I built a sliding tray, which sits under the roost. It has a plastic tarp, easily removable for cleaning. I use the deep litter method, meaning, there is about 9" of bedding (ground Cedar) that comes up to and actually touches the roost. It produces compost and in so doing, creates a modicum of slow, natural heat for the ladies.
Coconut oil is my very favorite thing for protecting wattles and combs from frostbite, and dry combs and wattles. Works amazing if they do get it too! Love your videos guys!
We just got five rescued RIRs yesterday. Some of them had frostbite damage to their combs. I'll inspect their feet to see if they have problems there. Thanks for this info. Now I know what to do for them. We have a large coop and 25 birds. I've the means of ventilation and will watch that closely. You guys rock!
Excellent video, excellent t shirts. I have put heavy clear plastic around the run to keep wind out but sun in, but leave to top of the walls open for ventilation. In the coop, 2x4 roosts, ventilation above and deep litter. So far these have worked well. Cheers from a Canadian Hobby Farmer
Last winter, “Big Girl” had all of her feathers picked off her back and butt by two bullies (I rehomed them) and her skin was angry red all winter no matter what I did. to protect it. But, come Spring she finally grew beautiful new feathers and is fine. PROBLEM.? THIS winter, her feet look pinkish. She’s a Cuckoo Marans with grey/light grey legs so it is noticeable. I’ve searched and can’t find any info on this. No other hens have this hue. She acts normally and does squat with her sisters in the grass hay but also perches and everything else! I’ve looked at her feet and they’re normal except for the pink. Well, she’s moody so I guess she is taking the winter off laying any eggs. Not surprised. It began weeeeeeks ago. Still confused. Another hen, Roadrunner, a Leghorn, had comb frostbite last winter which I treated with shea butter every evening and it worked but the comb was pale and sometimes grey until spring. This winter, with a cleaning change, it is bright red with no signs of frostbite. And, it’s been very cold for an extended period for this time of year! The key: clean up poop daily to keep moisture as low as possible, use copious amounts of Zeolite (Tractor Supplty) and toss bedding daily to dry out anything missed. I was gifted an Eglu which has its very good points such as NO MITES and easy to clean! But, moisture can be an issue because it’s a smaller space. Takes me 5 minutes to clean up and it is working! Plus, no massive spring cleaning needed! I will take the hose and spray it all down when the weather warms but poop doesn’t stick too much when it’s cold. Mostly, just falls into the tray with as much bedding as I can fit.
Very good video, who needs the University when we have the Hobby Farm Guys! I will just add two breeds that are kinda famous for their cold hardy qualities. The Chantecler was developed in Canada. I have them and they are quite cold hardy. The other that comes to mind is the Ohio Buckeye Chicken, I have never had these, but I have read about how tough they are. Ohio can get cold, and that was an important consideration when Mrs Nettie Metcalf developed the breed. Of course good feed and good housing, good care are so much more important in cold weather, irregardless of what breed you have. Best wishes!
We agree on both of your breed recommendations. We also have spotlight videos on each. Brian started a flock of Buckeyes this year and so far he is quite happy with them.
Very helpful, guys! I’ve had to deal with frostbite on one of my roosters which ended up with him losing the points on his comb. He healed fully and seems less affected by blustery days with his “crew cut” comb. I do keep a brooder style heater mounted above the roosting bars to boost the temperature when it gets below 45 degrees. Vents stay open (fan is off) for natural convection. Deep litter and insulation on walls and ceiling helps the coop stay above freezing. So far has been working well.
Great show with good information. Where I live in the southern prairie lands I’ll be 20° tonight but by Sunday my high will be 65°. We can get a week or so of high temperatures that never get above freezing in the winter but then we have to fight with 105° to 110° plus summer temperatures for all of July. That yo-yo effect your round can be frustrating.
I'm a new chicken owner and I'm freaking out; half of my chickens are experiencing frostbite on their combs and wattles. I've done everything here, including choosing cold-hardy breeds. You mentioned cold hardy breeds don't have large combs? Mine do...I wonder if I was misled by the hatchery. I've sealed up every crack in the coop I could, insulated the walls, keep a high layer of shavings, and have stacked straw bales around the outside of the coop. They still have frostbite and it looks so painful. Vaseline may work for prevention but it does nothing for treatment. I feel like I've failed my chickens.
