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

[LadyCluck77]

Were do you find the heated base? I have the trough deicer for the birds and animals in the barn, but that sounds great for the coops.

Just around this time of year last year, at Tractor Supply co. But most feed stores should also carry them. It wasn't cheap, it was around 40$, but it took quite a beating at -30 F and strong winds, blizzards, etc for extended time, and still works. I keep it outside the coop, in a covered portico area, on a cement block. It was on nonstop all winter, which was from October through May.

 

[WeeOnesChicks]

Morning we are newbies at raising chickens and we are from Green Bay wisconsin were are winters can be long and cold

Our chicks are two months old and I have the light on them yet. Temps have been in the low 60* and nights low 40* or 30*s. Do I continue with this or should I wean them off it. At what temp should a light be used. I have heard some put a light in with their girls for them to continue laying of course ours are not laying but would like to know for the future. Also our coop and run are built on the ground no floor were we have course sand on the ground and planing on using shavings
In their nesting box is that fine for the winter

 

[Going Quackers]

Morning we are newbies at raising chickens and we are from Green Bay wisconsin were are winters can be long and cold

Our chicks are two months old and I have the light on them yet. Temps have been in the low 60* and nights low 40* or 30*s. Do I continue with this or should I wean them off it. At what temp should a light be used. I have heard some put a light in with their girls for them to continue laying of course ours are not laying but would like to know for the future. Also our coop and run are built on the ground no floor were we have course sand on the ground and planing on using shavings
In their nesting box is that fine for the winter

At 2mths they shouldn't need a heat lamp... my temps are pretty close though my daytimes are more like the 50's lol i have some turning 9weekers out with their mama.. while she covers some still, she cannot cover all, they are just fine in the coop.

I don't light any of my birds, i prefer a natural approach and keep plenty of sun into the layers coops otherwise i take what i can get, there are periods of rest but i am okay with that.

Chickens need, good ventilated shelter, after that and water and feed they do fine... mine have lol and i have bantam right on through large fowl.

 

[LadyCluck77]

A couple of photos from last winter. When I had just the portico up, the chickens had very little room to go- the bank of snow behind them was about my height, so about 5 feet nine inches- they were quite blocked in. You can also see what frostbite does to a brown leghorn rooster's comb- the pointed high areas seem to get the most damage- and will shrivel and fall off. That fellow once had quite a bit of comb!

This year, we have increased the size of our covered area for them and we are hoping to hold off the snow from that area.
That is a work in progress!



Our winter last year lasted well past April, through May. (April is the month of the Easter hatch a long) The Easter hatch a long had a contest for a chickens in the snow photograph. We still had lots of snow, it (thankfully!) had melted to a compacted foot or so...but my chickens all hated the snow.....I finally took a hen out and tried to see if she would walk in some of the compacted snow, but she hated it, poor girl! I did get this photo- I think she looks really angry with me. She also has a little frostbite on the upper point of her comb. You can see that shriveling process- hers here was turning black and kind of shriveling up.

Luckily it was only a small amount, in my experience, their health does not suffer, and they all survived and thrived through to see another summer, so the typical backyard chicken owner won't be super concerned about frostbite to the comb unless it is a show bird.

 

[Alaskan]

Morning we are newbies at raising chickens and we are from Green Bay wisconsin were are winters can be long and cold

Our chicks are two months old and I have the light on them yet. Temps have been in the low 60* and nights low 40* or 30*s. Do I continue with this or should I wean them off it. At what temp should a light be used. I have heard some put a light in with their girls for them to continue laying of course ours are not laying but would like to know for the future. Also our coop and run are built on the ground no floor were we have course sand on the ground and planing on using shavings

In their nesting box is that fine for the winter

At 2mths they shouldn't need a heat lamp...  my temps are pretty close though my daytimes are more like the 50's lol i have some turning 9weekers out with their mama.. while she covers some still, she cannot cover all, they are just fine in the coop.

I don't light any of my birds, i prefer a natural approach and keep plenty of sun into the layers coops otherwise i take what i can get, there are periods of rest but i am okay with that.

Chickens need, good ventilated shelter, after that and water and feed they do fine... mine have lol and i have bantam right on through large fowl.

I agree, wean them off the heat before you are full into winter. As long as they have a dry wind free spot, they should be fine.

I do NOT heat, I use light according to how many eggs I need as well as how cold it is.

If it is a super cold winter, I do NOT want them laying, since I want them to use all of their energy to keep warm.

 

[LadyCluck77]

I have a question for the chicken gurus about the molt process. I don't use light or heat (and do not plan to) but I have noticed some weird feather loss in my Red Sex links. The chests seem to be loosing feathers, and in all of the older girls (the ones who are over a year old), there seems to be either some feather loss or outright bare patches. This seems to be concentrated on the chest area, but some of their bums are looking a little threadbare. Could this be molt? I have never seen a molt before- I was reading about Northern Fowl mites and scared myself in to thinking it might be those-
I can get photographs if that might help. The Leghorns and EEs seem okay, but the Marans has some major rooster damage so it is hard to tell.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

It's the season for your first molt! They molt in patches like that. Neck and head. Chest. Shoulders of the wing. Saddle. Fluff. Tail. And it scares the crap out of you because you know that nice Maine winter will be barreling in on you. But they seem to get the job done. Upping the protein to 20 % with an animal protein is best. They say fish based is most beneficial. Can of albacore here and there for my crew. Some use cat food. Or game feed mixed in. Prepare for some feeling poor and sitting on the roost during the day. Those may be able to use the meat treat and maybe some fresh water with merrick's blue ribbon poultry drench (electrolytes, vits, probiotics).

 

[Alaskan]

I have a question for the chicken gurus about the molt process. I don't use light or heat (and do not plan to) but I have noticed some weird feather loss in my Red Sex links. The chests seem to be loosing feathers, and in all of the older girls (the ones who are over a year old), there seems to be either some feather loss or outright bare patches. This seems to be concentrated on the chest area, but some of their bums are looking a little threadbare. Could this be molt? I have never seen a molt before- I was reading about Northern Fowl mites and scared myself in to thinking it might be those- 
I can get photographs if that might help. The Leghorns and EEs seem okay, but the Marans has some major rooster damage so it is hard to tell. 

I am paranoid and pessimistic.... So I would look them all over for mites etc.

But, it us probably just molt. Some molt so you barely notice, others look like they have mange!

@Bogtown Chick is right, increasing protein can help them grow all of those feathers back more quickly, as well as ensure that the new feathers are bright and shiny.

Also, molt usually means no eggs until they are finished.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

If there are mites involved. Looking at the vent area and under wings will let you know if your dealing with pests. You'll need to part the feathers or push down and separate the fluff. They look like dried blood spots scampering out of the light. But I'm 99.5% sure you've got a Molt going on. ;-)

 

[Bogtown Chick]

LadyCluck I was thinking that I did have a couple hens that finished growing back in feathers on their backs a little bit late...and there were some nights that the temps dipped to the teens or so and I did put their little felted wool saddles I cut out of old sweaters that I washed down. I knew they were pretty exposed and the temps were hitting those lows...and I did this pampering thing for those "threadbare" hens. LOL. Never thought I do that for them...but I envisioned myself out in the cold without a stitch of covering on my back and didn't like the idea too much.