Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Majombaszo]

Are my chickens going to drown??

I know... Serious question, though. My experiences with chickens are all living in locations such as the South and Hawaii where it doesn't get nearly as cold and wet as it does here in NW Washington. At some point over the Summer, my chickens gave up the coop (the fantastic townhouse coop my husband and I built for the ungrateful beasties) and took to sleeping in an apple tree. I don't care that they want to sleep in the tree and I *assumed* that they would head back for the coop when the weather turned. Nope. They go in the coop to lay their eggs but that's it.

My concern is that with this nasty, driving rain and the dropping temps, do I need to worry about them wandering about in the rain, soaking wet, looking very grumpy? I built a shed, of sorts, for the geese and the duck but one of the geese will not allow any chicken to enter; even though the geese and duck only sleep in there at night. Do I need to build another covered area for them or will it be a waste of my time and lumber?

Thanks!

V.

 

[VelvettFog]

Quote:
Most anything can be arranged

 

[Totalcolour]

We have lights on all year round on our deck. The deck has plexiglass roof, and we have a heater, so we can sit outside with all the lights on in mid winter and it's very festive. They are on a timer and go on at dusk and off around 9:30 (unless we turn them on/off at other times).

It's not so mad to want lights on at other than holiday times, and so who gives a toss what the neighbour's think - go for it!

Though if I had my way, I would like to have holiday lights on my house. I would want them up from about October 1st to about March 15th though. I think that it is more about how fast it get dark, and all the grey skies of winter. I just haven't figured out away that other people would understand my point with the lights.

 

[Slinglings]

Quote: They can go out much sooner than that, as long as they are warm enough.

 

[Slinglings]

Quote:
I have heard certain rumors of folks on this message board packing up their tools, driving to your location and building you a coop with the supply list the builder provided you. The builder only asked to be reimbursed for the fuel necessary to get to/from your location. I believe there are at least five people on this message board who can collaborate my story.

I plead not guilty of chicken-enabling by reason of insanity.


VF
VF, some day, when my kids are done with their swing set and I have more room in my yard, I want you to come build a coop for me.

 

[Slinglings]

ugh. My poor chickens. Their coop is damp and stinky and they have no where dry to hang out near by. I attached a tarp to the deck and draped it over the coop and run, to hopefully dry it out a little and give them a drier spot to hang out on the patio. The coop and run both have roofs, but the inside is still seems so damp and miserable. I took all of the bedding out and will put new in a little while after it airs out. The sand in the coop did not work, it might work in the summer, but it got too wet this week.

I don't feel so bad for them when it rains lightly on and off--but this constant non stop pouring must be miserable.

 

[Slinglings]

We have lights on all year round on our deck. The deck has plexiglass roof, and we have a heater, so we can sit outside with all the lights on in mid winter and it's very festive. They are on a timer and go on at dusk and off around 9:30 (unless we turn them on/off at other times).

It's not so mad to want lights on at other than holiday times, and so who gives a toss what the neighbour's think - go for it!
Quote: We have clear and yellow solar powered string lights in the back yard year round. The coop even has some on it It's festive and decorative, and nice when we use the hot tub at night (which is every night when it isn't raining). I don't think it seems Christmas-y at all.

The solar lights don't work well in the winter though, they are on almost all night in the summer.

 

[ChickAudie]

Okay, I really popped back in just to post this:
http://hackaday.com/2012/10/30/optimus-prime-keeps-a-vigilant-watch-over-the-hen-house/

I loved the Transformers cartoon, this coop and run would be great to have!

That is awesome! Four of my five kids are boys, they would LOVE this, lol!

Quote:
I have heard certain rumors of folks on this message board packing up their tools, driving to your location and building you a coop with the supply list the builder provided you. The builder only asked to be reimbursed for the fuel necessary to get to/from your location. I believe there are at least five people on this message board who can collaborate my story.

I plead not guilty of chicken-enabling by reason of insanity.


VF

 

[Sudsy Chick]

Are my chickens going to drown??

I know... Serious question, though. My experiences with chickens are all living in locations such as the South and Hawaii where it doesn't get nearly as cold and wet as it does here in NW Washington. At some point over the Summer, my chickens gave up the coop (the fantastic townhouse coop my husband and I built for the ungrateful beasties) and took to sleeping in an apple tree. I don't care that they want to sleep in the tree and I *assumed* that they would head back for the coop when the weather turned. Nope. They go in the coop to lay their eggs but that's it.

My concern is that with this nasty, driving rain and the dropping temps, do I need to worry about them wandering about in the rain, soaking wet, looking very grumpy? I built a shed, of sorts, for the geese and the duck but one of the geese will not allow any chicken to enter; even though the geese and duck only sleep in there at night. Do I need to build another covered area for them or will it be a waste of my time and lumber?

Thanks!

V.

They will not drown

However - they will get wet and be grumpy. Mine will hide under anything that will give them shelter, and imagine yours would, too.

 

[Stumpfarmer]

The Ultimate ratter !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24444150

Geeeeeze if I only had a house !  

I'd look closely at that dog if I were not trying to keep my two geriatric babies happy and healthy in their last days.