The long days of summer have long since passed and even Halloween seems like ages ago. There is a mid-November snow on the ground, and it was a shock to my spring chickens! They didn't know what to think, didn't want to venture out of the coop. Can you blame them? Hopefully they will eventually take some strolls out into the fresh air. Their coop gate is open during the day, but not many decide to stray out of the run. Free ranging just isn't as fun anymore.
In other news we lost one of our girls a couple weeks ago. It was before the temp dropped below freezing so I'm pretty sure it wasn't the temperature, still, that is little comfort since I don't know what else it could have been. There was no sign of any accident or harm from a predator. There were no outward signs of ill health, she just crawled under the coop and went to sleep. Even her eyes were closed. It was a sad day, but I take comfort in knowing that her life consisted of a summer full of free ranging in the back yard with her sisters, and she never had to suffer the burden of a long harsh winter.
Going forward with my flock, I serve them one warm meal right before bed. They just love oatmeal, and I like to put some protein in with it, whether it be a couple eggs, or leftovers of some kind. They get excited about it, and it gets them out of the way while I clean up the coop and collect the eggs.
I have devised a system for keeping the hen house dry and so far so good. I have read that the humidity caused by the fecal matter can cause them to get frost bite. The coop it'self is two stories. The lower half is where the food, water and brooding boxes are. We have hay down there which is changed weekly. Most of the time they spend in the coop is spent on the second story "bedroom" where they like to sleep. I have lined that with newspaper that I change out daily. This keeps the moisture down, and keeps them clean. (newspaper is a bad idea for baby chicks as it can cause spraddle leg, but for the full grown chickens, it's no danger.) We are also partially heating the coop with a brooding lamp that only kicks on when it drops below 35 degrees, and turns off at 45 degrees. We have a plastic heated waterer that keeps the water from freezing. Even with all of the precautions, I worry about them out there, especially since losing one. I know it's silly to get attached to livestock, but it's hard not to when they are hand raised.
One hen has gone broody. She lays upstairs all day, it worries me a bit. I deliver a little food for her now and then. I hope she snaps out of it. If it were spring or summer I would be tempted to find her a fertilized egg to hatch, but with winter setting in the chick would surely die, so I will just pray for the best and wait it out.
I think as much as I love the four seasons, it will be nice for us all when we can one again watch our hens hunt the yard for that elusive earthworm or that tasty fresh clover.
In other news we lost one of our girls a couple weeks ago. It was before the temp dropped below freezing so I'm pretty sure it wasn't the temperature, still, that is little comfort since I don't know what else it could have been. There was no sign of any accident or harm from a predator. There were no outward signs of ill health, she just crawled under the coop and went to sleep. Even her eyes were closed. It was a sad day, but I take comfort in knowing that her life consisted of a summer full of free ranging in the back yard with her sisters, and she never had to suffer the burden of a long harsh winter.
Going forward with my flock, I serve them one warm meal right before bed. They just love oatmeal, and I like to put some protein in with it, whether it be a couple eggs, or leftovers of some kind. They get excited about it, and it gets them out of the way while I clean up the coop and collect the eggs.
I have devised a system for keeping the hen house dry and so far so good. I have read that the humidity caused by the fecal matter can cause them to get frost bite. The coop it'self is two stories. The lower half is where the food, water and brooding boxes are. We have hay down there which is changed weekly. Most of the time they spend in the coop is spent on the second story "bedroom" where they like to sleep. I have lined that with newspaper that I change out daily. This keeps the moisture down, and keeps them clean. (newspaper is a bad idea for baby chicks as it can cause spraddle leg, but for the full grown chickens, it's no danger.) We are also partially heating the coop with a brooding lamp that only kicks on when it drops below 35 degrees, and turns off at 45 degrees. We have a plastic heated waterer that keeps the water from freezing. Even with all of the precautions, I worry about them out there, especially since losing one. I know it's silly to get attached to livestock, but it's hard not to when they are hand raised.
One hen has gone broody. She lays upstairs all day, it worries me a bit. I deliver a little food for her now and then. I hope she snaps out of it. If it were spring or summer I would be tempted to find her a fertilized egg to hatch, but with winter setting in the chick would surely die, so I will just pray for the best and wait it out.
I think as much as I love the four seasons, it will be nice for us all when we can one again watch our hens hunt the yard for that elusive earthworm or that tasty fresh clover.