Winter is coming...

[webbysmeme]

Thank you! Haha, I'm in TN

Oh God I wish I was in TN. I'm from Jackson! We went for Thanksgiving and Christmas, took the Harley and got to ride everyday! I miss it so much!

 

[Evelyn's Mom]

I didn't read every post, but I plan to employ the deep litter method, too, for a little added heat. I'm southern Indiana and our climate is completely different than yours, but I do not plan on adding any other heat. I am also hoping to use our old heated dog bowl and using some thick clear plastic to enclose all but the south side of the run... fingers crossed this all works, and for all of us!

 

[HERSHORTNESS]

From my research, I've read people filling a pop bottle up with highly concentrated salt water, sealing it and dropping it into the waterer. In my case I have a horizontal nipple waterer with lid. I've also read ones that will have two waterers and swap out to allow one to thaw. So my plan is to try this method along with adding a salt water bottle.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

I didn't read every post, but I plan to employ the deep litter method, too, for a little added heat. I'm southern Indiana and our climate is completely different than yours, but I do not plan on adding any other heat. I am also hoping to use our old heated dog bowl and using some thick clear plastic to enclose all but the south side of the run... fingers crossed this all works, and for all of us!

I could be wrong but i heard the deep litter method can lead to frostbite if done incorrectly

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

From my research, I've read people filling a pop bottle up with highly concentrated salt water, sealing it and dropping it into the waterer. In my case I have a horizontal nipple waterer with lid. I've also read ones that will have two waterers and swap out to allow one to thaw. So my plan is to try this method along with adding a salt water bottle.

Let us know how it works for you. Sounds like a good option...if it works!

 

[aart]

From my research, I've read people filling a pop bottle up with highly concentrated salt water, sealing it and dropping it into the waterer.

Ehhh...I've read many suggesting that, but the ones who actually tried said it didn't work well much below freezing.

I could be wrong but i heard the deep litter method can lead to frostbite if done incorrectly

Deep litter in the coop can increase humidity (which can increase the risk of frostbite) especially if you expect it to create much heat. Better, IMO, to keep birds and coop dry.

 

[Evelyn's Mom]

Ehhh...I've read many suggesting that, but the ones who actually tried said it didn't work well much below freezing.

Deep litter in the coop can increase humidity (which can increase the risk of frostbite) especially if you expect it to create much heat. Better, IMO, to keep birds and coop dry.

WEll to be honest, every time I read about the deep litter method the humidity angle pops in my head.. .guess I"ll do some more thinking and reading...

 

[aart]

WEll to be honest, every time I read about the deep litter method the humidity angle pops in my head.. .guess I"ll do some more thinking and reading...

I would rather have the coop too dry(if there is such a thing), than have to deal with too much humidity in bedding in the middle of a frigid winter. Tho to be honest, that can happen during thaws here even when using dry bedding.....and frostbite is inevitable, IME...I don't apply any potions or lotions to try and prevent it, nor do I treat it when it happens. Have had big combed cockerels get dubbed every winter, wattles too...they all healed up on their own every time.

It all depends on how you manage your manure. I use poop board and sift it daily into buckets to keep that part out of the equation.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

I would rather have the coop too dry(if there is such a thing), than have to deal with too much humidity in bedding in the middle of a frigid winter. Tho to be honest, that can happen during thaws here even when using dry bedding.....and frostbite is inevitable, IME...I don't apply any potions or lotions to try and prevent it, nor do I treat it when it happens. Have had big combed cockerels get dubbed every winter, wattles too...they all healed up on their own every time.

It all depends on how you manage your manure. I use poop board and sift it daily into buckets to keep that part out of the equation.

I read vaseline helps with prevention and treatment of frostbite. Not sure how well it works but id try it in a pinch. Either that or ill have to make chicken mittens

 

[Crow-ded house]

Mine all survived our extremely cold windy OK winters without heat sources. They are snug intheir coop at night and we put up plywood sheets and cover that with plastic to keep out the worst. We do not use heated water but have extra big pans so we switch out their drinking pans three times a day. At night they are sleeping so no water then. This years we have some hay left over from our dlm we started and they can crawl in it in the run. We only had miner frostbite on one rooster but their new coop/run is beside the shop so that should block extra north winds.