Winter is Coming! Checklists, tips, advice for a newbie

[K Epp]

I'm going to take pictures of all the mud.... I'm actually worried about the d'Uccle and Silkies because their feet are encrusted in it. When I say 4 inches I mean 4 inches and tries to suck my boots off every step.

 

[Alaskan]

I think the mud....especially with the feathered feet and cold is very bad.

I would figure out some way to keep them out of the mud, or put a tray full of sand at the coop pop door to act as a foot cleaner.

Of course, with mud that sticky.....the sand might just make it worse, not help.

 

[wantedman66]

I would try spreading some shavings or leaves too help soak up the moister in the spring when the snow melts and the ground is a mess I use leaves that I save in bags and spread them out you'd be surprised how well it works they soak it up like a sponge.

 

[LadyCluck77]

LadyCluck:  In that weather, if they are not coming out then just leave the door closed. Keep some of that cold out. If your ventilation is good...just bring the water in.  Situate it so it won't spill.  They are going to eat a little food, drink a little water and then hop right back up on the roost again puff up and nap and conserve their energy for that cold.  That's what mine do anyways.  In that cold they are very well behaved.  

-25 is not nice....  We're having a heat wave of upper 20's near 30's.  It feels like heaven after the last two weeks!  Hope it blows your way too.

Yes they did seem to puff out and nap most of the day. Tomorrow will still be in the negative 20's, so if it is, I will place a waterer in there and keep them shut in. My mothers house was only -17, so I think some pockets of air must be cooler or warmer depending on location. Makes sense, thanks everyone I still got six eggs today, one had a hairline crack from freezing.

 

[K Epp]

Well I have a short term solution for my mud. The DH was home and we loaded up the coops and moved them. No easy task. Ther are out of the mud and have grassy bottoms. The larger coop is 6x8 and has a large nesting box that some use to sleep in. They lay in covered cat boxes with shavings that sit on the ground. When I went out to check on them one d'Uccle and the 4 Silkie roosters was sleeping on the ground instead of tbe crstes with shavings.... I picked them up and put them in the sleeping box. Hopefully this will work out better.

 

[Shabana]

I have sablepoots and coops that I can't move with big big runs.
I wash their feet every so often and trim feathers during these months to keep them clean.
I also wash faces as when they scratch they can be prone to eye infections.
I put down straw and hay in their runs and alfalfa mixed with scratch to keep them occupied.
At the moment they are all gummed up with sudocrem (zinc and castor oil cream) to protect their feet and combs bless them.
I will be glad when the rain ends and the colder weather hardens the ground. It's easier to deal with then. It's still mild in the uk for this time if year.

 

[K Epp]

This thing isn't easily moved, but I felt it had to be with more rain on the way. I took everything out that I could and hoped for the best on not breaking anything. We flipped it up on its side and backed the truck up to it and pushed it over on the bed and hoped for the best. They are out of the mud and only a few scratches on the truck.
It's wrapped in plastic except the door and the section by the little house. Now its out in the yard in the sun so that will help keep them warmer as well.

 

[wantedman66]

Well at least you don't have to deal with snow like us.

 

[LittleBits]

I haven't been on here for quite awhile and see that the winter preparations are still going strong in different parts of our planet! Some have the extreme cold, some of us have temps that are still mild. Thanks to all who have posted such good advice and pictures.

We had a cold snap (20s to 30s) last week and in one in November but the past few days it's been rather warm again (about 55-60 today) Suppose to snow tomorrow! If you don't like the weather in KY, just wait a few hours! That's what they say, anyway - and I guess that's the truth just about anywhere!

Our addition seems to have been put on hold again...

, but I've done all I can so that the flock has some space and somewhere to go when they're cold and don't want to go outside (when/if it does get cold out).

For winter, this is what I've done:

I shoved hay into the walls for insulation in our "Little Coop" and stapled fabric all over the hay so they won't pull it all down! Looks like a regular padded cell in there!

I also nailed some boards to the outside of the Little Coop so that there weren't such big gaps in the walls. It was made with deck boards, originally our children's playhouse. I noticed that the chickens DO NOT like the wind! So now they have a cozy little shelter. I hope I left enough ventilation!

I also made a feeder into one of the walls, so they can eat whenever they want - if I don't get out there at crack of dawn to open the door to the run! Also keep the feed outside. Water is still outside, but have had to break the ice several times already. When it's really cold, I bring a water can full of hot water and dump the ice and fill the rubber bowl up again with the hot - it cools off pretty quick, so they don't burn their mouths! By the time I get it out there, probably!

So today, I did what I could to the Big Coop, which is an 8x14 (non-finished) addition. It's not totally secure yet, so I don't leave it open for them at night. Their roost is in the Little Coop anyway. All my stuff (ladders, some tools, boards, etc., are behind a 4x8 screen that came off our house's deck door (doesn't slide anymore) and (2) 4x9 strips of plastic-type fencing - very flexible. They can't poop on my stuff now! They have the rest of the Big Coop, which leaves them an addition space of 8x10 along with the Little Coop, which is about 6x6. 116 sqft of inside space for 10 chickens.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow so you can see what I mean. Will try to bring "My Coop Page" up-to-date, too.

For their winter roost, I have a 2x4x6 over the poop-tray in the Little Coop and it is covered with carpet; wrapped all the way around and nailed in place on the underside. It's considerable wider than the length of their feet, so I'm pretty sure they'll stay warm. I decided not to worry about them - they are Big Birds now - lol. (3 years old or so)

They were really excited

when I opened the Little Coop door and LEFT it open for them to come into the Big Coop when I was done! Never heard such a racket! There are bales of hay setting around and they promptly jumped up to explore all over - as far up as they could go. It was quite entertaining!

Didn't get to paint it (have the paint) but guess I'll do that come springtime and fair weather!

Everyone's feathers, except one (and I see some growth there), have come back in and they have lost all their purple from the BluKote I put on them!

They're fluffy and white and the Golden Comets are fluffy and red!

Thanks again for all the GREAT posts!

 

[LittleBits]

Oops! This was a double post!