Utah!

[Sphinx]

Aravis, I bought some of those stryofoam panels that are used to insulate garage doors anId stuck them in the walls. Silly birds were pecking at it like crazy, so then I had to put another layer of wood over the top so they couldn't get to them. Then, mice got in there and made all kinds of little tunnels and such. I figured it just was an exercise in futility, since the critters/chickens more or less ruined it all.

I don't provide actual heat in the coop, but I do put a light in there to give them enough light to keep them laying all winter. I use a higher wattage bulb that isn't energy efficient so that it does provide some heat.

 

[the-bird-man]

i do not like heating my coop for many reasons, such as they do not need it, remember when the pioneers came they did not heat their coop, and they also did not have much of a coop anyway. then when the power goes out and the chickens suddenly do not have heat it can kill them fast and remember the winter is one of the biggest times for the power to go out. also not having heat will kill off any bugs if you have them. i also do not insulate my coop because they do not need it. one of the biggest mistakes people make is closing off vents in the winter because chickens give off a lot of moisture and when that builds up in a coop it causes frost bite. i keep a lot of vents open in winter. i do have a heater to keep the water from freezing but that is so i have less work and it only goes on when the water is at the point of freezing. i also have clear led rope lighting in the coop, it helps them lay and gives me light so i can see if its dark and i need light. having dark shingles on the coop will suck in the heat too. my old coop was on the north side and did well, now i am building a new coop and its on the east side. my roost is a 2x4 with the big side up so they can roost and have their feet under their feathers keeping them warm and remember chickens have feather coats

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

Aravis, I leave their door open pretty much all winter and a window for ventilation so it stays cold in there but I have a heat lamp plugged in one corner so if somebody needs it they can go sit under it. They usually dont. I like to have it out there so that if it is below zero I have the option to plug it in and shut the window if I really need to.

 

[Cynthia12]

I admit it, I use heat.

The red lamp heat. It is good for the light needed too. I don't use it until it gets down to freezing. I know I will have it in for my Silkies for sure too.

No insulation in my coop. More shavings in the nest boxes though through the winter.

My son had a cold, my hubby got it, now I'm think I'm beginning to feel something? I will know by the end of the day...on man! Good thing you aren't coming for a while ara. The swedish flowers are coming along, I've lost some, but still have quite a few in there that are doing well. Have more of those coming in the mail. I am excited to get some different colors.

Is anyone else cold in the mornings? Has really cooled off during the nights hasn't it?

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

Is anyone else cold in the mornings?   Has really cooled off during the nights hasn't it?

Brrrrr yes! Frost again this morning. Ugh. Will be seven or eight months til the mornings are warm again....Let's go stay with Jill for the winter! Hooray!

Hope you don't get that cold. Ever tried Zicam? Seems to work for me...if I feel it coming on I take that, and it usually does not materialize. Usually.....usually!...

 

[aravis227]

Thanks for the tips everyone! I'll skip the insulation, but probably do the heat lamp in the corner just for the option. If they don't use it I'll take it back out.

Cynthia - I hope you aren't getting it, but if you do I hope it's short lived! We just went through a 24-48 hour cold, first my son, then my husband, then me. It was so weird...fever, runny nose, upset stomach for one or two days and then it was just gone. I would almost suspect food poisoning, but we had it at different times.

Yes! I've been freezing at night and in the mornings! But it's so beautiful during the days! This is my favorite time of year.

 

[RedIII]

I've noticed that it's cooled off at night, but I much prefer the cold temps to the heat. Even with how the days have mellowed out, compared to a month or two ago, they're still much too hot for me. I love it when the rains and snows come around. I function so much better in cold weather!

Ara, the only insulation I use for my coop is to make the walls out of plywood. I don't use a light on them in the winter, because I'd rather let their bodies rest for a while if they naturally wouldn't be laying in the winter. That's just what I like. I don't really use any kind of heat in the coop, other than to make sure I have plenty of chickens so that they can bunch up

Hattie, your girls are so cute. I'm glad Purdy is settling in well for you! That's wonderful. She's such a pretty girl, too.

Cynthia, you are not allowed to get sick, ya hear? Get some rest.

The two white turkeys I have are getting very smelly. I'm considering trying to give them a bath, but I have a bad feeling that they're not going to like it nearly as much as the chickens. However, they stink at least twice as bad, and where I'm picking them up frequently to move them out of neighbors' yards, the smell gets on my hands and I hate it. I think I'll try and clean them off in the bathroom, since I can use warm water for them that way. I'm mostly worried about getting them dry.

 

[Urbanchickenmom]

Hey everyone! So I got my babies today!!!!!
My one blue silkie was completely pasted up!!!! I am super worried about her! She will not eat or drink and just kind of stumbles around with her eyes closed. I know that it will be very likely that she will not make it but I am just so sad!!! I wanted that cute little baby!!!
I have been getting water on my fingertip and dropping it on her beak and she will swallow that but she will not eat.
Do you seasoned chicken lovers have any tips that I can do for her?

And to everyone from above and couple of pages back LOVE the coop and the chickens of everyone!!!!
SOOOOO CUTE!!!!
We are suppose to have our coop all done and ready to go this FRIDAY so I hope it works out!
I am for sure going to do what you all have said about the DE and putting it everywhere in there.
I am just sooooo thankful that this website is around! I would have NO CLUE at all if it wasn't for you guys!!!
So cool that we are ALL from UTAH!!!
And YES it has been cold at night and morning but I LOVE it!!!! This is my favorite time of year too!!!
K well I will post pics soon! Just want to take care of my cute little baby blue

 

[Cynthia12]

Urbanmom, were your chicks sent to you by a hatchery? I'm sure you've cleaned her up pretty good by now. Put some neosporin on her bum/vent. I use the electrolytes that are acting a bit on the weak side. Just a little at a time, about every hr..then two hrs. Should perk up if you can get some of that down her. Good luck! I have some hatchery babies coming. I usually have to work with a couple, except for this last batch, the supposedly birchen cochins. Those babies were strong and healthy.

Auntie..my little one looks to be getting some pin feathers in the top of it's head, and they aren't white! Plus, mine is really getting curly. They said give them a few weeks, down one, will give them a couple more, then take pictures. If no white has shown up yet..I will ask to be reimbursed. I have those Bantam Favorelles going to hatch now, so I don't need more bantams. I will give you a Favorelle bantam if I end up getting reimbursed. I have quite a few that are doing well in the bator. A barred would be fun for me.

Lisa, need to get a picture of that little lady out there. Will try and show you how much splash is coming in!

 

[Cynthia12]

Lisa's splash, and a couple of pictures of the bantam that is supposed to be a Birchen.

You can see the splash coming in the feathers up over the wings.

One side....

The other side

Another of all the splash coming in

That isn't a dirty tail,which she has tucked in, but splash coming in the tail

Even the beak is half and half. Yes, she came from a NN hatch/batch, but it works just like the
showgirls..you either get Silkies or a showgirl, usually mostly Silkies if they are bred with Silkies.
I have a couple of NN..and a friend also has some, plus, some Silkies..I just may get the showgirl I want
because she will be giving me eggs in the future.

Now for that "Birchen" Jill, tell my if yours are looking this way..

Looks frizzly to me. They all crammed up to the back of the grow out pen when I went out
big scaredy cats. There's Lisa's splash behind the "frizzle." The little yellow chick next to
them, is another non NN. Cute little red. Very sweet. Came from the second hatch of NN's.

cochin feathered feet..so, a frizzled black cochin, which they said they had. That's my
white NN behind her.