| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| peachy |
Posted - Oct 28 2008 : 10:31:26 AM
Okay, I really need some help here!!! This is my first winter with chickens and I am by far not a chicken expert (as you'll probably soon find out!) We received 3 hens and a rooster this summer and from that came 18 chicks - oh my!!! So we took our old truck camper and put it where we keep our chickens. I painted the inside and of course wall papered to my husbands disbelief!! LOL There's alittle window in the front so they can walk right in, a nice roosting branch etc. So, one would think (at least I thought) with a trail of food going in there that they would follow, love their new home and be nice and toasy warm but no...none of them have even ventured in there yet! We did put one in and she scrambled back out...what am I doing wrong here and how do I get them to go in there chicky motel???
ps...I do also need a fun name for this little revamped chicken hut in my yard if anyone has any ideas!!!
Farmgirl Sister #360
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain! |
| 21 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| chandasue |
Posted - Nov 25 2008 : 4:51:01 PM
I got a 3 gallon heated waterer from Murry McMurry Hatchery (you can order online). I haven't tried it out yet, since my chicks are all still inside, but others said it works well. You could also try a heated dog dish. As far as nesting boxes, the milk crates would probably work but you'll want a 45 degree angle (plywood?) over the top of them other wise they'll roost on top and make a big poopy mess. :D |
| peachy |
Posted - Nov 19 2008 : 7:32:37 PM
Thank you's again! They are secure (fully fenced in and a window opening into they're "camper"), I do leave the window open and so far it's smelling pleasantly "okay" in there! I have 2 that are free range, we tried putting them with the others but that was just a bad deal! They've been "camping out" in our barn and wouldn't ya know have started following me when I'm doing chores! I have to get a picture to post my husband insists! I've caught them twice riding in the back of my truck in the hay and once on my window ledge when it was down! Crazy birds!
As far as water and light, I'm afraid right now I won't be able to do anything with electric, we don't have it in our barn yet and I'd have to run one heck of a long extension cord to the house...I'll have to keep thinking on this one! Of course, if I see them suffering the cord will be run! It's surprisingly warm in the camper though...I've been sneaking in there to get a break from the cold winds out here!
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain! |
| Friendly Haven |
Posted - Nov 19 2008 : 6:10:11 PM
We installed a timer last winter so the light goes on about 5am to get them started. We, of course, don't let them out until dawn really happens. We did find we got more eggs that way. If your hens are moulting (replacing their feathers) which ours do each fall, they will lay less until their new feathers come in.
Be sure you have the coop secure enough to protect them from varmints over winter. All kinds of animals are chicken eaters and that's a sad way to lose them. Ours free range all over the farm in the daytime but at night they go into their coop and we close the door so they're safe. My husband put heavy gauge 1/4" square wire over each window. I swear it would keep a cougar out! Also the floor is permanently attached so nobody can crawl underneath.
Recently we lost two babies to a hawk and one mama who preferred sleeping outside got eaten by a raccoon. Last year we lost a turkey to a coyote. He flew up on the barn roof to roost and we couldn't get him down in the dark. When he fluttered down at dawn he got caught by a passing coyote. I'm sure you get my drift here -- make sure they have a good secure place to be in the dark.
One more point to know is that chickens LIKE open windows and fresh air, even in cold weather. If the coop is too closed up and smells of ammonia from the poop, they are more susceptible to disease. They prefer fresh air and handle ventilation better than being closed up snug and tight.
warmly,
Jacqueline
Friendly Haven Rise Farm
www.FriendlyHaven.com
A biodynamic-organic farm with a sense of humor
Stay at our farm! We'll show you how to be with bees, care for the cow and giggle with the hens.
www.FriendlyHavenFarm.com |
| Sheep Mom 2 |
Posted - Nov 19 2008 : 3:45:41 PM
I sympathize with the water freezing troubles - have dealt with them in the past myself. I put stock tank heaters in all my stock tanks and plug them in - no more ice problems. For the chicken waterer there is a platter-like heater that sits under the water (if it's galvanized - I'm not so sure about the plastic variety). I always keep heat lamps on in my chicken house in the winter - we get pretty dark here in the winter and the chickens will quit laying without giving them more light. I don't know how cold it gets in your neck of the woods but we can get into the sub-zeros in January. Good luck. |
| Rusti-Kate |
Posted - Nov 18 2008 : 3:44:27 PM
Chickens are hilarious creatures. When we first brought chickens in a few years back, I put in 20 nest boxes in so that they would each have one, well go figure, all of them laid their eggs in just four boxes, while using the other ones as their own personal outhouses! We have our light on a timer for the girls which gives them a total of 14 hours of light a day or so.
