Two buff orpington hens over winter

[dnicely]

I got six chickens three years ago, two were male (even though they were all supposed to be female), and four were female. I gave the roosters away when they grew up and became mean to each other and pulled the hens feathers our.

After about a year and one-half one hen turned a bucket over on herself and died (of fright, I guess), the others were fine until yesterday when one escaped and was killed by a predator. I worried about them only being three last winter, as we got unusually cold weather (sometimes -4 in Virginia) and I purchased a "flat screen" heater to help keep them from freezing, but they seemed a little afraid of it and roosted well away from it.

Anyway, I'll be 74 this winter and I'm debating whether I should get some more chickens, just to keep them warm, or try and give them away. I really don't need the possible danger involved in traipsing out to the chicken house in snow and ice to feed and water two chickens twice a day, but I don't want them to be given to someone who might eat them.

Does anyone have any suggestion? I feel responsible for them, but on the other hand it seems foolish to keep getting chickens that I don't really want to keep them warm. This would surely be an never ending process.

In case you think I'm being cruel, I've tried to do my best for them, including building them an 8x8 coop with a room enclosed pen to protect them. I really need suggestions on how to resolve this dilemma and come up with a solution that is best for them and me.

 

[kwhites634]

I got six chickens three years ago, two were male (even though they were all supposed to be female), and four were female. I gave the roosters away when they grew up and became mean to each other and pulled the hens feathers our.

After about a year and one-half one hen turned a bucket over on herself and died (of fright, I guess), the others were fine until yesterday when one escaped and was killed by a predator. I worried about them only being three last winter, as we got unusually cold weather (sometimes -4 in Virginia) and I purchased a "flat screen" heater to help keep them from freezing, but they seemed a little afraid of it and roosted well away from it.

Anyway, I'll be 74 this winter and I'm debating whether I should get some more chickens, just to keep them warm, or try and give them away. I really don't need the possible danger involved in traipsing out to the chicken house in snow and ice to feed and water two chickens twice a day, but I don't want them to be given to someone who might eat them.

Does anyone have any suggestion? I feel responsible for them, but on the other hand it seems foolish to keep getting chickens that I don't really want to keep them warm. This would surely be an never ending process.

In case you think I'm being cruel, I've tried to do my best for them, including building them an 8x8 coop with a room enclosed pen to protect them. I really need suggestions on how to resolve this dilemma and come up with a solution that is best for them and me.

If 2 is all you're ever going to have, how about building a smaller coop closer to the house. I'm assuming you're not going to let them free range, so they'll need a minimum of 20 sf of run space.

 

[bblynn_chicken]

What you could do is really insulate the area but remember, ventilation is really important, and move the coop and pen really close to the house. My great grandmother actually had the coop attached to her home in a sort of way.

On the other hand, if it is becoming difficult for you to care for the hens, maybe it is time to consider rehoming them. You could talk to family and see if they would like to take in the hens. You could ask friends too. Emphasize the fact that you would like to prevent someone from using them as food. Another option is to find anyone looking for hens to purchase for egg laying or anything other than eating the hens.

All in all, good luck! Have a great day!

 

[snow5164]

You could advertise them , we have all kinds of chicken people here that would add them to their flock, you’ve got a few months I’d get the word out they they need a good home . Winters are hard on all of us

 

[aart]

I really don't need the possible danger involved in traipsing out to the chicken house in snow and ice to feed and water two chickens twice a day.

This may be the key variable to your decision.

If 2 is all you're ever going to have, how about building a smaller coop closer to the house.

This might be a possible solution.

You could advertise them , we have all kinds of chicken people here that would add them to their flock, you’ve got a few months I’d get the word out they they need a good home . Winters are hard on all of us

This^^^ try your state chat thread. If knew your location, I would find it for you and provide a link.

 

[lazy gardener]

It sounds to me like you would actually be relieved to have them go to a new flock. This would give them the company they need, and relieve you of the stress of dealing with snow and ice and freezing water. Only you can make the decision regarding keep or rehome. What ever decision you make, know that it will be the right decision for you, and don't look back with regrets. We all have seasons in our lives. I know that my season to cut back will be coming. At that time, I'll be looking for new, though less physically demanding adventures.

On the other hand, do you have a garage or car port? Would it be possible for you to set up a smaller coop/run adjacent to that structure, or near your house/porch/deck so you don't have to traipse as far to tend them?

 

[dnicely]

I do have a small chicken coop 4x4 coop with 4x4 ft attached pen, which is why I built a large 8x8 chicken house with an 8x16 ft covered pen. The small pen just seemed too small for the 6 chickens and I think it's too small for the two hens I have left.

I got the chickens because I hated the thought of eggs from battery chickens and I wasn't sure if cage free was much better. Anyway I thought that a large coop and pen area would give them lots of room, even if they couldn't be allowed to free-range because of all the predators around here.

I know that the best solution for me would be to find them a safe home, but I would have to know it is safe, I feel that they are my responsibility since I brought them here and my statistics aren't great, two I found good homes for the two roosters, one hen was killed by a bucket that she turned over on herself, and one was killed by a predator. I want these last two hens to be safe and live out their lives as comfortably as possible, even in old age.

I would like thank everyone for their advice and encouragement. I'm not sure what a smaller coop close to the house would do, as it was extremely cold last year with the outdoor thermometer right out the kitchen window next to the house got to -3 and -4.5 a couple of times last winter. I have one shed that has it's lower part partially underground, but it doesn't have good ventilation and is damp, so that wouldn't do. If I can't find a good home with other chickens, perhaps I can drag the small coop and put it in the woodshed for the worse parts of the winter. That would be marginally warmer I suppose.

Anyway, I live about 20 miles from Winchester VA, if anyone would like two nice Buff Orpington hens.

 

[aart]

Anyway, I live about 20 miles from Winchester VA, if anyone would like two nice Buff Orpington hens.

Might try posting in the VA Chat thread for a new home:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/virginia.80/page-764
Or even the Maryland Chat thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/maryland-thread.63745/page-296