Thank you for including entertainment for the chickens. So many folks don't realize how smart chickens are. They really do enjoy toys and all the perches that you showed.
im in northern Maine. ive had leghorns here for years and they survived -40 3x's last winter with no heat or insulation in the coop with no harm. i supplement with manna pro and cracked corn during the winter. as long as they are dry and protected from wind they will be fine.
Add natural cider vinegar to their water..the acidity first counteracts hard water, and then it keeps their digestive system in good pH for good probiotic health in their gut and may prevent a good environment for worms. 1-2 tablespoons per gallon, bit more for very hard water.
Thank you for all the winter info. First time chicken owner here in NJ and was stressing because it’s getting colder. Your video helped. I agree with you about giving them a egg laying break in the winter. They definitely deserve it. Thanks again for the great info.
NJ here, I've had my chickens for a couple of years. I just put in their run, leaves to create a 2-4 in bedding. In their coop I lay down fresh bedding building it up so that there is a layer of insulation as it gets colder. They never have a huge build up if poop, because I just put another layer of bedding. Has worked well.
It also depends on the breed. Silkies cannot tolerate cold like regular chickens. After two winters of losing silkies to cold or pneumonia without heat, I started putting a heat lamp in and didn’t lose anymore. Never had sick chickens because of using heat. It just takes the chill out. Since my silkie and non-silkie birds are together I put a heat lamp in my coop during winter. I’ve had chickens for 20 years. If you’re careful about how to hang your lamp, you won’t have a fire danger.
I put heat lamps in mine when it got down to 19 degrees. They heat lamps kept it about 40 in the coop. They did fine. They do get cold because they go get in my green house on cold days.
They sell one that shuts off if it gets bumped. It has halogen bulb. Keep the lamp free from dust. And hang with something safe so it can't fall or ignite anything.
It matters not that you had chickens for 20 years. I don't know how long you have used a heat lamp, but you are just tickling the dragon's tail. If you must use heat, use infrared screen or one of those pads (like the rubber ones used to warm the feet) or mount a chicken heat panel on a wall of the coop and use a cube with it, - set to go on when the temp goes below 35. There have been untold fires from using a heat lamp. Don't do it!
That video contains wonderful tips! I’ve only got 6 mos experience with my chickens. They’ve been doing a great job at training me….the girls walk up into my deck in the late afternoon and knock on my door. Mealworm time! 🐓🐓🐓 I’ve got heavy tree and shrub plantings for hiding spots. Always happy to hear the crows around me although we have some hawk pressure too. I’ve got sandy soil, so the girls love to dig out lil sand bath areas and usually pile in there 2-4 birds at a time. Chickens are amusing - I was NOT prepared for that aspect 😜
I’ve had crows come to my house to tell me a predator was stocking my coop! I can not let them roam due to bobcats and hawks that hunt during the day:(
@@toneenorman2135 that’s impressive - tuning in to the crows! They are not always around my home, tho I am grateful to hear that “caw” rather frequently. No bobcats here. Just wandering housecsts….ugh.
@@joannc147 LOL! Thanks..I’m bewildered by the change in numbers last 3-4 years.. We used to have huge “ Murders “ of crows. Dozens and dozens. That’s what a bunch of crows is called..Anyway, 2 or 4 birds,maybe less, this year…where’d they go?🤷♀️
Raised them as you know in Nokesville VA and had over twenty five of them as a kid. They lived in a man made coop, that was 8 x 8 foot that I made when I was 13 years old, they loved it and did well in the cold weather.
You don’t need to currently live in a cold climate to have the correct knowledge on the subject. My dad grew up in extreme cold climate and has been raising chickens over 60 years. I have other family currently living in extreme cold, and friends. Just because I don’t choose to live in that climate, doesn’t mean I can’t help others.
My dad and his parents didn't have electricity and back then had a dairy farm. They also had chickens. They wood put peppers in their water and it would keep them warm in the cold wintery months here in Missouri. I liked your video and I am subscribed now. Thank you. Take care everyone. 😊🐓🐣🐥🐔🐾
Mostly agree - especially about being careful regarding heat lamps and fire in the coop. However, we literally went from summer to winter in a week's time this year from 72 degrees F to freezing. The massive change in such a short period triggered a crazy molt in most of my birds. It is FREEZING at night and they are mostly without their feathers! We try to bolster them with sunflower seed snacks at night for the fats (energy) and protein (feather production.) The only ones still laying (two birds) have not yet molted. Yes, they get closer to each other and fluff up what little feathers are left. In the meantime we've carefully secured a heat lamp in the coop away from flammables and anything that could injure our birds and have it on during the night to take the edge off the cold. They are (thankfully) getting their feathers back. Poor things look like big 'ol pincushions with all those pinfeathers going on!
Your spot on young lady 👍 @62 it's great to see the younger generation with the correct knowledge Something my mom used to do was put " bag balm" ( your local farm store or feed center should have it) on their feet, waddles and combs to help prevent frost bite. You can also feed table scraps as treats ... and contrary to popular belief...chickens are carnivores..in my area we have copperhead snakes and I've seen my ladies take them down as well as other small critters
Excellent job. The flat perch, the combs (cold weather breeds), the feet are all things I had not heard before and I have been watching chicken videos for a few months now. Thank you and Thanks to your mom for nudging you to make this video. I am still going ahead with building an insulated coup in Maine but you confirmed my thought that I need to have good ventilation. I am going to increase the amount of ventilation I provide. A friend plans on putting a brooder lamp in her coup. I will make sure she sees this video.
Yes, chickens would rather roost on a fence or a branch in freezing weather than be "cooped up" in a tight coop with no air ventilation! That will make them sick!
You’ve provided a lot of great information here. Thanks so much! Our Leghorns are molting - a first for us. No eggs for weeks now, and bare chickens in very cold weather. You’ve calmed me so much. Also re winter desperate predators. We’ve got them and yes it’s wintertime when they try especially hard. Poor things, too, but so far so good. We only have a few girls. No rooster yet. 5 in all, plenty for 2 humans. They’re very sweet and so sociable and come running when they see us, they don’t hurt each other, but I’m trying the piñata deal and other entertainments for them. Again, Thank you! 👍😍🐓
I was questioning how to keep chickens in London and you just answered that. Chickens have been livimg outdoors for centuries. Great vid saw you on the fb.
Thank you so much for sharing all of this great info! I’m a first time chicken owner, have 3 ISA Browns and love them to pieces! I live in Georgia, was in the 30’s last week and I was stressing lol.. my girls are in a small coop temporarily until we can build a bigger one. Your video put my mind at ease, I was so worried they’d be too cold. Looking forward to checking out more vids! Thanks again!!
we’re in Nebraska zone 5. We’ve had rhode island reds, Buff orpingtons, barred rocks, and currently have easter eggers, olive eggers, French black copper marans and welsummers. Haven’t had issues in 14 years except year # 1 when we DID use heat and our buff orpington rooster got frost bite on the tips of his comb. So haven’t used heat since
@@everydaysurvival157 lots of people in Alaska have chickens with zero heat. Ventilation. is the absolute most important- ABOVE their heads so there are no drafts. Where in Nebraska are you? 😀 We’re in Bellevue.