As far as your girls not laying again yet, it really depends on how old they are, if they are stressed in any way, their protein intake, light, and the list could go on. I have found that certain breeds are better layers than others, and that keeping my girls as comfortable as possible helps as well. You could also try boosting their protein intake with some turkey grower, ground flax seed, or roasted soy, and I have also had a lot of success with food grade diatomaceous earth as a supplement and in their dust box.
There are some really good pastured poultry groups out there on the web too with some great advice! Good luck!
(I was writing this post while you were doing yours and I am so sorry about all of your winter troubles! I hope everything gets a little smoother for you in the days to come!
Katie |
| peachy |
Posted - Nov 18 2008 : 10:37:16 AM
Such helpful responds! Thank you all so much! I have 2 friends that need me right now, one with breast cancer and starting chemo and my other had a stroke this past weekend. I've been so busy trying to keep our house and 4 kids together, working on my sons (the 5th kids) wedding, Thanksgiving around the corner, praying and worrying about friends etc. etc. etc. that I can't even tell you the "withdrawl" I've had from not checking this site out and catching up with everything! I have just a few minutes and thought I'd check on my "rebellious chickens" - and yes, they still are! I believe as fast as my brain is thinking and rambling right now that I may be "venting"...I'm going to apologize in advance cuz I think I'm about to explode!
Yesterday, we got our first taste of winter with lake effect snow...8 icky inches of it. Of course, I was not as prepared as I wanted to be so the hose is yes, stuck under the snow, all of the animals water was froze so buckets upon buckets from the house to the truck to the animals! Most of the animals (horses, goats, cow) water I can break with a shovel but the chickens! Good heavens!!! How do you keep that from freezing??? I suppose it's a bit like the bunnies water freezing and I haven't figured that one out either! Needless to say, into the new chicken coop I go to find them all on their perch staring at me probably wondering why in the world their water is froze and where did all this white cold fluffy stuff come from! None of them are budging off their "perch" to venture out into the great cold outdoors!!! Of course, I "try" to unscrew the bottom of the waterer only to have it froze and by the time I get it the water that hadn't froze inside came splashing upon me! (yes, I'm sure they were laughing at me!) I do believe I will worry now about keeping their water from freezing and not worry about eggs until spring...how long exactly until spring arrives???
Meanwhile, someone is coming to look at one of our horses for sale...one, I don't want to sell any of our horses but...two, the kids have totally lost interest and finally three, this means selling 3 horses may help make up in some finances from buying more hay every year. After all, you can only ride one at a time right? UUgghhh! We'll still have 4 but I just hate this, I'm the kind of person that ended up with all of these animals because I can't say no...I seem to "rescue" everyone elses animals!!! So, they come to look in the middle of the sleet, snow and rain! Oh my gosh...trying to show a horse in that kind of weather!!! I must say he did behave himself quite well considering the circumstances, but I still haven't gotten word if they want him or not. If anyone has any ideas for advertising horses for sale I would love to hear them!!! I have 2 of them on dreamhorse and the other is older and I would love her to go to a therapeutic riding place or she'd be an excellent pasture mate...I just really want good homes for them if I have to sell them.
I am so sorry to ramble on like this, I know everyone has 10 million things far worse than this going on, I guess I just had to get this out today...it must have all finally caught up to me just like the wintery, sleety winds have and now as the only heat in our house is the wood stove...I need to go get some more wood up (I've been typing and not keeping up!)
Thanks for listening!!!
Melissa
Farmgirl Sister #360
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain! |
| Beverley |
Posted - Nov 05 2008 : 8:56:26 PM
They do like darkness to lay the eggs though. So if they are out all day you may not have to bother with a light out there. I would wait and see since they aren't pld enough to lay eggs yet anyway.
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett Beverley with an extra E...
http://bevsdoggies.googlepages.com/ |
| Magdalene |
Posted - Nov 05 2008 : 10:46:12 AM
We are going to run a light to the henhouse. Our pullets just started laying nicely and I don't want the benefits to end! This is our first year with chickens and it's been a wonderful and rewarding experience. I just love watching them scratch around the yard and dust bathe in the sunlight.
