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Post by gracielagata on Nov 29, 2017 15:38:32 GMT
So my chickens live in a very large fenced in pen area with an equally large garden connected to it. During the non gardening months, the inner gate gets left open and they get both areas to dig around in, not to count their coop.
Well, I didn't realize the inner gate wasn't blocked open and we last night we got some windy icy rain and snow and the gate got closed.
Fast forward to this morning. I look out once it is barely light out and see figures huddled in the garden. All my poor chickens got locked in the garden all night long because we all came home way after dark and didn't think we needed to check them because we thought the gate was blocked open.
So some 13 hens of all ages up to 6 years, one rooster, and one 2 month old as yet to be sexed baby all made it through the night huddled up together against a berm in a corner of the garden.
A couple of their tails looked a bit frosty, especially the rooster, but on the whole they are looking good. They are up and moving aroundm pecking at the corn I through out to get them moving.
Poor chicken popscicles. I am quite impressed by the baby though. It was on the outer edges of the huddle when I saw them. Wasn't shivering or anything.
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Post by gracielagata on Nov 29, 2017 16:03:12 GMT
Tallpines, Ha, I'm sure they did! It was a sleeting type of rain initially, I think, driving home in it, but I am thankful it wasn't a full night of it! As for the nightmares and the likely frigid (ha!) and mad glances this morning... they got lots of cracked scratch grain to help with that.
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Post by here to stay on Nov 29, 2017 16:24:44 GMT
At least they were in an area where the fencing kept them relatively safe. Hopefully there was no comb frostbite to show up later.
Tell me about animal keeper errors. I just made a whopper. So many things to go wrong that inevitably some do. Sigh.
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Post by Skandi on Nov 29, 2017 17:12:30 GMT
I think we've all done it, we've accidentally locked out birds before, happened to a duck that unfortunately didn't make it a fox got her, but I have also done it with three chickens midwinter, don't know where they spent the night, probably in a tree but they all turned up again looking a little damp in the morning.
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Post by themotherhen on Nov 29, 2017 17:39:13 GMT
I think that chickens are much hardier than we give them credit for, especially if they are a breed that is a good match for the weather conditions in the area. When I had chickens they used to roost in a huge lilac bush/tree sometimes!
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Post by gracielagata on Nov 29, 2017 18:28:49 GMT
here to stay,That wasn't your fault at all! How is Miss Tessie doing now? My mare is allergic/reactive to MTG. It causes her skin to crack and flake and fall of, hair as well. Wanna guess how this was found out?! Very true on the fencing, though it's only like 3 ft tall, but we have them decently close to the house for this reason. Plus we have dogs that are out regularly so I think that keeps predators a bit farther away. Knock on wood that for the past 4+ years this as worked quite well. My rooster is a teenager Speckled Sussex with a decently large comb, so we shall see what happens with that. Honestly if most of it died and came off, that would be great for future cold winters. Some of my hens have lost little bits of combs here and there, either due to cold or a mild squabble with a flockmate. I just watch over them and treat as needed, but have never needed to, if I remember correctly. Skandi, you know, they have 2 trees right by/in their pen- no one has ever gone in them! I have a clutch of 3 from June that love to sit on the inner fences, but never found them in a tree! themotherhen, Aren't they though? They are all big bodied laying breeds. My rooster is a teenager Speckled Sussex with a decent comb, so we shall see what happens with that. Honestly if most of it died and came off, that would be great for future cold winters. The fact that they have no heat or light in their coop, plus they have a couple of windows that stay cracked a couple of inches year round- this probably helped them immensely in being outdoor cold ready, huh?
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Post by gracielagata on Nov 29, 2017 19:56:51 GMT
@redfish, Oh my gosh, that's awesome! Tallpines, Not get many eggs... We don't get any during the winter months, starting pretty much in September, as evidently my flock cat read a darn calendar!  And that's cold! We get to the negative teens at least a few weeks in winter it seems. My husband still tries to argue over them needing windows closed up tight, as he can't comprehend how built up moisture in the cold is worse than just being cold. |
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Post by Woodpecker on Nov 29, 2017 21:17:24 GMT
So, I only have one chicken left, Loretta. She's been alone for 5 years since the other two died. I have a heat lamp with a ceramic light bulb, 110 watt in her coop. Being she has no one to snuggle up to, I believe she needs the heat lamp. Am I right? I'm about to go out and turn it on again. Today was 62 here and tonight will go down to freezing.