Also, if anyone is thinking about using wood ash, just make sure it's never been wet with rain or anything. When it gets wet it makes it caustic and will burn their skin. This was very informative though. I learned a few things I didn't know. Thank you
This is such great information! There are so many opinions about what’s best for them during the winter months it can be very confusing. But I love your taking it back to the old days approach and I agree 100% Especially in regards to letting them enjoy their own winter solstice! 🛌❄️⛄️🙏🏼
Thank you! I always like to lean towards the natural side of things =] I know we all love to spoil our babies, but its easy for people to lose focus and sacrifice their safety with heat lamps. So glad you enjoyed the video!
Great video. I'm in Northeaster Pa. Winters are pretty tough. My chickens have no problem. I never use supplemental heat. I even have the breeds you mentioned to avoid. No problems. Like you said acclimation is the key. Cracked corn in winter and a good sealed up coop for them to go in at night. I meet people who loose birds in winter. Then I see there coops....bunch of chicken wire and perches. No protection from the weather. That just won't work here. Must have a enclosed coop with a door that you shut at night. Fresh warm water in morning.
New subscriber here! Great video! I just learned more in your video about how to take care of chickens than all others combined I have watched.Thank you!
Thanks for this. Reassured me a little. I’m in Arkansas now (was in central California until last year) and we got three snows! Then we got chickens 😂❤ we will see what this first winter brings.
My chicken is going through a hard molt right now, (started losing feather 3 days ago) Shes a Rhode Island Red and has been through one winter already and did fine except very mild frostbite that I know how to treat now, she’s going bald already on her chest, back, under her wings and her tail and wing feathers. I live in Illinois so it’s pretty cold here, the other chickens I have are an Easter egger, blue laced red Wyandotte and midnight majesty maran. I was thinking about putting a light in the run considering she will go bald, should I bring her inside in a cage or? I just feel like it will be to cold for her without anything. I am also going to put up a tarp on both sides of the run to limit the wind, I don’t know really what to do considering I’m 12 me and my mom and dad didn’t consider she would go through a hard molt this late in winter. It would mean a lot if you could respond I need help!!
Heating a coop isn't always a no no. There's dozens of Utube videos on chicken coop winterizing. Always take into consideration the climate and location. If winter temperatures dip into single digits or below °0 like the Upper Peninsula of Michigan frost bite is a real problem even for hardy winter breeds of chickens. Proper ventilation and coop build is critical. As long as the heat is managed properly and air quality is a priority it works fine.
Most informative and in-depth video on chickens I've ever seen! Going to retire in 2 years and have off grid house and animals; this information will definitely come in handy! I really like the way I saw the chickens, ducks, and horse all living together.
Kelly has my utmost respect. I am 99.9 with her all the way except the sand part. If you can provide some heat (I said some heat) during the cold they will be happy for it, but you MUST have good ventilation, don't keep the waterer in the coop, & provide roost bars so the feet sit flat, - totally agree for the reasons she states - and yes there are some chickens like the featherered feet and especially the silkies/frizzles who need some heat. I like to use the infra-red heat panels and/or in a large coop supplement with a heat panel with a cube that comes on automatically when the temp goes below 35. If you are in a winter area to prevent the water from freezing, there are really good waterers (if you have an elec. source) to keep the water from freezing; otherwise, you will have to get up with the chickens no matter the weather and make sure they have fresh tepid water. The sand straw debate may be ongoing here. I like straw. It is a good insulator. I use stall mats with Stall Dry sprinkled on the mats and THEN straw to keep things clean and dry. Sand? No. Ground-up quartz with dust in it - not good for you or your bird's respiratory system. Sand can freeze solid in winter, cook the chickens' feet in summer, and has no good insulation properties. That said, I wish all people took care of their birds like this gal does. She is a gem and a wealth of solid information. I do everything she does except the sand part. I do not feel sorry for humans that lose their chickens to predators. It show they are ignorant and careless, (most often they never learn), and they have no empathy for living creatures, so they get no pass from me. Be diligent, and these are great pets to have. Name them, don't eat them, and give them a break from egg laying during winter.
Thank you for your advice. I will keep it in mind. You, too, are a gem. I, like you, will not eat my hens when they stop laying. That's no way to thank them for all the eggs they've given me.
I agree! Worried about your chickens? Look out the window. See the sparrows, finches, jays, cardinals, woodpeckers? All those little birds are just fine out in the snow, and so are your chickens.
So glad I found your channel. Looking forward to digging into it! This video addresses my two concerns this time of year, them being cold and possible fire. Thank you!
what a wealth of information all in one vid. Also I liked the slanted shelf to keep the chickens from pooping on top of the nest box, oh and the curtains were cute privacy curtains!😀
I live in Missouri where it gets both hot and cold, so I have taken this into consideration with the breeds I have chosen. Wyandottes work very well in this area, although they don't enjoy the extreme heat. They like to stay near the ice block when it's over 90 degrees, but they are excellent in winter. Black Australorps and Plymouth Rocks also do well in both hot and cold as do production types. Easter Eggers and Ameraucanas have small combs, so they do well in winter, but they don't enjoy the heat quite as much. Marans and other feather legs also tend to do well in cold temps. I don't have any Leghorns or chickens that lay white eggs, so I'm thinking about getting a rose comb Brown Leghorn next Spring.
I live in Missouri as well. This will be my first winter with a flock. Dont have a fully sheltered coop and am trying to figure out with to do. I'm thinking square bales will be my answer
@@joedirtrulz8 Most chickens tend to do fairly well in the cold -- much better in the cold than the heat. You'll wanna watch out for any that have large combs and wattles because they can get frostbite on those. They really need somewhere safe and secure with a little bit of insulation and warmth at night. I've never tried hay bales, so I'm not sure how well they will work. The chickens should be fine when it's above freezing. It's those below freezing days that can be more challenging for the breeds with larger combs and wattles.
@@cookingsherry8784 I appreciate the advice. I'm thinking of using the square bales as a windblock mostly. I have two lavender Orpingtons and two rhoad island reds, plus turkeys and guineas. Definitely had some issues with the heat waves this year but all made it through except one young turkey
@@joedirtrulz8 I think hey bales will make an excellent wind block. I'm not much for buying products from China when I can avoid it, but I did find a good deal recently for my new chicks on a cheap Chinese henhouse with small run at Ollie's discoynt store. These cheaply made things are way over priced at most stores. We were lucky to find a good deal at Orschlen's going out of business during the pandemonium. If you have an Ollie's near you, they have these small chicken coops for a $149, and you can usually get a coupon for signing up for their free loyalty club of anywhere from 10 to 20% off. Then to make the cheap coops better insulated, we put that silver insulation stuff stapled on the inside and keep some ventilation areas open up high. This has worked well for us in the winter if you have access to it. Best of luck, and happy chicken keeping. The Queen of Chickenlandia on RUclips has a lot of great cost saving chicken keeping ideas as well.
