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Barnyard Buddies:  I'm getting chickens! (and I have a question)  |
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ChicChick
True Blue Farmgirl
64 Posts
Joy
64 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 27 2008 : 11:41:52 AM
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Hi everyone,
I'm so happy, I'm FINALLY getting some farm animals-a flock of 6 chickens this spring! I can't wait, though there is much to do before their arrival. 
One question I have: My sister and I are looking at the silkie bantam and Polish hens, but I've read conflicting information about their hardiness. Will they be ok with a cold Vermont winter? All chickens will be inside during winter, with access to outdoors the rest of the year, but I'm not sure if these will make it. Anyone know?
Thanks!
-Joy
Vist my shop at: http://chicchickbiz.etsy.com and my blog at www.chicchickbiz.blogspot.com |
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PlumCreekMama
True Blue Farmgirl
730 Posts
Heather
Iowa
USA
730 Posts |
Posted - Feb 27 2008 : 6:04:15 PM
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When they are inside during the winter, do you plan on having a heat lamp on? I think they would be fine if you did. I had read a story in Backyard Poultry awhile back about someone that had Silkies sitting on eggs and they had a snowstorm and it drifted in and when they came and dug through the snow, the Silkies were still sitting and one had hatched. I love Silkies and plan to get some soon. I really like Polish too.
http://plumcreekmama.blogspot.com/ |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2008 : 05:27:23 AM
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Congratulations!
I just received my spring chick shipment early this a.m. including more silkies! YEA!
They are hardy, but I would use a heat lamp anyway for those especially bitter cold days.
I live in NC and to date haven't lost any to cold. My adult silkie coop is 8x8 with a large dog crate bedded with pine shavings. As long as the birds are out of a draft they should be fine.
Types of chcikens like this do far worse in the hot,humid summers. |
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WisGal35
True Blue Farmgirl
99 Posts
Cathy
Kenosha County
WI
USA
99 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2008 : 07:20:33 AM
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So exciting for you, here's hoping your little future flock thrives. My 31 full-sized chickens are kept in a coop building at night, free-range during the day no matter what the weather...though they tend choose to stay in the coop if it is really cold! We previously kept chickens in a portion of a larger shed, and they didn't seem to thrive in the winter (too drafty, I know now!).
We don't have electricity to the new coop, but the heat from the flock is sufficient to keep the water from freezing on all but the below zero nights (it used to freeze almost every night in the corner of shed set up). Besides keeping water available, the only winter challenge has been frostbite to combs on roosters and a couple of the hens and making sure we collect eggs laid in odd places before they freeze (we thaw and cook for the dog). I hear that if you put lots of Vaseline on the combs, it can prevent the frostbite.
We currently have Rhode Island Reds, Black Giants, White Giants, White Rocks & Americanas. We picked with cold weather hardiness in mind, but probably won't get more RIRs, their combs are so big and floppy the frostbite is an issue.
The cold seems to bother them less than the heat/humidity, like AnnaB mentioned. Good luck, trust your instincts and have fun!
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ChicChick
True Blue Farmgirl
64 Posts
Joy
64 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2008 : 5:22:40 PM
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Thanks for the info, ladies. I can't WAIT for them to get here (though it won't be for awhile, there is a foot of snow on the ground and the coop is only built in my mind so far!)
Thanks again,
-Joy
Vist my shop at: http://chicchickbiz.etsy.com and my blog at www.chicchickbiz.blogspot.com |
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PlumCreekMama
True Blue Farmgirl
730 Posts
Heather
Iowa
USA
730 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2008 : 8:56:22 PM
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Cathy, I've had the same problem with my RIR. I like then, they're nice chickens and good layers, but their combs always get frostbitten. I have one rooster from the first time I got chickens and that's how I know him-he's missing the top half of his comb. It got frostbitten, turned black, and fell off.
Joy- I can't wait to get chicks this spring either! I wish we only had a foot of snow on the ground. It's more like 3 feet here- we actually have 8 foot drifts on our back fenceline, so it's going to be awhile for me too. Do you have an area for brooder purposes? They will need to feather out completely before you can let them outside. I usually go about 6 weeks. I used to do it in the garage, but I bought an old camper that was stripped out on the inside that I use for brooding chickens and ducks and for baby goats in bad weather. It works awesome! When I need it for brooding, I have my husband pull it into the backyard so they are close for me to take care of, plus I have him park right next to the electric pole because there are outlets and I don't have to run the brooder light cords very far. Then, when I'm done brooding, I have it pulled back behind the barn so it's close to use it for baby goats. Best $125 I ever spent!
http://plumcreekmama.blogspot.com/ |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Feb 29 2008 : 05:36:22 AM
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Yea, sadly, my two BB Red roosters suffered a bit of frost bite.
Hopefully we'll get out of the bitter stuff soon.
Kind of ironic how I needed warm hands to handle chicks yesterday and today, and it's freezing!! The brooder lamp sure feels good. I'd pass out too it feels so warm. |
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ChicChick
True Blue Farmgirl
64 Posts
Joy
64 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2008 : 04:05:13 AM
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Wow-neat idea for the camper. I had one too, a little pull behind that I ended up selling a couple years ago as we used it very rarely. Darn it! Sounds like a great brooder for you, Plum Mama! And yes, Annab, I'm with you on the bitter stuff-we set a record here in Vermont yesterday for cold temperatures!
Vist my shop at: http://chicchickbiz.etsy.com and my blog at www.chicchickbiz.blogspot.com |
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Barnyard Buddies: I'm getting chickens! (and I have a question) |
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I'm getting chickens! (and I have a question)
