What to do when weather screws you over?

[21hens-incharge]

I looked at your other threads. Your coop isn't HORRIBLE.

A few mods can make things easier come spring.

In the spring of you did this layout I think you wouldn't be as frustrated with it.



I think it would work better for you and the birds.

Just throwing in ideas.

 

[CityslickerHomestead]

I totally get it. Right now working with what you have is how it is.

For food inside a feeder mounted to the clean out door can help.

Water....what a pain in the butt. I have to go out as I can in winter to thaw the water. It is frustrating at times I know.
The spill risk is real in a small coop. Mounting a piece of plumbers strap to the wall and running a couple pieces to run under the container can help limit spill risk. Only fill the dish half way and yes in the morning and after work will be ok. Yes it will likely freeze solid but they will have had access twice a day at least. Use a dish that fits loose enough that you can swap out the frozen for a thawed one.

I am totally not here to rip anyone apart for having a small coop.
It just helps problem solve if we can see what you're working with.

I love those ideas, thank you!

Many apologies for coming off defensive. I’ve seen and experienced comments (not from you) where the questions asked were not being addressed. Rather it became a “bash the OP for any and all deficiencies we can find that are currently out of their control, instead of helping them with the issue at hand.” I get that many issues are related so they need to be addressed, but sometimes it feels like nitpicking.
It has changed the way I post and word things on this site because in the back of my mind I’m always thinking “how can I word this to prevent so-and-so from berating me in the off chance they see this post?”
I know they mean well, but I personally think ego gets in the way of showing compassion for people like me who ask questions that seem so obviously simple to experts, but not to beginners.

 

[CityslickerHomestead]

I looked at your other threads. Your coop isn't HORRIBLE.

A few mods can make things easier come spring.

In the spring of you did this layout I think you wouldn't be as frustrated with it.

View attachment 1998178

I think it would work better for you and the birds.

Just throwing in ideas.

Yes! I can’t reach the back roost bar without climbing into the coop. It was designed before getting chickens, so now I see all the flaws, and wish I had unlimited funds to build a palace for them.
Moving the roost directly across from the access door would be a game changer for me.
Thanks again for your input.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I love those ideas, thank you!

Many apologies for coming off defensive. I’ve seen and experienced comments (not from you) where the questions asked were not being addressed. Rather it became a “bash the OP for any and all deficiencies we can find that are currently out of their control, instead of helping them with the issue at hand.” I get that many issues are related so they need to be addressed, but sometimes it feels like nitpicking.
It has changed the way I post and word things on this site because in the back of my mind I’m always thinking “how can I word this to prevent so-and-so from berating me in the off chance they see this post?”
I know they mean well, but I personally think ego gets in the way of showing compassion for people like me who ask questions that seem so obviously simple to experts, but not to beginners.

I get it. I have seen it. I hope I never contribute to it.

Everyone starts somewhere. Often with small coops, prefabs that say they house 12, and of course not a full poultry PHD.

I know getting things to run smoothly can be frustrating. I am hoping that my suggestions help.

I think just changing your layout will help a ton.

For an early spring.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Can you take the water out of the coop at night? They don't drink at night and it will only increase the humidity, risking frostbite, especially just before dawn. Put it back after the sun rises if you can.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Keep us posted, @CityslickerHomestead , let us know you get through this brutal cold snap okay. I spent a year in Hamilton when I was young. Beautiful country! Tin Cup Lake, huckleberries.... mmm. Skalkaho Sauna House, dipping in the river after a sauna, even through the ice, lol... Picking Lambert cherries up on the Flathead. But the winter, ugh. Wishing you and your chookies safety.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I love those ideas, thank you!

Many apologies for coming off defensive. I’ve seen and experienced comments (not from you) where the questions asked were not being addressed. Rather it became a “bash the OP for any and all deficiencies we can find that are currently out of their control, instead of helping them with the issue at hand.” I get that many issues are related so they need to be addressed, but sometimes it feels like nitpicking.
It has changed the way I post and word things on this site because in the back of my mind I’m always thinking “how can I word this to prevent so-and-so from berating me in the off chance they see this post?”
I know they mean well, but I personally think ego gets in the way of showing compassion for people like me who ask questions that seem so obviously simple to experts, but not to beginners.

Revisiting my drawing suggestions.....I think nest to the left of the clean out door and food and water to the right would be better....more room to the right.

 

[jolenesdad]

Everyone starts somewhere. Often with small coops, prefabs that say they house 12, and of course not a full poultry PHD.

@CityslickerHomestead thats quite literally WHAT this forum is for. Asking questions and getting answers to what you do not know!

don’t let them get to you. People do chickens lots and lots of ways... your desire to provide for your hens is admirable.

also, I am going to go ahead and mention I live in TEXAS so I really have zero idea about what you’re going through... but id also put out there that in cold I’d rather have too little space than too much. Those bodies will
Give off their own heat and that can really take the edge off in a smaller space.

 

[aart]

The first winter is the toughest for sure..and I still worry when the temps drop like that, it can indeed be hard on them.

Before I had a heated waterer I had two open waterers and I just swapped them out as needed. Had a really warm place above the furnace to thaw them out faster.

I've lost a couple to cold stress until @BantyChooks taught me about 'cold reset'. I bring bird into the slightly warmer garage for just a couple-few hours. Makes sure she eats, give her a dose of electrolytes, see what's coming out the other end, and just observe. Then take them back out to coop, has 'saved' a few here, it's pretty amazing how they bounce back.

Birds can get dehydrated in winter as well as summer so I've started soaking rolled oats in a Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins solution.
This avoids the 'wattle dippage' of an open waterer.
Gives them a boost and gets them hydrated.
1/8 teaspoon to 1 cup of warm water, mix until dissolved.
Add solution to 1 cup of rolled oats, stir well on occasion until all liquid is absorbed, might need to add more oats. Takes an hour or two, then give it to the birds.

Have done this every other day during the last polar vortex, and I believe it's really helped them, they all stayed mobile. Gives me a good chance to assess mobility, any bird that doesn't go for the oats gets watched very carefully and may be brought to a warmer place for a couple hours to 'reset'.

Some have been closed so they only have 7sqft of open ventilation that I would periodically block on windy days so rain and snow could not blow in. I’m contemplating on blocking off all but 2sqft when the temps are at their worst.

Instead of blocking vents totally you might consider blocking the vents with some furnace filter material...still allows air exchange but dampens wind speed and blocks snow from blowing in. I just cut them a bit over sized and press fit them into place.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Good info, @aart. Might make a good article so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle....