Woods-style house in the winter

[Arielle]

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[racinchickins]

Thanks for the info.

How do you like the electrified poultry net? Any problems with it? Other than forgetting its on an touching it? lol

I love my electric netting. Have had zero problems with it and no predator issues. I have accidentally bumped it a couple of times, and it is definitely strong enough to get your attention!! The only thing to watch for is that if you have chicks or small chickens, they can run/squeeze through the net openings. Their feathers insulate them some from the shock too. But if it touches a foot or comb, much running and squawking will commence.

 

[GWG2013]

A brief update on our first winter. It has been an unusually cold start, -25C some nights, which is February temperatures. The girls seem very happy. Lots of talking and energy. 15 birds producing 10 to 13 eggs a day. They eats lots, which I suppose helps keep them warm. Drink lots. They go out in the day to a protected area, but will not venture into the run in the deep snow. At night they a snuggle together in a row across an upper roost to share body heat. The only downside so far is that some combs are starting to show signs of frostbite

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[Shellz]

Planning to build one of these Wood's style coops in 2014. GWG, surely it's just the tips of the roos' combs getting frostbite? I have a few 6 month old, single combed roos with this. I have an 8' x 12' coop with 2 windows (open 24/7 to the west & south) & a roof vent for ventilation. No supplemental heat or light & lots of straw bedding. Pretty cold here in southeast Ontario too. All surviving, but not as active as yours it seems. :/

 

[Arielle]

A brief update on our first winter. It has been an unusually cold start, -25C some nights, which is February temperatures. The girls seem very happy. Lots of talking and energy. 15 birds producing 10 to 13 eggs a day. They eats lots, which I suppose helps keep them warm. Drink lots. They go out in the day to a protected area, but will not venture into the run in the deep snow. At night they a snuggle together in a row across an upper roost to share body heat. The only downside so far is that some combs are starting to show signs of frostbite

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THank you for reporting in on the combs-- sorry the boys are taking a hit.

THis last year has been about cross roads and I"m taking the lesser road-- as in lesser comb size if you continue to have frostbite issues.

 

[chicNlove]

Google has this book digitized: Open-air poultry houses for all climates

Google has this book digitized: Open-air poultry houses for all climates

the book and advice! We will build an open coop in the spring. Thank you so much for the reference. The book was free and a quick read! Your coop is beautiful! Thank you!

 

[theJonesBoy]

JackE, It's mid January and it has already been a hard winter. How have your birds done? Any frostbite?

 

[JackE]

JackE, It's mid January and it has already been a hard winter. How have your birds done? Any frostbite?

The weather here this winter has been all over the map. We've had rain, snow, ice. Had temps from the 50s in the afternoon, dropping to 4, with wind chill said to be 20-30 below. All through that, my birds have had ZERO problems. No frostbite, None of them have fell off the roost frozen into a chickensicle. A bunch of them went through a molt, again no problems. They spent a week in the coop after one snowfall. The popdoor was opened, they just chose to stay in. They really don't like walking in snow. Some eventually came out, others waited until the snow was practically gone.

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Same here with the exception of the over zealous rooster getting knocked into water and then into snow by the hen he wouldn't take no from. Now he dances for her and leaves her alone if she doesn't submit!! Learned his lesson the hard way!!! .

My coop isn't even finished and no problems of any other kind. In fact I only had 5 days where I was totally eggless. One of my white wyandotte/rir crosses is just now into molt and is doing fine.

They aren't even snuggling up on the roosts. But then they mostly stay inside right now though the pop hole is open during the day.

If I ever build another coop it will be the same open woods style. I love it,,, even with my imperfections and nonskill in building. I know what I will do different next time... I learned since to build it in sections and then put it together. Duh... I should have known! But after strokes you forget some things.

I'm sure after it is finished and secure properly I won't have any problems.

 

[Arielle]

Great to hear the updates--

OUr is empty as the promised birds never arrived. Need to finish it and get it in use. Lost lots of combs here.