This will be my second winter trying to keep chickens. Last year raccoons slaughtered my entire flock except for one rooster and hen, and even those were taken by spring this year. I'm trying to be smarter about it this time around. For me the trick seems to be keeping the food far away from the coop. When I see the chicken's food being eaten overnight I set a trap. This year I have caught four raccoons and two opossums, and only lost one chicken to a predator. I have one red-shouldered Yokahama rooster and hen, and one Golden Phoenix rooster and five Phoenix hens going into this winter. I really enjoyed your video - you gave some great advice! I plan to stuff my little coop with plenty of straw like last year, and cover the sides with blue foam insulation. Here in Missouri, we will get several days in a row of bitter cold where the chickens need to stay inside, then a few days where I can let them venture out, a repeating cycle until spring. I will need to get a heated waterer this year, and I like your idea of hanging a head of lettuce on a string for something they can pick at during the day. You really do have a great setup for keeping chickens year round, but I'll do the best I can this winter and hopefully can have a few hens to hatch some eggs in the spring to have some little ones running around!
Hemp bedding using the deep litter method is the best bedding you could use, especially during winter. It provides insulation thru the floor, absorbs moisture well, dries quickly, less work for the chicken keeper, composts well and quickly, does not provude a habitat for sand fleas, and doesn't provide a hollow space for mites to lay eggs like straw does.
We use hemp shavings in our deep litter method in our hen houses. We love it. Zero dust and odorless. Lasts forever and absorbs all the moisture. Our favorite bedding for sure
This is just about best video ever on chickens! I mean... sand? More like cat litter. Easy to scoop daily! Will be moving to Pennsylvania and have been wondering "what about the snowy winters!" Been building my beautiful chicken abode in my dreams for decades. This us going to be so useful - so many ideas... love your decor. And ways to keep them from danger and boredom. Swing - pinata- places to hide? Priceless. Thanks a bunch, Cutie. 🧡
A chicken rancher told me he uses 18" of straw throughout the entire floor. It drains well, generates heat as it decomposes and only needs to be replenished once a year. Food for thought...
Oh yes that is called the deep litter method, I have used it with straw before but now we use hemp shavings. We have been really loving our results with hemp shavings it seems to be a game changer, more absorbing, odor neutralizing and very low dust. It stays very dry as well
Thank you for your informative and enjoyable video! This is my first time raising chickens. I got them late in the season, so that they are not yet laying. Was wondering about using the heating device (looks like a small tv with little legs) as we have some low 30’s temperatures coming up. So thanks for your advice, think I’ll let them grow feathers! ❤
Thank you! As a newbie, I’m learning a lot! Especially about air predators. As I’ve watched the girls free- ranging, I notice the blue jays’ squawk more when the hawks care in the area. Eagles are quieter hunters but don’t seem as interested. We have a few young hawks this year. Crows squawk a bit, too. I understand that we need to entice the crows to stick around more but don’t know what kinds of scraps they like. No one talks about pullets and molting. My chicks arrived in June and aren’t quite adult, yet. Only one has molted and just a little. At first, I thought she might have mites or lice because it was just her back end. Nope. Then, I watched to see if she was being pecked at. Nope. Turns out, she is just molting a tiny bit. Supplementing and her feathers are regrowing quickly.
@@bethcochran1104 Thank you!!! Do you spread it anywhere specific? All over? We have wolves and coyotes. Just saw a big grey wolf yesterday. He doesn’t bother the chickens at all but they’re near the house.
Informative, great video. I only watched one other on this issue and the guy said they don't like winter winds sl plastic up as a windbreak and the light still gets through.
Thanks for watching! We hope these tips help 😊 that’s a good idea as they do not like drafts and winds but it’s still good idea to make sure there is enough ventilation for the moisture to escape. Just not where the winds and drafts can hit them so they are not exposed to that to bother them where they are roosting and sleeping at night
Great info we just started raising chickens last spring and I was lost on how to care for them in the winter we live in Eastern Kentucky so the winters are for the most part very mild but we can get some very cold snaps so now I’m ready thanks so much
Wow you have no idea how much you’ve put my mind at rest. You’re analogy of back in the day actually opened my eyes once & for all. We do get extremely cold weather during winter here in New England as cold as 4-10 below and that is when I’ve put a chicken heating device on in the coupe. I supplement in the winter with crickets & sardines, oatmeal & additional chicken or other forms of meat. I’ve found using a deep litter method has worked best for my coupe especially in the winter to insulate the floor. Thank you for the great advice
I live in an area where the temperature drops close to 0 degrees F. My waterers are 5 gallon buckets, and I put a cheap aquarium heater in each bucket. The water stays well above freezing all winter long. You'll need electricity in your coop, but these work really well.
Great video! I have banties and live in Maine. Even at 40 below they do fine. I've known too many folks who've lost their flock because they had a heat lamp that caught fire.
Awesome video. Delivered good info with a flow (no umms ) making it easier to watch. It’s been 4 years since I’ve had chickens & thinking about getting a couple of hens. I miss the eggs & joy of having chickens. I call it “Feather Therapy”.
Appreciate chickens more now. Cool info. Looks like the are handled with love and care love seeing the kindness of people's hearts in the littlest of things. Great. Crazy didnt really expect a chicken topic to be thought provoking.
Very true about the cold weather. I'm in north eastern Montana, have a 12x20 coop, with a 40x40 attached run. People door to the run that has never been closed. No supplemental heat in the winter, or light. The ladies Slow down laying in the winter, but dosen't bother me
Love the info! Not about the sand though. One of the main advantages for me of having chickens is creating mulch and compost for the garden. I love my girls and their guy Sketchy.
After 30 years i still dream about how to create a better chicken coup. It depends on the breed, but loss of body parts in -30 degrees was a problem. Not only did they mostly stop laying and loose body parts, but their water chronically froze, as did any eggs they still laid. Straw provided warmth and entertainment, granted, coup cleaning in the spring was hellish. Our chickens wanted no part of the out of doors in the winter, the coup was warmer than being out doors, because their own heat helped warm the coup. Not a lot, but some. They survived, but those winters could be tough, even for us humans. I still miss my chickens, though.
great tutorial..i did not know about the ravens...im upstate NY and feed my local wild birds...bluejays,,chickadees, ravens..etc...i live on a river which attracts wild canadian geese by the hundreds in my back yard...very informative video..good job
You know what’s best for your flock ❤️🐔 at least you are using a safe heat source. It’s so sad seeing the posts of coops burning down every year from heat lamps. Some people lose their homes too :( a tragedy
@@BockBockBouquet Yeah I hate the idea of heat lamps. Im going to try a the LumiCoop lighting system in my coop because the winter is just sooo long without eggs up here. Seems like a pretty cool system. Can still program it to give them a short break in the middle of winter
Chickens need shelter, protection from predators and freedom from wind, but heaters they do not need. Mine are amberlinks, lay an egg every day, and I'm in New Hampshire USA. They don't mind the cold at all. Every dawn they pop out of the coop and can't wait to get busy foraging. I put out hay on snow, because snow seems to confuse them... but they don't mind it. I use hay inside and out of the coop. It does get old, then I roll it up and replace it. I like hay, they eat it and scratch through it. It keeps their feet off the snow, and it lines the base of the coop, but you do have to be aware of the moisture, I agree. A substrate for birds must be dry. I have equines too, so I just let the chickens tear up their own hay slice every day. Great video!
