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Post by spamela on Dec 1, 2010 10:20:09 GMT -6
This will be my first winter caring for chickens so any advice is welcome.
Any special care that should be taken during the winter months? Special feed? Does the coop need a heat lamp?
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Post by herb on Dec 1, 2010 12:13:14 GMT -6
No heat lamp. They handle cold well, they handle wet well - they do not handle cold and wet well. I usually increase the amount of whole grains fed during winter. Otherwise no special feed.
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Dec 1, 2010 16:19:49 GMT -6
I put sstraw or hay on the floor because they tend to get a muddy floor in winter. I wouldn't want to stand on a freezing floor. When it gets really really cold like in the single digits I close the doors to the runs and they have to stay in the coop which is covered with fiberglas sheets so they still get light. We used to keep a florrescent light going but after we discovered they really don't need it we stopped.
The few days it gets below zero we isolate them in smaller spaces with heat lamps. We just use a regular household bulb and aim it at their water container to keep it from freezing. And we make sure they cant any drafts. The man across the street kept his in small cages without any shelter at all all winter last year and his did fine, he said anyway. I didn't see it for myself but I tend to spoilmine a bit.
I rushed out yesterday to find straw or hay to put down so they would stay warmer in the next week since it's suppose to be in the 20's and coop was closed due to inventory so I went to TSC and bought 2 bags of wood shavings and put it down in the pens.
At least they are dry and warmer.
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Post by Timbo on Dec 3, 2010 1:18:26 GMT -6
Keepin the water from freezing is the main thing i can think of.
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Post by spamela on Jan 9, 2011 8:34:34 GMT -6
My husbands complaining because I feed my chickens some hot oats for breakfast this morning and he didn't get anything. Hate it for him. Lol.
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Post by gardendaddy on Jan 9, 2011 13:08:46 GMT -6
I have run one infra-red heat bulb in the house for my birds when it gets BELOW 20-degrees as I have about one half of my flock molting and they have some bare spots I am fearful of them getting some damage to. I have talked to some others who are in Henderson County who is doing the same thing for theirs lately. Other than keeping the water from freezing I see that the only other problem. But when it gets that cold as well I put another light shining only on the water fount. Also, I have covered the open air part of the coop today with a tarp to keep out this predicted snow.
I have been feeding, per Herb I think it was, some extra whole grain feed and giving some "marked down" lettuce from Kroger, before they discard it to give them something green/fresh. Any bad apples or other fruit as well. They are loving it as always.
Mike
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Jan 6, 2014 22:01:21 GMT -6
Another winter has hit hard. It's hard to keep up with the frozen waters. I went out and took in all the water dishes and thawed them out again and in the morning i'll take them out and fill part way from a jug of water that way I don't have to thaw them out first thing. I carried a screw driver in my pocket all day (while I was outside) so I could break thru ice till it was too frozen to do it anymore. I already have a sick hen. Poor Moe. She spent all winter in the house last winter because she was naked and had no feathers to help keep her warm. This year she has full feathers and she got sick the first real cold night. She is wheezing pretty bad. I had one of my juvies get sick when it first got cold. She is looking like she may have to come back in now. I have a 250 watt heat bulb on them but they are the only ones with provided heat. The juvie may just need a hair cut so she can see. I'll give her one tomorrow because I know she has been eating and drinking. I saw her but when it was time to go to bed she was the only one not under the light. Once I pointed her in the direction of the light she went right to it. I didn't hear any wheezing or raspy breathing so I'll just see how she does tonight. Another of my sizzles may need to come in tomorrow too. I'll see about that too tomorrow. I heard a sneeze but couldn't identify which one did it. I already had Moe in my coat so it wasn't her.
I hope you all are doing better with no sick birds. And keeping warm yourselves. We have to be careful for our own safety as well out in this frizid cold. My brother lives in Indiana where it's wind chills are -40 and -50. He called me to tell me what his son did. He tossed water into the air out of a cup and it turned to powder before it hit the ground. Now thats cold. Why on earth anybody would live where these temps are normal is beyond me.
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Mar 29, 2014 23:21:32 GMT -6
Well, made it thru winter. Boy was it a rough one. I spent more on vet bills than I have in years. All of them are doing fine now. I have a cockerel that is still getting the hang of walking again but other than that he's fine. I think along with a few other issues he may have had a brain injury too. He's 6 months old and still has yet to crow but I'm really now worried about that since he's in the house still. The rest are back outside. Thank goodness. I've hatched out just a few chicks this winter. Last thing I needed to have to worry about where chicks hatching when I had so many adults come down with colds and such from the weather
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Post by Timbo on Mar 30, 2014 15:44:10 GMT -6
I'm happy to see the warmer weather. We are getting more work done now. hoping we have more to to sell in April. Glad all ur birds are doing better.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using proboards
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Apr 2, 2014 11:05:24 GMT -6
Me too. I'm finally able to put the one bird that has had such a hard time and nearly died, outside in a pen with George the house hen. They've become buddies over the winter. He's still not up to breeding due to bad balance but he's doing alot better. He actually crowed for the first time the day I put them outside. lol I still have 2 more that need to go out but they need a pen built. My special needs babies. Ol Red still has issues with his eye and I have to clean it out about once a week now. It's getting less and less all the time. He is a handsome fella. He's a partridge frizzled silkie. So pretty.
I have a porcelain cockerel I need to find a home for. He's not showable. He has a crooked and cross beak. Looks a bit freakish but he eats just fine and crows and does all the boy stuff but he can't hang on to breed. He will be a great pet though for somebody. So if anybody knows somebody that may want him for a pet send them my way. He's free. The person I got him from sent me a refund when we discovered the beak thing. It was nice of her since I didn't ask for a refund and insisted actually that she not give me one. He was fine when he arrived and it was no fault of hers. But since he was free to me he is free to who ever wants him for a pet. He's used to being handled and is a real character.
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