Utah!

[6KidsFarm]

I am just dying to use my incubator again but I have never brooded during the winter. Those of you that have brooded in the winter can you describe for me your set up/where you brood. I am trying to figure out how hard it is to keep the chicks warm enough. No…brooding them in the house is not an option that my wife with go for.

 

[Cynthia12]

I have a rabbit hutch, that we turned into a chick hutch. I have a tarp that goes over the whole front side of it. Nice warm heat lamp sure does the trick. I do keep the babies in for about a week first though, to make sure they are eating, drinking, and they don't have a pasty butt problem. When I know they are doing well that way, out they go. I even have some Serama babies out there right now..in a different coop, also a tarp to cover the front. Larger, because I am keeping them in there the whole winter. Like Brad has pointed out many a time, the only down side of having them out like this is, if the power goes out. They will have to come into the house if that happens. Until the power is back on..and hopefully, that doesn't happen while we are sleeping! So, I make sure I have enough chicks in the nursery to huddle up together to keep warm until I get to them. So far so good..knock on wood now.

 

[Cynthia12]

She is probably my favorite because she is so beautiful! She kind of rules the roost! My RIR are still find their way with her since she is new to the coop along with my EE. Love my chickens. Thanks

I love, love RIR's! I have two. I will be selling them soon..doing my rotation with the older girls I have some RIR heritage eggs in a bator right now. Will probably keep three girls for myself, but will keep more for selling later. The eggs are looking good. Hoping for the next to impossible of having more girls hatch than boys.
Although, I am now going to try and keep a RIR roo. I have been informed of a collar that is out there to slow down the crow, and/or quiet it down. Worth a try. I should find it and post this gals fb page. She says it's according to your rooster and how much he crows, and loud he is. This is not..a shock collar. What happens is, when they go to take in a deep breath to crow..they can't take in as much air, thus the less crow, not as long..and hopefully not as loud. She has a few videos. Going to look. It would be so nice to be able to keep a LF roo.

https://www.facebook.com/laurensportrait

On this one, it shows how quiet this particular roo is. You wouldn't even know it crowed, if you didn't know what a roo does to crow..it's at the 3 min. mark that it tries to crow. It sounds like a purr..lol.. this would be great if it worked this well for my seramas. 10 dollars each collar. She makes them to the size of your bird.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10151634591226478

 

[Cynthia12]

Red, I asked my DH what he wanted me to make today...I mentioned a couple of different things..he says, chicken noodle soup sounds good. So, will be making some today. It is good weather for it for sure. Waiting for that 50 degree weather to come back for a few sec.

 

[RedIII]

I think someone stole one of my turkeys while I was taking my brother to work. She got out of the run last night and was in the back yard when I left to drive him to his work. Got home, turkey's gone. She's not in any neighboring yards or hiding in our yard, and the neighbors claim they haven't seen her. This makes me sick. Of all the turkeys they could have grabbed, of course they grabbed the one that was my pet!

 

[the-bird-man]

I think someone stole one of my turkeys while I was taking my brother to work. She got out of the run last night and was in the back yard when I left to drive him to his work. Got home, turkey's gone. She's not in any neighboring yards or hiding in our yard, and the neighbors claim they haven't seen her. This makes me sick. Of all the turkeys they could have grabbed, of course they grabbed the one that was my pet!

oh no i am so sorry people can be horrible

 

[homeworkin]

This is my first try at winter brooding. I found a wooden shipping crate and added feet, a front door with plastic panels and corrugated roofing. So far it is working but I do have to watch for overheating. I have some very young Delawares, Speckled Sussex 6 week olds and 8 week old Bresse in there.

Sorry to hear about your turkey, Red.

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

I cannot believe someone would steal your turkey Red! Grrr! I hope the upcoming holiday did not prompt someone to do it. So Mean. Pleez come back little turkey! Quick!

Cynthia, I am sooo wanting one of those collars. I really want a FBCM rooster. And maybe another SG rooster. If you try one let us know how it works for you!

 

[themadchicken]

This is my first try at winter brooding. I found a wooden shipping crate and added feet, a front door with plastic panels and corrugated roofing. So far it is working but I do have to watch for overheating. I have some very young Delawares, Speckled Sussex 6 week olds and 8 week old Bresse in there.

Sorry to hear about your turkey, Red.

How big is the crate and how big is the light? I have used two smaller light in the coops with chicks. 1 was 100 watts and the other was 70 watts. At 17 degrees the coop stayed around 45 degrees. During the day when the temp was around 40 the inside never got above 85. I did have to turn one of if the temp out got above 45. I used 2 just in case one went out. I did have to bump the 70 up to a 90 when the temp got into the single digits. I love hatching during the winter! When may comes around my little chicks are all grown up and ready to sale as point of lay hens. And the roosters are easier to get rid of in spring for some reason.

Sorry about your turkey Red. I would be pretty frickin mad!

 

[homeworkin]

I have two of the rooster collars, but have not tried them yet. Neither of my current roos is bad enough to inspire me to catch them and put it on. I bought them before I sold my maniac Welsummer. That guy was LOUD and he never shut up.