Thank you! The hay is a perfect healthy treat for them and what a great multi purpose as boredom buster and incentive to tread the snow. Ours love our horse’s alfalfa as well
Thanks! 😃 My son had to finish college at home in 2020. He hatched a ton of chickens then moved out. 😂 I had forgotten the daylight effect on eggs. Like you, I’m giving them a break. Also wouldn’t have thought of sand. Thanks again! 👍😃
Good morning Bock Bock Bouquet. What can I say? These videos just keep getting better and better - with superb content and superlative production values. But of course that's to be expected from a strong self sufficient offgrid woman such as yourself. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful Thursday. My favorite method of maintaining a sustainable pantry and stockpiling items long term for the whole family and the family dog and the family cat is what I consider to be the most practical, utilizing every technology old and new. . Except for the fruits and vegetables that get canned, I keep perishable items like meat, poultry, fish, fruit, vegetables and dairy products in the refrigerator on a short term basis until I'm ready to use them for a big family meal - and for even longer term sustainable storage, a large separate freezer, which can store a half side of beef with plenty of room left over for homemade ice cream etc. . I'm considering upgrading to a walk-in freezer at some point.in the near future, if my plans to open a bed and breakfast come to fruition. Sometimes, however a nice round of cheese can do well for quite awhile on a pantry shelf at room temperature - and doesn't mind even if it has to stand there alone. Store bought canned goods get shelves.in the large pantry closet - several for canned meat like corned beef hash, spam and sandwich spread and another for canned vegetables Bread, rolls, grains, homemade pasta, cereals and the like are stored in special humidity controlled bins I order from Amazon Prime - which usually get delivered to my doorstep about an hour after I order them. . Stuff from the family garden and orchard, like onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, cauliflower, cucumber, pumpkins, carrots, corn celery,, potatoes and yams, cherries, blueberries and strawberries get canned in Mason Jars and stored in the cool, root cellar of this wonderful rambling former farmhouse (circa 1867) I share with my extended blended family and several rambunctious dogs raised on table scraps from the some of the finest food from a plethora of sources both commercial and home based. . There's even a special separate "summer kitchen" which I converted to store butter and ice cream churns, pots, pans, utensils, extra storage containers, foil, bags, cutlery, and other meal related accoutrement. Out back in the woods, just beyond the big pile of wood I maintain all year, (for use in an antique woodstove I keep on hand, in case the power goes out) there's even an old rusting vintage still where my great grandfather made some of the finest corn whiskey for miles. Next to it is the rusting hulk of the Ford Model A he used to transport that powerful hootch by the light of the moon on soft summer nights to his eager customers in a tri-county area. Further into this verdant forest of mostly sycamore, oak, pine and scrub, runs a cool stream into which I occasionally cast a rod or net to catch some Brook Trout, Bluntnose Shiners, or whatever takes the bait (just earthworms for the most part). And yes, hunting season means wild turkey, deer, and even an occasional wild boar. Next week, I'm planning on filing for a permit to 3-D print a smokehouse in order to be able to create gourmet artisan handcrafted, beef, bacon, turkey, and beef stick jerky, which interested local merchants can private label for other people to share with their families and their family dogs. Unfortunately, I had to break the bad news to my free range hens today that due to expected egg shortages regretfully numbered are their days of laying a couple of eggs and then basically taking the rest of the day off with ranging privileges' within the parameters of a few very nice rural acres - parts of which are rich with fat grubworms. There's even a short dirt road between the main barn and the farmhouse which they're free to cross to get to the other side as often as they'd like. My rooster Ben overheard me and he ain't too happy either, knowing full well that due to oncoming egg shortages, he'll be "workin' overtime to make sure there's plenty of eggs for me and the homestead
Even though i understand english pretty well, i couldn't understand or remember anything you said in this entire video, I am sure all the information provided was accurate and helpful, there was only one problem in the video, you are so beautiful, so gorgeous, so elegant, so charismatic, that i watched this video 10 times, but still i cannot understand or remember anything except you....
Thank you for including entertainment for the chickens. So many folks don't realize how smart chickens are. They really do enjoy toys and all the perches that you showed.
im in northern Maine. ive had leghorns here for years and they survived -40 3x's last winter with no heat or insulation in the coop with no harm. i supplement with manna pro and cracked corn during the winter. as long as they are dry and protected from wind they will be fine.
Thanks for sharing your experiences 😊😊
We have -40 right now and our poor girls are having frost bite on their combs. So sad.
Add natural cider vinegar to their water..the acidity first counteracts hard water, and then it keeps their digestive system in good pH for good probiotic health in their gut and may prevent a good environment for worms. 1-2 tablespoons per gallon, bit more for very hard water.
We try to do this every Sunday, keeps the waters clean & great preventative idea! Sometimes we'll add garlic to the water as well.
not always
Will Apple cider vinegar help as well?
if I have a PVC pipe with drinking nipples, would this clog the system?
Meoe
Thank you for all the winter info. First time chicken owner here in NJ and was stressing because it’s getting colder. Your video helped. I agree with you about giving them a egg laying break in the winter. They definitely deserve it. Thanks again for the great info.
Our pleasure!
NJ here too… We’ve had chickens here for 20 yrs… and they thrive..
NJ here, I've had my chickens for a couple of years. I just put in their run, leaves to create a 2-4 in bedding. In their coop I lay down fresh bedding building it up so that there is a layer of insulation as it gets colder. They never have a huge build up if poop, because I just put another layer of bedding. Has worked well.
A regular hen only has about 500 permanent eggs in their ovaries just like human females.
It also depends on the breed. Silkies cannot tolerate cold like regular chickens. After two winters of losing silkies to cold or pneumonia without heat, I started putting a heat lamp in and didn’t lose anymore. Never had sick chickens because of using heat. It just takes the chill out. Since my silkie and non-silkie birds are together I put a heat lamp in my coop during winter. I’ve had chickens for 20 years. If you’re careful about how to hang your lamp, you won’t have a fire danger.
I put heat lamps in mine when it got down to 19 degrees. They heat lamps kept it about 40 in the coop. They did fine. They do get cold because they go get in my green house on cold days.
They sell one that shuts off if it gets bumped. It has halogen bulb. Keep the lamp free from dust. And hang with something safe so it can't fall or ignite anything.
It matters not that you had chickens for 20 years. I don't know how long you have used a heat lamp, but you are just tickling the dragon's tail. If you must use heat, use infrared screen or one of those pads (like the rubber ones used to warm the feet) or mount a chicken heat panel on a wall of the coop and use a cube with it, - set to go on when the temp goes below 35. There have been untold fires from using a heat lamp. Don't do it!
@@debbino4249 I’ve been using heat lamps for 20 years. Never had a problem. I will continue to use them. You do you ok?
@@joycenesselhauf1220 willful ignorance is bliss right?
That video contains wonderful tips! I’ve only got 6 mos experience with my chickens. They’ve been doing a great job at training me….the girls walk up into my deck in the late afternoon and knock on my door. Mealworm time! 🐓🐓🐓 I’ve got heavy tree and shrub plantings for hiding spots. Always happy to hear the crows around me although we have some hawk pressure too. I’ve got sandy soil, so the girls love to dig out lil sand bath areas and usually pile in there 2-4 birds at a time. Chickens are amusing - I was NOT prepared for that aspect 😜
I’ve had crows come to my house to tell me a predator was stocking my coop! I can not let them roam due to bobcats and hawks that hunt during the day:(
They are so silly and fun aren’t they! They always put big smiles on our faces. Thanks for sharing
@@toneenorman2135 that’s impressive - tuning in to the crows! They are not always around my home, tho I am grateful to hear that “caw” rather frequently. No bobcats here. Just wandering housecsts….ugh.
