Utah!

[sillycmoy]

I got the one at Cal Ranch, it was like $22.00 not on sale, but hey I took back the other one that was $45.00. And this morning I went outside and NO FROZEN WATER! I'm like kicking myself not doing this last year. Last year I had the rubber bowl that I would dump out 2 times a day and refill. I have it inside the coop on top of 2 cinder blocks and I actually hammered in a nail about 3 feet from the ground that is holding the cords up off the ground. I guess I should go outside and wrap it with tape.

Now I just need to get light out there for eggs. I did buy a 60 watt LED light yesterday that they said I could just put in the chick heater holder thing, and those bulbs at Home Depot on the display wasn't hot, I touched it. So I just need to secure it out there, and they will get some extra light.

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

I got the one at Cal Ranch, it was like $22.00 not on sale, but hey I took back the other one that was $45.00. And this morning I went outside and NO FROZEN WATER!  I'm like kicking myself not doing this last year.  Last year I had the rubber bowl that I would dump out 2 times a day and refill.  I have it inside the coop on top of 2 cinder blocks and I actually hammered in a nail about 3 feet from the ground that is holding the cords up off the ground.  I guess I should go outside and wrap it with tape. 

Now I just need to get light out there for eggs.  I did buy a 60 watt LED light yesterday that they said I could just put in the chick heater holder thing, and those bulbs at Home Depot on the display wasn't hot, I touched it.  So I just need to secure it out there, and they will get some extra light. 

You will love the dog bowl. Sooo easy to fill. Ya, junk gets in there but its easier to toss it when it gets low and just pour more in than to take apart the other contraption and try to pour water in, put it back together and flip it without getting water all over your hands in the freezing cold. I love it. Mine are just out in the run on the ground, they have never frozen. One time last year one bowl had a thin icy crust along the outside edge when it was below zero and windy. But they have never had a solid ice cap across the top. They never feel overly warm to the touch either. One time, however, one of the bowls ran empty and the next morning I went out to fill them and there were two pullets cuddled up in the bowl, so it must have felt cozy to them haha!

 

[themadchicken]

Went out this morning before work to check on waters and both hens with chicks had frozen water. A quick trip to the depot and the dollar store and i have two more cookie tin heaters. Total with 25 watt bulbs $18 dollars for both.

Does anyone want to hatch some eggs for me? I have a dozen eggs that i want to hatch but my broody gave up and i only have a mini advanced that holds 7. I will pick up chicks once they hatch so all you would have to do is hatch them.I will even deliver eggs if they are not to far away. You can even have pick of the brood for the trouble if you want.

I am in the process of gathering material to build a cabinet style incubator. It will be made out out 1-3/4" thick panel with a 1/8" fiberglass skin on both sides and insulation in between the skins (i work at a door shop and these are the cut outs from building french exterior doors with glass). I figure if i can build a cabinet that has 0% outside influence i should by able to have 100% control of the temp and humidity inside. It every thing goes as planed it should be able to hold 160 chicken eggs or 480 quail eggs with a built in hatching area in the bottom. I figure if you are going to build something go big that way you don't wish you did later on!

 

[Cynthia12]

http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/arctic-cold-outbreak-november-locked-20141110

I know it says the 14th..but I think we got some of that cold last night!!

Anyone using a heating bulb yet? I almost went out and put one in, but I heard it was going to get up into the 40's again today..and tomorrow high 30's..night time only in the 20's, so I held off. I was worried when I looked out and didn't see any chickens. :/ Then, when they heard my voice, they appeared..lol..even the little pullets came out of their coop into the run. The older ones were under the coop and came from the back. Guess they are pretty hardy little things. I've babies them by the time cold like this has hit before, but I kept remembering how some don't use the heat...so, gave it a try, except..I do have a heat lamp in for the young ones.

 

[sillycmoy]

Gary, I think my stupid Silkie is Broody again, its been about 3 months since her last clutch, and now she has been in the box on NO eggs for almost a week, but I don't want her to hatch anything out now, its so cold. But if you want you can come take her to your house.

Or I can get out the incubator. Its been in the garage since April. Not sure how my hatch rate is, and its hand turn still air cheapo from Cal Ranch

 

[Cynthia12]

Saw on fb..had to share..I'm a softy.

 

[echipping]

Anyone in the Salt Lake area that would be willing to come "critique" my coop for the winter and give pointers on how to make it better. I feel like I need to just re-build the thing after learning about what a great coop should be like but I am sure there is some way to improve on what I have.. Or I am hoping at least! I live in Cottonwood Heights.

 

[the-bird-man]

Anyone in the Salt Lake area that would be willing to come "critique" my coop for the winter and give pointers on how to make it better. I feel like I need to just re-build the thing after learning about what a great coop should be like but I am sure there is some way to improve on what I have.. Or I am hoping at least! I live in Cottonwood Heights. 

maybe post some pictures here of your coop so you can get lots of opinions? dont worry too much, you will lean what works. and chickens tend to be fairly hardy. but i get the worry. and you know if you have any questions we are here to give you our opinions

 

[sillycmoy]

Anyone in the Salt Lake area that would be willing to come "critique" my coop for the winter and give pointers on how to make it better. I feel like I need to just re-build the thing after learning about what a great coop should be like but I am sure there is some way to improve on what I have.. Or I am hoping at least! I live in Cottonwood Heights.

Just make sure you have a lot of ventilation, the more the better, and if your worried about snow blowing in, I hang up that green screen mesh around the area's that get the wind blowing in snow, and it stops it in the tracks. I also let the girls have a whole bail of straw, just throw it on the floor, and let them move it where they want too, but my coop is also dirt floor and 9 x 12. I never used a light last year, and it was below zero several times. Makes me feel better that they do have at least a few inches of straw in the coop so they are not on frozen ground. But mine liked to go outside in the snow. I would shovel little paths to under the tree. LOL

Also if you can make your roosts out of 4x4s. And I like mine more flat on the longer side with a slight angle. This helps them not having their toes fully grasping, and they have more of their feet under their warm bellies. I never had any issues with froze bite or anything last year, and I don't use a heat light.

Good Luck!

 

[acemario]

I

Anyone in the Salt Lake area that would be willing to come "critique" my coop for the winter and give pointers on how to make it better. I feel like I need to just re-build the thing after learning about what a great coop should be like but I am sure there is some way to improve on what I have.. Or I am hoping at least! I live in Cottonwood Heights. 

f you are ever in Logan, I could show you mine...