The biggest issues that are most likely to cause frostbite are not having good ventilation (air should be able to vent out the top of the coop), or too much moisture in the coop (even if it seems dry, that poop and water source can add lots of moisture). Remember: cold hardy means different things to different people. Just because a bird can withstand colder temperatures, doesn’t mean it should or that it is built for extreme cold. Keep doing your best!
Thanks for the video. I'm new to your channel, and chickens, and appreciate your in depth discussions. QUESTION: I didn't see anything in your prior videos, but there are a bunch of videos out there about feeding fodder through the winter (and generally) to increase greens and variation in diet. Do you have an opinion? I use a layer pellet and give lentil sprouts as a weekly treat but that's as close as I've come to fodder. I've got 8 definately teenagers 8mo old barred rocks (1 cockrell in the group) and would appreciate your info as time allows. Thank you! Edit: never mind my question - I found your video from a year ago on the topic and wow what a great video! It's really the most informative I've seen! Thank you so much! I'm so glad youtube put your video in recommended.
Steve is a big proponent of growing and feeding fodder. Brian likes the idea but is too lazy to do it 😂. Here is a video we made on the subject: ruclips.net/video/XzzsgFvEI8M/видео.html
I was at our local Co-Op just yesterday and some of the chicken folks were talking about this very subject. DIdn't hear about the Vaseline remedy though but I may put your comment on the Community Info Board there. My coop is three feet off the ground so I block all the potential drafts and close the windows. The birds also seem to like extra wheat straw over the wood shavings.
Thank you for all the videos. What do you do when they molt are girls do hardly have any feathers left and we live in NW montana at the border. Thank you
@HobbyFarmGuys we give them lots of worms and scratch tbrew out the day day but i have to say they look bad. They are almost 2 amd we never raised chickens till we got them as chicks almost 2 years ago and this is the first time we seen or heard about molting its crazy
I built a sliding tray, which sits under the roost. It has a plastic tarp, easily removable for cleaning. I use the deep litter method, meaning, there is about 9" of bedding (ground Cedar) that comes up to and actually touches the roost. It produces compost and in so doing, creates a modicum of slow, natural heat for the ladies.
Good morning fellas.
Thank you, as usual the T-shirts.
Glad you like them!
Coconut oil is my very favorite thing for protecting wattles and combs from frostbite, and dry combs and wattles. Works amazing if they do get it too! Love your videos guys!
The coconut oil helps heal it, too? Thank you; I'll try it!
@rustinstardust2094 It does! It is antimicrobial and antibacterial. Hope it helps. God bless.
We just got five rescued RIRs yesterday. Some of them had frostbite damage to their combs. I'll inspect their feet to see if they have problems there. Thanks for this info. Now I know what to do for them. We have a large coop and 25 birds. I've the means of ventilation and will watch that closely. You guys rock!
We’re glad you found the information useful!
I love these deep dives on specific topics. Thank you!
You're welcome!
Excellent video, excellent t shirts.
I have put heavy clear plastic around the run to keep wind out but sun in, but leave to top of the walls open for ventilation.
In the coop, 2x4 roosts, ventilation above and deep litter. So far these have worked well. Cheers from a Canadian Hobby Farmer
Good tips!
Last winter, “Big Girl” had all of her feathers picked off her back and butt by two bullies (I rehomed them) and her skin was angry red all winter no matter what I did. to protect it. But, come Spring she finally grew beautiful new feathers and is fine.
PROBLEM.? THIS winter, her feet look pinkish. She’s a Cuckoo Marans with grey/light grey legs so it is noticeable.
I’ve searched and can’t find any info on this. No other hens have this hue.
She acts normally and does squat with her sisters in the grass hay but also perches and everything else!
I’ve looked at her feet and they’re normal except for the pink. Well, she’s moody so I guess she is taking the winter off laying any eggs. Not surprised. It began weeeeeeks ago.
Still confused.
Another hen, Roadrunner, a Leghorn, had comb frostbite last winter which I treated with shea butter every evening and it worked but the comb was pale and sometimes grey until spring. This winter, with a cleaning change, it is bright red with no signs of frostbite. And, it’s been very cold for an extended period for this time of year!
The key: clean up poop daily to keep moisture as low as possible, use copious amounts of Zeolite (Tractor Supplty) and toss bedding daily to dry out anything missed.