@@joannc147 LOL! Thanks..I’m bewildered by the change in numbers last 3-4 years.. We used to have huge “ Murders “ of crows. Dozens and dozens. That’s what a bunch of crows is called..Anyway, 2 or 4 birds,maybe less, this year…where’d they go?🤷♀️
Raised them as you know in Nokesville VA and had over twenty five of them as a kid. They lived in a man made coop, that was 8 x 8 foot that I made when I was 13 years old, they loved it and did well in the cold weather.
Would have loved to see them!
Hahaha perfect. A video about cold prep for chickens from a person WHO LIVES IN A PLACE THAT DOES NOT GET COLD. ADORABLE
You don’t need to currently live in a cold climate to have the correct knowledge on the subject. My dad grew up in extreme cold climate and has been raising chickens over 60 years. I have other family currently living in extreme cold, and friends. Just because I don’t choose to live in that climate, doesn’t mean I can’t help others.
My dad and his parents didn't have electricity and back then had a dairy farm. They also had chickens. They wood put peppers in their water and it would keep them warm in the cold wintery months here in Missouri. I liked your video and I am subscribed now. Thank you. Take care everyone. 😊🐓🐣🐥🐔🐾
Thank you so much! My dad grew up on a farm in Missouri as well
Mostly agree - especially about being careful regarding heat lamps and fire in the coop. However, we literally went from summer to winter in a week's time this year from 72 degrees F to freezing. The massive change in such a short period triggered a crazy molt in most of my birds. It is FREEZING at night and they are mostly without their feathers! We try to bolster them with sunflower seed snacks at night for the fats (energy) and protein (feather production.) The only ones still laying (two birds) have not yet molted. Yes, they get closer to each other and fluff up what little feathers are left. In the meantime we've carefully secured a heat lamp in the coop away from flammables and anything that could injure our birds and have it on during the night to take the edge off the cold. They are (thankfully) getting their feathers back. Poor things look like big 'ol pincushions with all those pinfeathers going on!
its weird how they do that! wtf its cold! I use a metal wall mounted space heater..
Your spot on young lady 👍
@62 it's great to see the younger generation with the correct knowledge
Something my mom used to do was put " bag balm" ( your local farm store or feed center should have it) on their feet, waddles and combs to help prevent frost bite. You can also feed table scraps as treats ... and contrary to popular belief...chickens are carnivores..in my area we have copperhead snakes and I've seen my ladies take them down as well as other small critters
Great tips thank you 😊
I cook for my chickens.. lol ..they love oatmeal, cornbread, and fruit.
Excellent job. The flat perch, the combs (cold weather breeds), the feet are all things I had not heard before and I have been watching chicken videos for a few months now. Thank you and Thanks to your mom for nudging you to make this video. I am still going ahead with building an insulated coup in Maine but you confirmed my thought that I need to have good ventilation. I am going to increase the amount of ventilation I provide. A friend plans on putting a brooder lamp in her coup. I will make sure she sees this video.
Yes, chickens would rather roost on a fence or a branch in freezing weather than be "cooped up" in a tight coop with no air ventilation! That will make them sick!
Glad we could be of help! 😊😊
You’ve provided a lot of great information here. Thanks so much! Our Leghorns are molting - a first for us. No eggs for weeks now, and bare chickens in very cold weather.
You’ve calmed me so much. Also re winter desperate predators. We’ve got them and yes it’s wintertime when they try especially hard. Poor things, too, but so far so good. We only have a few girls. No rooster yet. 5 in all, plenty for 2 humans. They’re very sweet and so sociable and come running when they see us, they don’t hurt each other, but I’m trying the piñata deal and other entertainments for them. Again,
Thank you! 👍😍🐓
I was questioning how to keep chickens in London and you just answered that. Chickens have been livimg outdoors for centuries. Great vid saw you on the fb.
Glad we could help! Greetings all the way from California! thanks for watching =]
Thank you so much for sharing all of this great info! I’m a first time chicken owner, have 3 ISA Browns and love them to pieces! I live in Georgia, was in the 30’s last week and I was stressing lol.. my girls are in a small coop temporarily until we can build a bigger one. Your video put my mind at ease, I was so worried they’d be too cold. Looking forward to checking out more vids! Thanks again!!
we’re in Nebraska zone 5. We’ve had rhode island reds, Buff orpingtons, barred rocks, and currently have easter eggers, olive eggers, French black copper marans and welsummers. Haven’t had issues in 14 years except year # 1 when we DID use heat and our buff orpington rooster got frost bite on the tips of his comb. So haven’t used heat since
The heat could have added more moisture and condensation in the coop possible. Hard to know or say. Glad things are going well now!
@@everydaysurvival157 lots of people in Alaska have chickens with zero heat. Ventilation. is the absolute most important- ABOVE their heads so there are no drafts. Where in Nebraska are you? 😀 We’re in Bellevue.
Great advice! My first year with chickens. I love them and learning so much.
Very cool! They are so fun
Also, if anyone is thinking about using wood ash, just make sure it's never been wet with rain or anything. When it gets wet it makes it caustic and will burn their skin. This was very informative though. I learned a few things I didn't know. Thank you
What a welldone video! So glad the President of Chickenlandia recommended you.
Thank you! We love madam President
I live in Alberta where it can get -45c in the winter so I do supplement heat when extremely cold
Thank you for all the education. I started late in life with chickens and gardening. Love my girls and boys, so entertaining. Hugs from Bama. ❤❤❤
I love that your chickens are calm with you touching/petting them. ❤️
We try to hand tamed them when we raise the from baby chicks. Lots of love for our babies.
This is such great information! There are so many opinions about what’s best for them during the winter months it can be very confusing. But I love your taking it back to the old days approach and I agree 100% Especially in regards to letting them enjoy their own winter solstice! 🛌❄️⛄️🙏🏼
Thank you! I always like to lean towards the natural side of things =] I know we all love to spoil our babies, but its easy for people to lose focus and sacrifice their safety with heat lamps. So glad you enjoyed the video!
Great video. I'm in Northeaster Pa. Winters are pretty tough. My chickens have no problem. I never use supplemental heat. I even have the breeds you mentioned to avoid. No problems. Like you said acclimation is the key. Cracked corn in winter and a good sealed up coop for them to go in at night. I meet people who loose birds in winter. Then I see there coops....bunch of chicken wire and perches. No protection from the weather. That just won't work here. Must have a enclosed coop with a door that you shut at night. Fresh warm water in morning.
Thanks for your comments about not having heat in the coop. I had been doing that when it got below 25 deg.. I will no longer do that.
It may seem cold to us but the chickens don’t mind that temperature 😊
New subscriber here! Great video! I just learned more in your video about how to take care of chickens than all others combined I have watched.Thank you!
Awesome! Thank you!
Thanks for this. Reassured me a little. I’m in Arkansas now (was in central California until last year) and we got three snows! Then we got chickens 😂❤ we will see what this first winter brings.
400 times per minute!!! That's a lot of heart beats!!
chickens sure are amazing creatures!
I have watched a few videos on winterizing for chickens... and this is the best one yet. Thank you.
