year though, many are molting already and I've had the same question bouncing through my head. I'm afraid its going to be really cold this winter.

 

[armorfirelady]

 
I am SO glad to see that mine are molting now.  Last year it wasn't until December when it was ungodly cold.

Do y'all think that's an indication of a hard winter coming....or are my birds just getting into a more normal molt cycle?

My birds usually wait until its really cold to molt too.  This year though, many are molting already and I've had the same question bouncing through my head.  I'm afraid its going to be really cold this winter.

Between the leaves starting to change at the beginning of August and the hens molting earlier I am guessing it's going to be an early winter. The geese having been flying south for a month now. That to has me guessing it's going to snow earlier.

 

[Shan30]

Strange, our summer seemed to last for ever this year. The leaves did turn a bit early but I suspected the heat and lack of rain. It's been sooo dry the last few summers.

My feelings were actually leaning toward a mild winter. Then again our weather patterns seem to have absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the continent.

 

[LindaB220]

My birds usually wait until its really cold to molt too. This year though, many are molting already and I've had the same question bouncing through my head. I'm afraid its going to be really cold this winter.

What is it they do? Cut back feed to minimum for a couple of weeks and then load on high protein. Supposed to throw them all into molt. Just what I read.

 

[mlowen]

Strange, our summer seemed to last for ever this year. The leaves did turn a bit early but I suspected the heat and lack of rain. It's been sooo dry the last few summers.

My feelings were actually leaning toward a mild winter. Then again our weather patterns seem to have absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the continent.

Shan,
Is it mild enough there that the bears don't hibernate?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Do any of you have housing that has cement floors (as in a barn or other cement floored building)?

I may end up putting the birds in the pole barn for the winter if I can work out a containment plan. The floors are cement and, of course, I'd have a deep litter over that.

But I'm curious...it seems like the cement floor would be really cold and even make the litter cold and uncomfortable under it. I could probably get a remnant of vinyl flooring to throw on there under the litter.... I'm also wondering about condensation.

 

[BlueMouse]

So, I just started building a mini coop for my mom this week It's a surprise for her birthday/christmas It's a trailer coop so she can bring the whole thing to my house when they go on RV trips. I plan to put it well away from my fenced area and put her electronet around it. Basically I've scaled down a woods style coop to 4x8 and will stick it onto an old trailer. Using scounged windows and pre painted siding that dad used on their existing outbuildings. Hubby and I got it framed last night. Tonight the siding goeso n so I can paint the interior tomorrow. I'm just going to leave it in the garage and it'll be there when they get back from their RV trip Pictures to follow....

 

[Lacy Blues]

So, I just started building a mini coop for my mom this week It's a surprise for her birthday/christmas It's a trailer coop so she can bring the whole thing to my house when they go on RV trips. I plan to put it well away from my fenced area and put her electronet around it. Basically I've scaled down a woods style coop to 4x8 and will stick it onto an old trailer. Using scounged windows and pre painted siding that dad used on their existing outbuildings. Hubby and I got it framed last night. Tonight the siding goeso n so I can paint the interior tomorrow. I'm just going to leave it in the garage and it'll be there when they get back from their RV trip Pictures to follow....

That sounds very interesting! Can't wait to see pics!

I have cement in one of my raised coops. I can't say whether it made the coop colder or not. I'll try to pay more attention this winter.

LindaB220, that's an interesting thought. Never heard of it before. I'm not sure I need to do it though (this year) as I only have 5 girls that are "hens" the rest are all pullets and cockerels. I'll check into it for the future. Thanks.

 

[CherMoz]

What is it they do? Cut back feed to minimum for a couple of weeks and then load on high protein. Supposed to throw them all into molt. Just what I read.

This sounds like a form of forced molting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_molting

 

[islandgirl82]

This sounds like a form of forced molting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_molting

Gah! Everything about that article, along with 6,386,214 other reasons, is why I wanted to keep my own flock.

*Disclaimer: The number of reasons may or may not be slight exaggeration.*