| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| CherryPie |
Posted - Dec 08 2009 : 07:30:00 AM
Boy, I'm starting to worry about my two girls in the unheated coop. I'm bringing hot water out to their water all day to try to keep it unfrozen but the coop itself is really cold. I wish I could rig up a portable heater out there but I'm afraid it would be risky.
Kimberly Ann
Farmgirl Sister #225
Crochet Geek, Newbie Fiddler, Would-be Farmer, Backyard Chicken Rancher, Soon to Be Podcaster
http://beesinourbonnetsintheburbs.blogspot.com/
Podcasts at http://thefannyfarm.blogspot.com/ |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| CherryPie |
Posted - Dec 10 2009 : 8:57:46 PM
I never thought seeing "41 degrees" forecast for Saturday would look like a summer's day to me! Yippee. :-)
Kimberly Ann
Farmgirl Sister #225
Crochet Geek, Newbie Fiddler, Would-be Farmer, Backyard Chicken Rancher, Soon to Be Podcaster
http://beesinourbonnetsintheburbs.blogspot.com/
Podcasts at http://thefannyfarm.blogspot.com/ |
| Sheep Mom 2 |
Posted - Dec 10 2009 : 7:45:59 PM
I am with you on the warm up - from your mouth to Gods ear....brrrr. They say we will get some snow this weekend. Fa la la la la....
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
| sherrye |
Posted - Dec 10 2009 : 7:32:42 PM
sheri, i am with you. here in central oregon we are so cold -14 last night. my hens are warm. there water doesnt freeze i have a heater like yours. i have 115 chickens and have sold eggs now for 14 years. the hen house is insulated and the girls are warm in there. they make a lot of heat.hope this helps. i am ready for a warm up uggh sherrye |
| Autumn Leaves |
Posted - Dec 10 2009 : 1:14:33 PM
Hi Kimberly Ann, was 17 in my coop yesterday morning brrrr. We always get lows in the teens (rarely below that) but it does get cold. I have a drop light with a 60 watt bulb in it that I clamp about 1/3 of the way up my 2x4 stud. It's plenty far away from the straw or anything flamable. I also put one of the waterers on a short stool inside the coop about 3-4 feet from the light and it hasn't frozen yet. I've usually never done anything really except lots more shavings and start feeding them more scratch with corn about September but this year I have a bunch of banty hens so I am using the light. The bigger birds still head outside and don't pay much attention to the cold but those banty's stay under the light all day. The light is also nice if it would ever rain here they like to come in and stand under it to dry off and fluff themselves. My eggs do slow down quite a bit in the winter. Good luck!!!
Warm Wishes
Jennifer
Never let yesterday use up too much of today - Will Rogers
http://jenscountrylife.blogspot.com |
| CherryPie |
Posted - Dec 09 2009 : 3:01:00 PM
Sheri, I'm glad to hear the cold won't do my girls in. I'm a chicken newbie so when I see the temps dropping I start to fret. Love the idea of a plug in dog dish for water though!
Kimberly Ann
Farmgirl Sister #225
Crochet Geek, Newbie Fiddler, Would-be Farmer, Backyard Chicken Rancher, Soon to Be Podcaster
http://beesinourbonnetsintheburbs.blogspot.com/
Podcasts at http://thefannyfarm.blogspot.com/ |
| krissy |
Posted - Dec 09 2009 : 2:35:58 PM
All I can say is "I WISH FOR WARM WET RAIN" instead of this bitter cold.
http://lateinlifemommy.blogspot.com/ |
| Sheep Mom 2 |
Posted - Dec 09 2009 : 2:12:15 PM
I have been keeping chickens for 25 yrs. and it can get well below zero here - all I've ever done is keep hay or straw around the peramiter of the coop and I have a heat lamp (away from the hay/straw). I have a heater platter-type that the waterer sits on to keep it from freezing. (I have also used a plug in dog dish in a pinch) I have never lost a chicken from cold and they lay all winter. It was 5 here this am and -7 below yesterday. It's supposed to moderate into the 20's by weekend thank God.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
| katmom |
Posted - Dec 09 2009 : 09:37:59 AM
fyi,,& please correct me if I am wrong...but a friend of mine who has chickens found out the sad way that you need to feed them...only cracked corn to satisfy their "peeking" nature otherwise they will peek at each other.
As for the heat situation...is there any chance you can bring the "girls' into the house? a basement or spare bathroom?-during the night?
Wish I new more about chickens....but I am confident someone here will have the perfect solution for you..
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
"I've never met a sewing machine I didn't like!"
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://www.graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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| CherryPie |
Posted - Dec 09 2009 : 08:46:48 AM
Last night I brought them into the garage. They are still there because it is 11 degrees in their coop right now. Hopefully I can bring them out soon because I'm sure they aren't happy in the dog kennel in there, but it was just too darn cold.
Kimberly Ann
Farmgirl Sister #225
Crochet Geek, Newbie Fiddler, Would-be Farmer, Backyard Chicken Rancher, Soon to Be Podcaster
http://beesinourbonnetsintheburbs.blogspot.com/
Podcasts at http://thefannyfarm.blogspot.com/ |
| krissy |
Posted - Dec 09 2009 : 07:58:32 AM
I was wondering about chickens in this cold spell. We don't have any (yet) but I know a gal in Sultan, WA who brought her brood indoors when it was really cold.
http://lateinlifemommy.blogspot.com/ |
| Ga Girl |
Posted - Dec 08 2009 : 12:00:59 PM
Add some straw or hay to they coops and make sure they get corn they say corn helps the girls stay warm for winter. Can you wrap their coop with a tarp or thick plastic? Just trying to think of things that would help. I remember reading some of these ideas somewhere. Hope it helps. Blessings,Karen
Create in me a pure heart,O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalms 51:10
www.KKJD1.etsy.com
http://farmgirlingastyle.blogspot.com/ |
| CherryPie |
Posted - Dec 08 2009 : 08:25:02 AM
I do have a light in there but it doesn't give them too much heat, unfortunately. Maybe I'll crochet them some sweaters!
Kimberly Ann
Farmgirl Sister #225
Crochet Geek, Newbie Fiddler, Would-be Farmer, Backyard Chicken Rancher, Soon to Be Podcaster
http://beesinourbonnetsintheburbs.blogspot.com/
Podcasts at http://thefannyfarm.blogspot.com/ |
| gramadinah |
Posted - Dec 08 2009 : 08:17:02 AM
Can you put even a light.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