Great video!! Many highly valuable tips shared! I agree on not adding heat or light to the coop. Keep it natural 👍
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed, leaning towards natural is always best =]
My chicken is going through a hard molt right now, (started losing feather 3 days ago) Shes a Rhode Island Red and has been through one winter already and did fine except very mild frostbite that I know how to treat now, she’s going bald already on her chest, back, under her wings and her tail and wing feathers. I live in Illinois so it’s pretty cold here, the other chickens I have are an Easter egger, blue laced red Wyandotte and midnight majesty maran. I was thinking about putting a light in the run considering she will go bald, should I bring her inside in a cage or? I just feel like it will be to cold for her without anything. I am also going to put up a tarp on both sides of the run to limit the wind, I don’t know really what to do considering I’m 12 me and my mom and dad didn’t consider she would go through a hard molt this late in winter. It would mean a lot if you could respond I need help!!
Heating a coop isn't always a no no. There's dozens of Utube videos on chicken coop winterizing. Always take into consideration the climate and location. If winter temperatures dip into single digits or below °0 like the Upper Peninsula of Michigan frost bite is a real problem even for hardy winter breeds of chickens. Proper ventilation and coop build is critical. As long as the heat is managed properly and air quality is a priority it works fine.
@@delaneysmrz5176 I hope your chickens made it through that winter!
Most informative and in-depth video on chickens I've ever seen! Going to retire in 2 years and have off grid house and animals; this information will definitely come in handy! I really like the way I saw the chickens, ducks, and horse all living together.
Glad it was helpful! Best of luck! 😊
Kelly has my utmost respect. I am 99.9 with her all the way except the sand part. If you can provide some heat (I said some heat) during the cold they will be happy for it, but you MUST have good ventilation, don't keep the waterer in the coop, & provide roost bars so the feet sit flat, - totally agree for the reasons she states - and yes there are some chickens like the featherered feet and especially the silkies/frizzles who need some heat. I like to use the infra-red heat panels and/or in a large coop supplement with a heat panel with a cube that comes on automatically when the temp goes below 35. If you are in a winter area to prevent the water from freezing, there are really good waterers (if you have an elec. source) to keep the water from freezing; otherwise, you will have to get up with the chickens no matter the weather and make sure they have fresh tepid water. The sand straw debate may be ongoing here. I like straw. It is a good insulator. I use stall mats with Stall Dry sprinkled on the mats and THEN straw to keep things clean and dry. Sand? No. Ground-up quartz with dust in it - not good for you or your bird's respiratory system. Sand can freeze solid in winter, cook the chickens' feet in summer, and has no good insulation properties. That said, I wish all people took care of their birds like this gal does. She is a gem and a wealth of solid information. I do everything she does except the sand part. I do not feel sorry for humans that lose their chickens to predators. It show they are ignorant and careless, (most often they never learn), and they have no empathy for living creatures, so they get no pass from me. Be diligent, and these are great pets to have. Name them, don't eat them, and give them a break from egg laying during winter.
Thank you for your advice. I will keep it in mind. You, too, are a gem. I, like you, will not eat my hens when they stop laying. That's no way to thank them for all the eggs they've given me.
I agree! Worried about your chickens? Look out the window. See the sparrows, finches, jays, cardinals, woodpeckers? All those little birds are just fine out in the snow, and so are your chickens.
😊😊 very true
So glad I found your channel. Looking forward to digging into it! This video addresses my two concerns this time of year, them being cold and possible fire. Thank you!
Welcome to our channel & thanks for tuning in! ❤️ So glad this information could be of help to you it’s one of our top asked questions
This is honestly one of the best vides that I have found that explains what steps to take for the winter. Thank you so much for the information!!
😊😊❤️🐔
I've watched a lot of chicken videos ,this was one of the best. Well designed coop. Cant wait to watch more ty.
Awesome! Thanks so much for your kind words and tuning in!
what a wealth of information all in one vid. Also I liked the slanted shelf to keep the chickens from pooping on top of the nest box, oh and the curtains were cute privacy curtains!😀
I live in Missouri where it gets both hot and cold, so I have taken this into consideration with the breeds I have chosen. Wyandottes work very well in this area, although they don't enjoy the extreme heat. They like to stay near the ice block when it's over 90 degrees, but they are excellent in winter. Black Australorps and Plymouth Rocks also do well in both hot and cold as do production types. Easter Eggers and Ameraucanas have small combs, so they do well in winter, but they don't enjoy the heat quite as much. Marans and other feather legs also tend to do well in cold temps. I don't have any Leghorns or chickens that lay white eggs, so I'm thinking about getting a rose comb Brown Leghorn next Spring.
I live in Missouri as well. This will be my first winter with a flock. Dont have a fully sheltered coop and am trying to figure out with to do. I'm thinking square bales will be my answer
@@joedirtrulz8 Most chickens tend to do fairly well in the cold -- much better in the cold than the heat. You'll wanna watch out for any that have large combs and wattles because they can get frostbite on those. They really need somewhere safe and secure with a little bit of insulation and warmth at night. I've never tried hay bales, so I'm not sure how well they will work. The chickens should be fine when it's above freezing. It's those below freezing days that can be more challenging for the breeds with larger combs and wattles.
@@cookingsherry8784 I appreciate the advice. I'm thinking of using the square bales as a windblock mostly. I have two lavender Orpingtons and two rhoad island reds, plus turkeys and guineas. Definitely had some issues with the heat waves this year but all made it through except one young turkey
@@joedirtrulz8 I think hey bales will make an excellent wind block. I'm not much for buying products from China when I can avoid it, but I did find a good deal recently for my new chicks on a cheap Chinese henhouse with small run at Ollie's discoynt store. These cheaply made things are way over priced at most stores. We were lucky to find a good deal at Orschlen's going out of business during the pandemonium. If you have an Ollie's near you, they have these small chicken coops for a $149, and you can usually get a coupon for signing up for their free loyalty club of anywhere from 10 to 20% off. Then to make the cheap coops better insulated, we put that silver insulation stuff stapled on the inside and keep some ventilation areas open up high. This has worked well for us in the winter if you have access to it. Best of luck, and happy chicken keeping. The Queen of Chickenlandia on RUclips has a lot of great cost saving chicken keeping ideas as well.
Thank you this was perfect I’m also in California and you’ve eased my nerves on doing the best for my first pack of chickens 🙏💞
This will be my second winter trying to keep chickens. Last year raccoons slaughtered my entire flock except for one rooster and hen, and even those were taken by spring this year. I'm trying to be smarter about it this time around. For me the trick seems to be keeping the food far away from the coop. When I see the chicken's food being eaten overnight I set a trap. This year I have caught four raccoons and two opossums, and only lost one chicken to a predator. I have one red-shouldered Yokahama rooster and hen, and one Golden Phoenix rooster and five Phoenix hens going into this winter. I really enjoyed your video - you gave some great advice! I plan to stuff my little coop with plenty of straw like last year, and cover the sides with blue foam insulation. Here in Missouri, we will get several days in a row of bitter cold where the chickens need to stay inside, then a few days where I can let them venture out, a repeating cycle until spring. I will need to get a heated waterer this year, and I like your idea of hanging a head of lettuce on a string for something they can pick at during the day. You really do have a great setup for keeping chickens year round, but I'll do the best I can this winter and hopefully can have a few hens to hatch some eggs in the spring to have some little ones running around!