I obey the three 'C's of life: Cats, Chocolate, and Chickens |
| Alee |
Posted - Nov 04 2008 : 10:37:39 AM
One thing I know about Chickens is that they need between 12-16 hours of daylight to lay. Some breeds lay through the winter and some breeds don't without help from a bulb.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| peachy |
Posted - Nov 04 2008 : 09:59:27 AM
Now yet another couple questions from this "inexperienced" chicken girl! I've been locking them in at night but with the time change and winter coming the neighbor said I should put a light in there??? This little chicken set up is out toward the barn and we don't have electric in there...I would have wires running all over if I did this! Is it necessary? Next question...my hens had their chicks about 2 months ago, how long does it take before everyone is up and running on laying eggs?
Melissa
Farmgirl Sister #360
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain! |
| gramadinah |
Posted - Nov 01 2008 : 5:35:24 PM
I would lock my chickens in at night so to keep them safe and get the eggs in the morning.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
| Alee |
Posted - Oct 31 2008 : 9:01:13 PM
That is wonderful, Melissa! Glad they figured it out!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| peachy |
Posted - Oct 31 2008 : 8:06:03 PM
Woo Hoo!!! My husband and step son went camping this weekend and I was out and about in the back forty playing with the horses...I decided to check on the "chicken coop" so I turned my truck lights toward the camper so I could see inside...they're all in there! Every last one of them roosting on their limb! Go figure!!! I just can't seem to figure these birds out!
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain! |
| velvetcadi7 |
Posted - Oct 29 2008 : 09:06:00 AM
He He! They are fun aren't they - but what are they thinking??? I have a fancy 10 nest nesting box and they sleep and poo on that and lay eggs in the straw on the ground - then they
fling the straw around so I have to dig around in the straw and poo to find the eggs! |
| peachy |
Posted - Oct 29 2008 : 04:55:36 AM
This has been quite a chicken journey of learning! The truck camper is the kind that sits in the bed of the truck and we've lifed it off the ground just a bit so the bottom doesn't wear out...I took the table out and it has 2 closets for storing supplies and a bench on each side with a window on each side and one small window that slides open in the front (this is where the little dears can go in)...we did put up a log roosting branch, I'm wondering if we need another with all these little chicks??? I'm trying to use what I have around here and I do have some milk crates...will this work with hay for laying boxes or should I make them??? Now, I haven't been out yet this am but I did check on them last night at feeding time and they were all "congregating" and probably discussing their new home right by the "ramp" to go up inside. This really is alot of fun, it's just getting so cold here I don't want them to freeze being too stubborn to go inside!!
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain! |
| eskimobirdlady |
Posted - Oct 28 2008 : 10:52:17 PM
i am by no means an expert but i would go out after dark to where ever they roost, catch them and put them into their new lodgings. i find that my chicks are so afraid that the sky is going to fall that they wont try new things on their own. good luck! peace connie in alaska |
| gramadinah |
Posted - Oct 28 2008 : 4:37:43 PM
And you need some laying boxes. I like one per hen but you can do 2 hens per box Deep enough they feel they have privacy and yet you can get into them to gather eggs. And clean them.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
| Alee |
Posted - Oct 28 2008 : 2:30:53 PM
Is it perhaps to low to the ground? Maybe making a "foundation" out of straw bales would help? By truck camper are you talking about the kind with kitchens, pop outs or are you talking about the truck bed shell?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| peachy |
Posted - Oct 28 2008 : 1:44:21 PM
Thank you...keep em comin! I did put straw on the floor, but I still can't get them to come in to even see the straw yet! I don't have eggs yet...the chicks are only acouple months old now. I suppose I'll be waiting until spring for eggs!! LOL
Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain! |
| gramadinah |
Posted - Oct 28 2008 : 1:31:37 PM
I always had to put straw on the floor. I took and old out building with a tiled floor they did not like the slick floor. Hope that helps.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
| velvetcadi7 |
Posted - Oct 28 2008 : 12:29:05 PM
Sorry I don't have any advice - I am a new chicken mommy too! But I did enjoy your story and am sure someone here will have answers for you! Are you getting eggs yet? |
