Winter in New England

[swtangel321]

Also......

 

[chickenlittle222]

I am in NH also. I have a timer on my light that goes on at dusk and shuts off at dawn. The girls file in when it gets dark. I have left the pop door open so far. They seem quite warm in there when I come out in the morning. It was 22 degrees this morning when I brought them out some dandelion greens and said my good mornings.

 

[chickenlittle222]

Forgot to mention. I have 6 NH Red's, 17 weeks old. I am getting 5 eggs a day now.

 

[aubreyt78]

I am in Madbury, and mine go in by themselves at dusk-- now here is my question! They have a window(just a door that can be open or closed, up high where a window would be,) and each night, the hens, all

3 of them, like to sit on the top of it. Is it okay to leave that open or should I close everything? the area that is immediate to that door/window is enclosed with fence/chicken wire, but should I close it to keep the warmth in? Also, mine are about 6 mos. NO EGGS!!!!!!!! I have 3 silkies, 2 sultans, 3 aracuanas, a frizzle, and a few others--27 total- however 11 OF THEM ARE ROOSTERS!!!!!!!!! does that mean I will have my hands full when they lay? p.s. I do not know what to do when that happens, as far as telling whether or not they are fertilized(then what?) or not then what?

 

[jdellarocco]

Where is Madbury? Never heard of that town before.

I would think your chickens should be laying by now. After 20 weeks they should go on layer pellets and should be laying eggs. Maybe too many roosters? We no longer have roosters because they make the entire coop have problems. We now have "the girls club" - no roosters. That means the eggs are non-fertilized and vegetarians will eat them.

 

[chickenlittle222]

Hi Aubrey, I am in Barrington, quite close to you.. I also have a "vent " window that opens and closes that my girls can see out of when they roost. I DO close that this time of year because they have a plexiglass picture window on the other side.

 

[swtangel321]

Quote:
I would close it to keep in a little heat also so they dont get a draft, Your girls are still young so dont worry about them not laying yet, All hens are different !!!!! Well, about the roosters I would start looking for homes now (unless you plan on eating like 10 of them) You only need one rooster per 10-15 hens having to many WILL cause problems in the coop, but at this point has nothing to do with not getting any eggs, also the days are shorter and weather colder that could make them late layers.... As far as fertile eggs go, you can eat them just like any other egg.... You ARE NOT killing a chick !!!!! If an egg isent incubated there is never a chick.

 

[notsooldmcdonald]

Well, I live in NH as well, and it certainly has been cold! We've had a hard frost for the last week (with the exception of one night where we got a little rain).

Our coop has sofits under the edges of the roof and a pretty typical ventilation grate just below the top of the peak on the front.

My understanding was that it was advisable to avoid condensation, because it's not so much the cold that bothers well feathered, healthy birds, but hyperthermia caused by dampness (it's the same for my bees btw). Allowing for some movement of air helps to keep things dry, and the addition of a heated waterer (and maybe a red light, I'll have to see how cold it really gets) is really all I plan on doing. My coop is in a sheltered spot, but the 1/2 glass door faces South.

-Christian

 

[DaKid]

I too live in Mass. Berkley.
well my guys / girls are in at sun down no matter what, I do have a few lights on in the coop which stay on untill 8pm there only one light that stay on in the baby chick cage's 24 /7 they are on the far wall, but for the most part the coop is some what dark where the girls are sleeping , I'm still getting about 15 to 18 eggs a day from the girls, my coop is at 60*f right now yesterday when it was 20*f outside my coop was 4o*f inside , I leave all 3 coop door (12" x12") to the runs open all day and night long

 

[purr]

DaKid we're neighbors I'm in freetown