I was gifted an Eglu which has its very good points such as NO MITES and easy to clean! But, moisture can be an issue because it’s a smaller space. Takes me 5 minutes to clean up and it is working! Plus, no massive spring cleaning needed! I will take the hose and spray it all down when the weather warms but poop doesn’t stick too much when it’s cold. Mostly, just falls into the tray with as much bedding as I can fit.
11:00 probably because we used petroleum jelly to keep our faces from getting windburned when we went skiing or sledding.
Very good video, who needs the University when we have the Hobby Farm Guys! I will just add two breeds that are kinda famous for their cold hardy qualities. The Chantecler was developed in Canada. I have them and they are quite cold hardy. The other that comes to mind is the Ohio Buckeye Chicken, I have never had these, but I have read about how tough they are. Ohio can get cold, and that was an important consideration when Mrs Nettie Metcalf developed the breed. Of course good feed and good housing, good care are so much more important in cold weather, irregardless of what breed you have. Best wishes!
We agree on both of your breed recommendations. We also have spotlight videos on each. Brian started a flock of Buckeyes this year and so far he is quite happy with them.
As always.. Thanks for the timely information!
Very helpful, guys! I’ve had to deal with frostbite on one of my roosters which ended up with him losing the points on his comb. He healed fully and seems less affected by blustery days with his “crew cut” comb. I do keep a brooder style heater mounted above the roosting bars to boost the temperature when it gets below 45 degrees. Vents stay open (fan is off) for natural convection. Deep litter and insulation on walls and ceiling helps the coop stay above freezing. So far has been working well.
thank you so
My trick is to watch hobby farming 🥰🥰
Great show with good information. Where I live in the southern prairie lands I’ll be 20° tonight but by Sunday my high will be 65°. We can get a week or so of high temperatures that never get above freezing in the winter but then we have to fight with 105° to 110° plus summer temperatures for all of July. That yo-yo effect your round can be frustrating.
I'm a new chicken owner and I'm freaking out; half of my chickens are experiencing frostbite on their combs and wattles. I've done everything here, including choosing cold-hardy breeds. You mentioned cold hardy breeds don't have large combs? Mine do...I wonder if I was misled by the hatchery. I've sealed up every crack in the coop I could, insulated the walls, keep a high layer of shavings, and have stacked straw bales around the outside of the coop. They still have frostbite and it looks so painful. Vaseline may work for prevention but it does nothing for treatment. I feel like I've failed my chickens.
The biggest issues that are most likely to cause frostbite are not having good ventilation (air should be able to vent out the top of the coop), or too much moisture in the coop (even if it seems dry, that poop and water source can add lots of moisture). Remember: cold hardy means different things to different people. Just because a bird can withstand colder temperatures, doesn’t mean it should or that it is built for extreme cold. Keep doing your best!
Thanks for the video. I'm new to your channel, and chickens, and appreciate your in depth discussions.
QUESTION: I didn't see anything in your prior videos, but there are a bunch of videos out there about feeding fodder through the winter (and generally) to increase greens and variation in diet. Do you have an opinion? I use a layer pellet and give lentil sprouts as a weekly treat but that's as close as I've come to fodder. I've got 8 definately teenagers 8mo old barred rocks (1 cockrell in the group) and would appreciate your info as time allows. Thank you!
Edit: never mind my question - I found your video from a year ago on the topic and wow what a great video! It's really the most informative I've seen! Thank you so much! I'm so glad youtube put your video in recommended.
Steve is a big proponent of growing and feeding fodder. Brian likes the idea but is too lazy to do it 😂. Here is a video we made on the subject:
ruclips.net/video/XzzsgFvEI8M/видео.html
I was at our local Co-Op just yesterday and some of the chicken folks were talking about this very subject. DIdn't hear about the Vaseline remedy though but I may put your comment on the Community Info Board there. My coop is three feet off the ground so I block all the potential drafts and close the windows. The birds also seem to like extra wheat straw over the wood shavings.
Thank you for all the videos. What do you do when they molt are girls do hardly have any feathers left and we live in NW montana at the border. Thank you
Make sure they have some extra protein and a calcium supplement (like oyster shell).
@HobbyFarmGuys we give them lots of worms and scratch tbrew out the day day but i have to say they look bad. They are almost 2 amd we never raised chickens till we got them as chicks almost 2 years ago and this is the first time we seen or heard about molting its crazy