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Post by ceresone on Nov 29, 2017 21:34:34 GMT
Well, some of my bantie hens dont weigh 2 pounds--and i am going to move the whole coop into my attached garage for the winter. may be a mistake--but i have made them before. its not for the chickens--its for me, so i wont fall trying to get out and take care of them
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Post by gracielagata on Nov 29, 2017 22:05:41 GMT
ceresone,Why is that a mistake? If they are happy and healthy there and it keeps you from getting hut, it sounds like a win-win.  Woodpecker, I can't speak to that need for her. Some of mine don't huddle, and they even just sit alone on the floor of the coop, sans heat, and we are colder than you at night. Sounds like Loretta needs some new friends and huddle mates! Tallpines, Good to know on when to use the light if I ever did. As much as I'd love the fresh, not stored, eggs in winter, I hate the worry about the electricity required to exist out there with them. When I hit it big and can hook them up to solar I will do it!
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Nov 29, 2017 22:41:49 GMT
So, I only have one chicken left, Loretta. She's been alone for 5 years since the other two died. I have a heat lamp with a ceramic light bulb, 110 watt in her coop. Being she has no one to snuggle up to, I believe she needs the heat lamp. Am I right? I'm about to go out and turn it on again. Today was 62 here and tonight will go down to freezing. I don't see anything wrong with doing that Woodpecker. If it is going down to freezing - and since she is on her own - why not keep an older hen comfy? I've had my heat lamps on a couple of times already... But, I don't usually do it until it gets down in the mid to low 20's at night - due to the fact our coops are well insulated and the birds have "roost-mates" to snuggle with. I have remote temp sensors in the coops so I can keep an eye on the temps up here at the house and do what I see fit... And, who wants to deal with a frozen water fount? I have on a few occasions and it's not my idea of fun hauling them up here to the house to defrost. Winter is bad enough since I have to haul all of my water out there when it is below freezing. And, I've never had/can't imagine having frostbite and certainly wouldn't want to inflict it upon my chicksters. But, as some of you know I am a big softy and tend to really baby all of our animals - perhaps it comes with not having any kids of my own? Ah, who knows... Everyone is different... do what makes you happy. And - I hope I haven't caused any offense to ya'll that don't or cannot do the heat lamp thing - to each his own I always say! ~Mari |
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Nov 29, 2017 22:44:04 GMT
Well, some of my bantie hens dont weigh 2 pounds--and i am going to move the whole coop into my attached garage for the winter. may be a mistake--but i have made them before. its not for the chickens--its for me, so i wont fall trying to get out and take care of them. I think that's a great idea and fantastic that you can do so! |
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Post by Skandi on Nov 29, 2017 23:50:35 GMT
Ours don't get a heat lamp, it'll hit -10C for a few days probably and they have a very drafty coop although not right where the perch is. I have given them extra light before and it works really well BUT... I found the birds got bored as the weather is too bad most of the time for them to want to go out so they hung around inside and developed bad habits. Without lights they are on the roost 18hours in the winter, so no time to get bored. Our hybrid layers layed all winter without lights,and the three mixed ones we have at the moment are still laying, only 3 weeks to shortest day.