Hemp bedding using the deep litter method is the best bedding you could use, especially during winter. It provides insulation thru the floor, absorbs moisture well, dries quickly, less work for the chicken keeper, composts well and quickly, does not provude a habitat for sand fleas, and doesn't provide a hollow space for mites to lay eggs like straw does.
We use hemp shavings in our deep litter method in our hen houses. We love it. Zero dust and odorless. Lasts forever and absorbs all the moisture. Our favorite bedding for sure
I agree, hemp bedding is definitely the best method of bedding, I wish I could find it locally
This is just about best video ever on chickens! I mean... sand? More like cat litter. Easy to scoop daily! Will be moving to Pennsylvania and have been wondering "what about the snowy winters!" Been building my beautiful chicken abode in my dreams for decades. This us going to be so useful - so many ideas... love your decor. And ways to keep them from danger and boredom. Swing - pinata- places to hide? Priceless. Thanks a bunch, Cutie. 🧡
Thanks so much & glad to help 😊
Love your videos and love you coop / run area. … thanks for sharing all your great ideas 🙏 😊
Aw thanks so much!! Welcome to our channel ❤️
thank you so much, I've been feeling so horrible about the chickens in the cold.. your advice is deeply appreciated 🥶
A chicken rancher told me he uses 18" of straw throughout the entire floor. It drains well, generates heat as it decomposes and only needs to be replenished once a year. Food for thought...
Oh yes that is called the deep litter method, I have used it with straw before but now we use hemp shavings. We have been really loving our results with hemp shavings it seems to be a game changer, more absorbing, odor neutralizing and very low dust. It stays very dry as well
Useful video. Very much better words than anyone in the RUclips’s. Ty
Thank you for your informative and enjoyable video! This is my first time raising chickens. I got them late in the season, so that they are not yet laying. Was wondering about using the heating device (looks like a small tv with little legs) as we have some low 30’s temperatures coming up. So thanks for your advice, think I’ll let them grow feathers! ❤
I wouldn't worry at all about low 30's.
If fully grown and feathered. 30F is not cold to a chicken at all 😊
Got to love chickens! 🐓
Excellent Report - Very knowledgeable about chickens 🐓
Thank you!
Thank you! As a newbie, I’m learning a lot! Especially about air predators. As I’ve watched the girls free- ranging, I notice the blue jays’ squawk more when the hawks care in the area. Eagles are quieter hunters but don’t seem as interested. We have a few young hawks this year. Crows squawk a bit, too. I understand that we need to entice the crows to stick around more but don’t know what kinds of scraps they like.
No one talks about pullets and molting. My chicks arrived in June and aren’t quite adult, yet. Only one has molted and just a little. At first, I thought she might have mites or lice because it was just her back end. Nope. Then, I watched to see if she was being pecked at. Nope. Turns out, she is just molting a tiny bit. Supplementing and her feathers are regrowing quickly.
Jay's and crows will hang out for dry dog food. They do help with predator birds.
@@bethcochran1104 Thank you!!! Do you spread it anywhere specific? All over?
We have wolves and coyotes. Just saw a big grey wolf yesterday. He doesn’t bother the chickens at all but they’re near the house.
Thank you . I am new here I owning chicken in the winter area . This helps a lot
I like when she talks about moisture.
This was a very good video. It answered all my questions. I live in West Virginia.
The tips where so good. Especially the winter tips.
Great video thanks for the info! 🌸 🌼 🌻 🌞 🐤 🐣 🐥 My Texas chickens did great in that freeze we had a few years ago, I was so worried!
Texas has a mild winter when you wear a big down coat 😊 thanks for watching!
@@BockBockBouquet Yes some winters we don't even need a coat
Informative, great video. I only watched one other on this issue and the guy said they don't like winter winds sl plastic up as a windbreak and the light still gets through.
Thanks for watching! We hope these tips help 😊 that’s a good idea as they do not like drafts and winds but it’s still good idea to make sure there is enough ventilation for the moisture to escape. Just not where the winds and drafts can hit them so they are not exposed to that to bother them where they are roosting and sleeping at night
Great video. Thank you. I’ve been wanting to get chickens. This was a very helpful video. Keep up the great work. God Bless you and your family. 😊
Thanks so much! Having chickens as pets is the best, wish you luck!
Great info we just started raising chickens last spring and I was lost on how to care for them in the winter we live in Eastern Kentucky so the winters are for the most part very mild but we can get some very cold snaps so now I’m ready thanks so much
Glad to help
Heart shaped box. Nice
Your subs should be quintupled at this point (algorithms suck). Such relevant information for the times we live in.
Good video. Thank you.
Aw thanks so much for the compliment! We are still very grateful for the subs we currently have! Really amazing that anyone cares to watch our channel
Well done. Mrs loves the chicken pinata idea.
Wow you have no idea how much you’ve put my mind at rest. You’re analogy of back in the day actually opened my eyes once & for all. We do get extremely cold weather during winter here in New England as cold as 4-10 below and that is when I’ve put a chicken heating device on in the coupe. I supplement in the winter with crickets & sardines, oatmeal & additional chicken or other forms of meat. I’ve found using a deep litter method has worked best for my coupe especially in the winter to insulate the floor. Thank you for the great advice
Thanks Kelly for the information!
I live in an area where the temperature drops close to 0 degrees F. My waterers are 5 gallon buckets, and I put a cheap aquarium heater in each bucket. The water stays well above freezing all winter long. You'll need electricity in your coop, but these work really well.
Great video! I have banties and live in Maine. Even at 40 below they do fine. I've known too many folks who've lost their flock because they had a heat lamp that caught fire.
Our chickens love eating snow for hydration in winter. I can fill a container and put it in the henhouse. They're happier than pigs in ...
The most informative post about chicken care!!! Thank you!!
Thank you so much! Glad it was of any help
Great video. My egg lady is letting her hens rest this winter.
Your chickens look so happy and healthy. So do you! Happy holidays!
Awesome video. Delivered good info with a flow (no umms ) making it easier to watch. It’s been 4 years since I’ve had chickens & thinking about getting a couple of hens. I miss the eggs & joy of having chickens. I call it “Feather Therapy”.
Good information. I had a leg horn that got very sick when we had cold temperatures here in Florida but the rest were fine.
Sometimes stress can lower their immune system. Good time to give them immune system building treats to eat, and supplement vitamins in water
Great insight. First winter with my flock. May also add cayenne pepper to keep them warm for laying.
Sounds great!
Thanks for the wonderful video !
Lots of great tips and extra tidbits of useful information I didn't know :)
Thanks for watching ❤️
Appreciate chickens more now. Cool info. Looks like the are handled with love and care love seeing the kindness of people's hearts in the littlest of things. Great. Crazy didnt really expect a chicken topic to be thought provoking.
Very true about the cold weather. I'm in north eastern Montana, have a 12x20 coop, with a 40x40 attached run. People door to the run that has never been closed. No supplemental heat in the winter, or light. The ladies
Slow down laying in the winter, but dosen't bother me
🙌🏼 😊😊
Love the info! Not about the sand though. One of the main advantages for me of having chickens is creating mulch and compost for the garden. I love my girls and their guy Sketchy.
Very true! We use hemp shavings deep litter method in our hen houses. Love it!
