Where do you all get your chickens?

[ehoneybee]

The north and west walls are solid, while east and south are more open, with that plastic sheeting to keep snow and wind off the birds. It's always a bit warmer there than outside during the cold months, with only the two water heaters, and the birds. Mary

Do I have to get water heaters or just make sure I give fresh water every morning?

 

[aart]

Do I have to get water heaters or just make sure I give fresh water every morning?

Up to you.
I don't see your location in your profile,
depending on where you are,
it might be more than just once a day that you'll have to provide liquid water.

 

[Folly's place]

In Michigan, the temps will freeze water out there, so it's possible to take out water 3x daily, or have water heaters on. Guess which happens here?!? You need to think about how much sub-freezing weather you have, and how happy you'll be managing frozen water, and decide. Don't wait until January! Mary

 

[apryl29]

I have 2 chicken doors out to 2 separate runs, on the front of the south side, and the right of the east side. I was planning on just leaving open the one on the east (back) b/c we have trees the block the worst of the wind & hopefully snow and figured that'd be enough ventilation, and they could go outside if the wanted. There's a window on the north wall I was planning on closing unless we get an unusually warm day (we had freak 70-80 degree weather last Feb) and the human door has a window, but I was planning on closing it up for winter b/c it faces where the snow comes from (west) & it gets very windy. I don't have any insulation on the walls, it's just plywood. I understand that ventilation is important, but how do you let in air w/o letting in wind and snow? I know chickens generally like it cooler, but at what point should I worry that it's getting too cold for them? I'd rather not find out the hard way accidentally kill them.

 

[Folly's place]

I cover the window next to one of the roost bars on the south side of my main coop in winter too. I have vents in the roof peak on the west side that's open all year, and open upper walls on the southeast and east sides, above that plastic sheeting. If it's damp inside it's not good; my first year using my original coop space it was too closed up, and lots of frostbite happened. Mary

 

[happybooker1]

After disastrous results trying to raise hens to POL from chicks (I have TWO left from 18+8 chicks I bought last April/May) I now try to get 4-6 month old pullets from locals. I pay $10-$18 usually but the pullets are healthy & I usually get to pick out the ones I want.

I've never had problems with diseases or parasites and I only buy from people that I can SEE where the chickens live: is it clean, do they have clean water, are any acting sick or lethargic, etc.

There is PLENTY of variety where I live also. Currently I have in my little flock of 9 (1 rooster): 3 lemon Niederrheiners, 2 Lavender Ameraucanas with beards & cheek puffs, 2 Red Stars, 1 EE, & a black Sumatra. They are just beginning to lay.

 

[lazy gardener]

I have 2 chicken doors out to 2 separate runs, on the front of the south side, and the right of the east side. I was planning on just leaving open the one on the east (back) b/c we have trees the block the worst of the wind & hopefully snow and figured that'd be enough ventilation, and they could go outside if the wanted. There's a window on the north wall I was planning on closing unless we get an unusually warm day (we had freak 70-80 degree weather last Feb) and the human door has a window, but I was planning on closing it up for winter b/c it faces where the snow comes from (west) & it gets very windy. I don't have any insulation on the walls, it's just plywood. I understand that ventilation is important, but how do you let in air w/o letting in wind and snow? I know chickens generally like it cooler, but at what point should I worry that it's getting too cold for them? I'd rather not find out the hard way accidentally kill them.

IMO, only allowing a single entry point will not allow the air movement needed to supply the needed ventilation. Entering air must have somewhere to go if it is going to vent out all of that moisture and ammonia produced by the birds. Think how air currents naturally move. cool air drawn in at floor level, warm air exhausted at a higher level. If you open one window in your house, not much happens. But, if you can open more than one window, especially if they are across from each other, you get nice air circulation through the house.

 

[Ridgerunner]

When you say 'wind-proof' do you mean you block all the outside access to the run? Just wondering b/c I'm in OH and this will be our first winter coming up. Not sure if we should leave the chicken door open and just close it when it goes below freezing. Of course we get chickens the year they say winter will be bad.

By windproof I mean a breeze cannot hit them where they are sleeping and during the day they can get out of the wind if they wish. A slight air movement is fine but a breeze strong enough to ruffle their feathers in the winter when it is really cold is not good. I give my chickens options to go out in the weather or stay in as they wish. As long as a strong wind is not blowing mine go outside in below zero Fahrenheit weather. If a cold breeze is blowing they are someplace the wind cannot hit hem.

They still need good ventilation as others have mentioned. The way I achieve wind protection but provide good ventilation is to enclose all sides down low but have openings up high so any breeze passes over their heads. What little air movement you get down low from that is good, it gets excess moisture out. In summer direct breezes are not a problem, a breeze hitting them feels good.

You are correct, rain and snow will blow in from the sides. The way I get around that is to have most of my higher openings under an overhang. The others are open on the normally downwind side so what blows in is minimal.

 

[apryl29]

Unfortunately I don't have much of an over hang for my coop. Ignore the (not-so) tiny human in the photo.. but that's what it looks like, the back part of the run was expanded, but I don't have any more recent pics. Do you think something like this would work if I put them in the top on the sides?
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Accord-Ven...14-in-x-6-in-Actual-15-71-in-x-7-7-in/1095587

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd put them on both sides and on the front, above the roosts. A couple across the front and up at the very top would be good.

I'd think that would be enough. The danger of not enough ventilation is frostbite, the air inside stays too moist which can lead to frostbite in freezing weather. In dry air they shouldn't have any problems with frostbite even in really cold weather as long as they can get out of the wind.