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Nov 30, 2017 0:28:23 GMT
Ours don't get a heat lamp, it'll hit -10C for a few days probably and they have a very drafty coop although not right where the perch is. I have given them extra light before and it works really well BUT... I found the birds got bored as the weather is too bad most of the time for them to want to go out so they hung around inside and developed bad habits. Without lights they are on the roost 18hours in the winter, so no time to get bored. Our hybrid layers layed all winter without lights,and the three mixed ones we have at the moment are still laying, only 3 weeks to shortest day. I totally hear you on that point. That is why I purchase flock blocks/scratch blocks and put them in the coops in the winter. These blocks are great! Keeps the birds busy and not picking on each other... Do you guys have them available over there I wonder... Here's an example of one... www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/products/detail/purina-flock-block~Mari |
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Nov 30, 2017 2:28:48 GMT
That block sounds like a good idea! Our chickens may be getting one for Christmas! It is so worth it to keep my chicksters happy! I do hope you try one this Christmas Tallpines and report back! |
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Post by gracielagata on Nov 30, 2017 13:55:48 GMT
Skandi,I have that same problem- boredom pecking and such if they stay in the coop! Mari-in-IN,How long does a flock block last? I've never bought one in fear it wouldn't last past 10 minutes! I give them leftover food, or will hang cabbage or even just the core to play with and that helps. I don't feed or water them in the coop either, to prevent excess moisture from spilled food, and to make them come out. During the fall through spring, I also toss lots of pine straw in their pen area as a layer to keep them from walking directly in the mud until it freezes, and then again in the spring in the thaw. I like it as their feet to stay drier, but it is also great for spreading corn or such into, as they can't immediately get it out, and get the satisfaction of scratching and pecking for it. Now I do have to shovel for them in the deep snow. I feel it's quite comical that I make the effort to shovel for them, but I hate shoveling for us humans- we can just tromp through on top! ;P And no offense at all on the light. Water fonts: I haven't found a great method for that yet, especially not using electricity. I just bring them water in the morning, and then again during the day. I try to only put it in those black feed pans, but a small one, or the flat metal goat pans, again only like a slightly large pie pan. That way when it freezes, I can just smack it down and it busts loose. I have a few, and only fill some at a time, so I have an empty one at next filling. Right now I am cheating and I placed the flat metal pan right at the edge of their lean-to, so water runs off from the rain. Even if it freezes the run off helps bust and thaw it. And obviously put it in the sunniest spot in the coop.
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Post by Woodpecker on Nov 30, 2017 15:37:14 GMT
Mari-in-IN, would a block be too big for Loretta? Would it matter? It would give her something to do, all alone in the coop. Thanks for the advise on the heat lamp. I am going to keep it going when temps are too cold. As you know, I am totally responsible for Loretta, but she was Megan's pet chicken, I don't want anything to happen to her because of my mistakes. gracielagata, I don't know much about chickens, but I guess I'm doing a reasonably good job for my girls Loretta. I would feel terrible if she froze or her comb got frost bite. She will be 8 in March, so she's getting old. I want her to be comfortable. I do love that chicken. I can picture her following my daughter around like a dog
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Post by princessferf on Nov 30, 2017 17:44:12 GMT
The chickens don’t seem troubled by the cold as much as the short days. I agree 150%!!! |
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Post by princessferf on Nov 30, 2017 17:47:07 GMT
So, I only have one chicken left, Loretta. She's been alone for 5 years since the other two died. I have a heat lamp with a ceramic light bulb, 110 watt in her coop. Being she has no one to snuggle up to, I believe she needs the heat lamp. Am I right? I'm about to go out and turn it on again. Today was 62 here and tonight will go down to freezing. Nope, she doesn't need the heat lamp if her coop keeps her dry and out of drafts. She might be a bit lonely, but that's hard to say. 62 degrees here in late November is practically swimming weather! Remember that she's already wearing a down/feather coat that she can cover her feet with (crouched on her roost) and if very cold she'll tuck her head under a wing to sleep. |
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Post by shellymay on Nov 30, 2017 18:51:31 GMT
Mari-in-IN , I didn't expect any less from you, LOL they are your babies, chickens oh how one farm is different from another.... I have chickens at home for my own personal use, their coop is in one end of the barn, they have a walk in door that will stay open year round, their roost post is behind a solid wall and this keeps them out of wind, there is a big outdoor covered space outside their coop so this keeps snow from coming into their walk in door, they have a heated water dish, and I have a 60 watt light bulb on now that stays on 24/7 but it is aimed downward and shines on their next boxes and not towards their roost post, they can come and go as they please out into a fenced in pasture......
The chickens I am raising for sale to general public are located at a different farm, it is an all indoor coop, I have 50 EE's that are 4 months old in one side that have heated water dish and roost post and they get up and go to roost with the sun, on the other two sides I have 600 2 month old chicks, they have two 55 gallon drums with a drum heat belt on drum for heated water, there is 3 heat lamps still running for these chickens if there are a few that want to use them, now I will tell you this....
