What about Wyoming?

[homesteadingcowgirl]

Any BYC'ers from Wyoming? Just curious if all 50 states are accounted for? I also saw several from other countries, which is pretty cool

cowgirl

 

[bishopschickens]

I am in VA now but am originally from Wyoming... I think I am finally getting used to all the trees here!!

 

[homesteadingcowgirl]

Quote:
I can't get use to no trees, drives me bonkers

Glad to meet you,

cowgirl

 

[Laramie Peak]

we live 20 miles north of cheyenne we have 15 chickens and one spoiled dog my chickens can now stand in the wind if you have any questions just ask

 

[triggfamily5]

Quote:
That's funny I am in WY now but I am originally from Virginia, I have to visit the mountains so I can see trees because I miss them so much

 

[wyoDreamer]

I moved to Wyoming a couple of years ago and am finally getting settled in. Missing the forests of northern Wisconsin though.

I have been thinking about getting chickens but am worried about the windy winters.

Hubby seems to be accepting, actually supportive of this idea. He loves brown eggs - we buy the cheaper white eggs in the store for cooking, but he wants his brown eggs for breakfast! We go to Walmart just to buy brown eggs!

Is there anything that you do to protect your flock during the winter months?
Also, is there any special problems that you have had that seem unique to Wyoming?

 

[homesteadingcowgirl]

Hi WyoDreamer,

We have had chickens here for about 4 years now. We haven't had any issues with weather and we are at around 5000 ft. The biggest concern for poultry when dealing with the cold, is staying out of the wind, blowing snow, etc... If they have a shelter, they can handle the actual cold pretty well. Bigger birds do better as a rule and are more apt to continue laying (some) throughout the winter. But we have had some smaller birds also that we haven't had a problem with. We have a (yes, one (~: ) duck this year for his first winter, so we'll see how he does with not getting body heat from the other birds. We have made him an area with extra hay & protection in the barn that he can get to. As far as other problems unique to WY, I haven't ran across any. Hope this helps and enjoy you're brown eggs when you get them.

cowgirl

 

[triggfamily5]

I have had chickens for over 5 years, and sad to say, they haven't had the best coop, but I have had no problems. (They get a new barn, hopefully tomorrow is move in day)

They have stayed in an old horse shelter we put a front on. No insulation, definitely not draft free (we try our best) and no windows (well, we cut a square in the wall and put it on hinges, but I only open it when the wind isn't blowing. They have done just fine. When it's windy, they won't come out, so you just need to make sure they have plenty of room inside, or a connected run that is sheltered from the prevailing winds. I have bantams and large fowl, for egg laying purposes do some research on good winter egg layers unless you plan on supplementing light. I just dropped from 2 dozen eggs a day to 3-6

(of course, i think i have some egg eaters, due to their current cramped living space)

Even with this set up, I keep a black rubber container of water inside, and have not had any problem freezing this year yet. I generally add a heat lamp above the water to help keep it thawed out when it gets really cold (like it's fixin to do)

 

[GoneHomeGrown2]

Hey there. I grew up in Cody and was curious if Wyoming had a group and just wanted to say hello. Bizarre enough to say, I miss the winters up there (though not the wind)and going to Yellowstone routinely . I didn't have chickens as a kid though.