What great and informative information. I'm new to your channel, but I'm very happy I found it.
After 30 years i still dream about how to create a better chicken coup. It depends on the breed, but loss of body parts in -30 degrees was a problem. Not only did they mostly stop laying and loose body parts, but their water chronically froze, as did any eggs they still laid. Straw provided warmth and entertainment, granted, coup cleaning in the spring was hellish. Our chickens wanted no part of the out of doors in the winter, the coup was warmer than being out doors, because their own heat helped warm the coup. Not a lot, but some. They survived, but those winters could be tough, even for us humans.
I still miss my chickens, though.
Great video, very informative! Thanks for sharing!
Aw Ty for this amazing video I really needed it cause it so cold we’re I live run
Oh good time to watch you. I just put a heat lamp out in the coop.. not tonight. they are cold tolerant rr reds and buff orps. Thanks
Good content, love the way the video flowed, fast straight forward. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed!
Great ideas 👏👍 thank you so much for this video.
You are so welcome!
great tutorial..i did not know about the ravens...im upstate NY and feed my local wild birds...bluejays,,chickadees, ravens..etc...i live on a river which attracts wild canadian geese by the hundreds in my back yard...very informative video..good job
Gets -40 here and I have heat and put the water and feed inside when it is below -25. They do great. I only use a 200 watt Cozy Coop.. pretty safe.
You know what’s best for your flock ❤️🐔 at least you are using a safe heat source. It’s so sad seeing the posts of coops burning down every year from heat lamps. Some people lose their homes too :( a tragedy
@@BockBockBouquet Yeah I hate the idea of heat lamps. Im going to try a the LumiCoop lighting system in my coop because the winter is just sooo long without eggs up here. Seems like a pretty cool system. Can still program it to give them a short break in the middle of winter
This is the most helpful video I’ve found. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Chickens need shelter, protection from predators and freedom from wind, but heaters they do not need. Mine are amberlinks, lay an egg every day, and I'm in New Hampshire USA. They don't mind the cold at all. Every dawn they pop out of the coop and can't wait to get busy foraging. I put out hay on snow, because snow seems to confuse them... but they don't mind it.
I use hay inside and out of the coop. It does get old, then I roll it up and replace it. I like hay, they eat it and scratch through it. It keeps their feet off the snow, and it lines the base of the coop, but you do have to be aware of the moisture, I agree. A substrate for birds must be dry.
I have equines too, so I just let the chickens tear up their own hay slice every day.
Great video!
Thank you! The hay is a perfect healthy treat for them and what a great multi purpose as boredom buster and incentive to tread the snow. Ours love our horse’s alfalfa as well
Thanks for all the tips. I've never heard that about crows and ravens befoe.
Happy to help!
Great video, very informative way more than the 1000 others I've seen. Thanks, sincerely Zack!!
Wow, thanks! Glad it was helpful
Thank you. I’m going to be getting a few chickens of my own very soon. Merry Christmas 🎄
That's great to hear! Happy holidays!
Thank you for clearing that up for me young lady. Regards.
Thank you! Excellent tips!
Love the pinata idea
It's also fun for us to watch them play with it!
This was very helpful! Thanks for sharing 💜
Thanks. I'm a beginner with the chickens and I'm going into my first winter.
Glad to help, you’ll love raising chickens
Thanks! 😃 My son had to finish college at home in 2020. He hatched a ton of chickens then moved out. 😂 I had forgotten the daylight effect on eggs. Like you, I’m giving them a break. Also wouldn’t have thought of sand. Thanks again! 👍😃
Lol of course he did! Well now you get the joy of raising chickens 🐓❤️
The main thing is just moisture. Making sure they have great ventilation is key to making sure they don't end up with any frostbite.
Great! Thanks so much. very well done.🐔🐓🐓
Good morning Bock Bock Bouquet. What can I say? These videos just keep getting better and better - with superb content and superlative production values. But of course that's to be expected from a strong self sufficient offgrid woman such as yourself. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful Thursday. My favorite method of maintaining a sustainable pantry and stockpiling items long term for the whole family and the family dog and the family cat is what I consider to be the most practical, utilizing every technology old and new. . Except for the fruits and vegetables that get canned, I keep perishable items like meat, poultry, fish, fruit, vegetables and dairy products in the refrigerator on a short term basis until I'm ready to use them for a big family meal - and for even longer term sustainable storage, a large separate freezer, which can store a half side of beef with plenty of room left over for homemade ice cream etc. . I'm considering upgrading to a walk-in freezer at some point.in the near future, if my plans to open a bed and breakfast come to fruition. Sometimes, however a nice round of cheese can do well for quite awhile on a pantry shelf at room temperature - and doesn't mind even if it has to stand there alone. Store bought canned goods get shelves.in the large pantry closet - several for canned meat like corned beef hash, spam and sandwich spread and another for canned vegetables Bread, rolls, grains, homemade pasta, cereals and the like are stored in special humidity controlled bins I order from Amazon Prime - which usually get delivered to my doorstep about an hour after I order them. . Stuff from the family garden and orchard, like onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, cauliflower, cucumber, pumpkins, carrots, corn celery,, potatoes and yams, cherries, blueberries and strawberries get canned in Mason Jars and stored in the cool, root cellar of this wonderful rambling former farmhouse (circa 1867) I share with my extended blended family and several rambunctious dogs raised on table scraps from the some of the finest food from a plethora of sources both commercial and home based. . There's even a special separate "summer kitchen" which I converted to store butter and ice cream churns, pots, pans, utensils, extra storage containers, foil, bags, cutlery, and other meal related accoutrement. Out back in the woods, just beyond the big pile of wood I maintain all year, (for use in an antique woodstove I keep on hand, in case the power goes out) there's even an old rusting vintage still where my great grandfather made some of the finest corn whiskey for miles. Next to it is the rusting hulk of the Ford Model A he used to transport that powerful hootch by the light of the moon on soft summer nights to his eager customers in a tri-county area. Further into this verdant forest of mostly sycamore, oak, pine and scrub, runs a cool stream into which I occasionally cast a rod or net to catch some Brook Trout, Bluntnose Shiners, or whatever takes the bait (just earthworms for the most part). And yes, hunting season means wild turkey, deer, and even an occasional wild boar. Next week, I'm planning on filing for a permit to 3-D print a smokehouse in order to be able to create gourmet artisan handcrafted, beef, bacon, turkey, and beef stick jerky, which interested local merchants can private label for other people to share with their families and their family dogs. Unfortunately, I had to break the bad news to my free range hens today that due to expected egg shortages regretfully numbered are their days of laying a couple of eggs and then basically taking the rest of the day off with ranging privileges' within the parameters of a few very nice rural acres - parts of which are rich with fat grubworms. There's even a short dirt road between the main barn and the farmhouse which they're free to cross to get to the other side as often as they'd like. My rooster Ben overheard me and he ain't too happy either, knowing full well that due to oncoming egg shortages, he'll be "workin' overtime to make sure there's plenty of eggs for me and the homestead
This is very informational thank you!
Even though i understand english pretty well, i couldn't understand or remember anything you said in this entire video,
I am sure all the information provided was accurate and helpful, there was only one problem in the video, you are so beautiful, so gorgeous, so elegant, so charismatic, that i watched this video 10 times, but still i cannot understand or remember anything except you....