For those of you who are use to having manure piles (bigger livestock) we all know that manure piles hold in heat, if you run a tractor bucket into a manure pile even in winter month you will still see steam coming from said pile, this unfortunately is how some livestock parasites live through cold winter months, some parasites bury themselves under ground where it is warmer. So manure holds heat as I said, in winter months with these younger birds I don't clean coop as often, because it HOLDS in heat and will intern make coop warmer even if only at ground level, you may hear about deep litter method from some folks in there coops during cold months and this is one of the benefits (warmth)....when they reach about 4 months of age they are good to go in my coop as they are kept out of elements and dry so then I can clean coop on a regular bases....  |
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Post by Mari-in-IN on Nov 30, 2017 23:45:57 GMT
gracielagata , As far as the "Flock Block" - they've lasted well more than a month around here - maybe 2 or so. Guess it depends on how many chickens you have. I do so wish I had kept notes in the past!! I've read some reviews online and they said they lasted only a week? Makes me wonder if they are not feeding free choice or their feed is not very accessible and they are relying on the block for their main source of sustenance - not a treat... Or perhaps the brand they are using is not as hard/compact as what I'm using? The ones I purchase, the chickens really have to work/peck at it - they are not soft or crumbly... I purchase the Nutrena Nature Wise Poultry Scratch Block from Big R and have NEVER been disappointed. I have one up here at the house and am taking it out to the main coop tomorrow. Plan on purchasing several more to have on hand and to put in the other coops... Woodpecker , Gee, I don't know... They run over 20 lbs or so. That would probably last her a couple of years! I will look around and see if there are some smaller ones out there. From past experience - don't get her one that is specifically for chicks. Those are very soft (more like suet) and she'll have it worked over in a few days... ~Mari ETA - Just thought of this - Don't leave them outside when the coons/possums are about - they will wreck them posthaste!
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Post by Woodpecker on Dec 1, 2017 1:07:38 GMT
You're right MarI, I can't find the blocks, less than 21 lbs. Oh well, I'll have to find something else to occupy her🤗
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Post by countrymom22 on Dec 1, 2017 2:36:08 GMT
My coop is built on an old hay wagon. The idea was that we would move it around the property, but that never quite worked out. I feed and water everyone outside, year round, unless we are having a blizzard. As soon as the snow stops, I shovel out an area and move the food and water back outside. That keeps the chickens outside, moving around and keeps the coop dryer. I make sure I let them out as soon as the sun comes up for maximum light exposure. The coop also has very large windows in 3 of the 4 walls.
I water them in those black rubber feed tubs designed for sheep or goats. I empty them every night when I lock the chickens in and they are always ready to go, no need for de-icing. I also find that if I put the water pans in the sunlight during the winter, they only freeze a few days a year, so I don't have to water multiple times a day except is really extreme weather, when I would be going out to check on them multiple times a day anyway.
During the winter, we add a wall to give the chickens less floor space in the coop. This causes them to roost closer together keeping the coop warmer. It also helps to cut down on drafts. I also feed them a quart of cracked corn about an hour before they roost for the night. Seems to help keep them warmer. I don't use any lights in the coop and although egg production slows down in the winter, half of my hens are 4 years old and still lay a few times a week, all winter long.
Doing these things has kept my 12 hens laying at least 3-6 eggs a day, all winter long. But there have been a few times that one or three hens didn't go in before I locked up for the night. Luckily they were all okay. But it happens to all of us, eventually. Glad things turned out okay for your chickens!
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Post by shellymay on Dec 3, 2017 4:12:43 GMT
Ours don't get a heat lamp, it'll hit -10C for a few days probably and they have a very drafty coop although not right where the perch is. I have given them extra light before and it works really well BUT... I found the birds got bored as the weather is too bad most of the time for them to want to go out so they hung around inside and developed bad habits. Without lights they are on the roost 18hours in the winter, so no time to get bored. Our hybrid layers layed all winter without lights,and the three mixed ones we have at the moment are still laying, only 3 weeks to shortest day. I totally hear you on that point. That is why I purchase flock blocks/scratch blocks and put them in the coops in the winter. These blocks are great! Keeps the birds busy and not picking on each other... Do you guys have them available over there I wonder... Here's an example of one... www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/products/detail/purina-flock-block~Mari , I found the flock block you spoke of and purchased it today from our TSC store, gave it to the chickens tonight and I will try to come back with a update, but I think they are going to love it, thank you for mentioning this |
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Post by shellymay on Dec 3, 2017 23:56:23 GMT
Mari-in-IN, They do indeed love it, they where scared of it for several hours yesterday lol..... they are pecking at it now, there are 600 chickens that are 2 months old in with this block and to my surprise most of the block is still intact, which is a good thing, they did not destroy it in a days time, they are enjoying pecking on it and not each other
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