Chicken bald back

[lloyd]

Hi I'm Lloyd, new to the forum and coming up to my first winter with chickens.

 

I have two little chooks, Mavis (Colombian Black Tail) and Flossie (Goldline).

 

What with the frost this morning and all the rain of the past weeks I have decided to try and make a permanent home for the girls as the grass is really no more.

 

I have had some inspiration from some posts regarding Plastic roofing and bungee straps so will set about making something this weekend, however I have a couple of questions, hope someone can help.

 

1. should I be blocking up any gaps near the litter tray so they don't get too cold?

2. if I choose a spot to keep them do I need to prep it, or is it ok to just put some Aubiose/something else mix, on the floor and leave them to it?

3. when is it too cold? do they ever need to be moved into a Shed or Garage overnight?

4. I noticed a post by Barbara regarding stale corn harming a dog, how do you tell if it is stale or not, I take it its bad for chickens too!

 

Thanks

 

and hello .

 

Lloyd

[Plum]

Hello Lloyd, welcome to the forum

 

 

1. should I be blocking up any gaps near the litter tray so they don't get too cold?

Assume you have eglu or cube. No you don't need to block up the gaps they need ventilation or they will be prone to respiratory diseases. Having said that I did put newspaper in the gap over the tray when we had biting strong winds last year.

2. if I choose a spot to keep them do I need to prep it, or is it ok to just put some Aubiose/something else mix, on the floor and leave them to it?

When the ground gets soiled or sour then you will need to put something down or to keep it from going muddy. There are various things you can use. Woodchip is fine for an uncovered run but if you cover it with shower curtain or perspex etc you can use horse bedding which is nice and dry.

3. when is it too cold? do they ever need to be moved into a Shed or Garage overnight?

If you have omlet house or good wooden one they will be fine but face the door away from the prevailing wind

4. I noticed a post by Barbara regarding stale corn harming a dog, how do you tell if it is stale or not, I take it its bad for chickens too!

Yeh take care not to feed stale food. There is a use by date on the bag and if you store it in the dry it will stay fresh. If you find any mould don't give it to them and if you clean your feeder regularly and pick up spilt food they will not be getting bad food

 

I've said all this but better someone will come and say the opposite. Enjoy your chickens, it's great fun seeing their reaction to the snow and they stay toasty warm. Their body temperature is higher and if you put your hand between them at night it will reassure you.

 

Thanks

 

and hello .

 

Lloyd

[janette1954]

I use a mix of compost, sand and wood chip on my run floor and wood shavings in the eglu,i get my food from Annie Halls poultry farm in Siston near Warmley,It is always top quality,especially the mixed corn,my girls usually sleep all year round with the bedroom door open but because I am not sure if it was a fox that killed Barbara last week while they were free ranging I have shut them in the eglu at night, I dont find that the draught effects them.

[cluckingmad]

Hi Lloyd, welcome to the looney bin, sorry meant forum

 

The girls will cope fine with the cold - they effectively have their own feather duvet with them at all times (something I very much want right now as our heating is playing up. Again. Poo), Even our very threadbare little ex-batts made it through fine last winter, although we do tend to add rather more shredded paper to the enxt box for them as OH says he feels bad leaving them outside while we're inside (have offered to bring them in for him, didn't go down too well )

[BeckyBoo]

Yes hi and welcome from me too!! I have two that roost outside and did so RIGHT through the 3feet of snow we had early this year and they were fine. I think it's more of a problem with draughts and if they get wet then cold.

 

Look forward to some pics of your girls (they're obligatory! )

 

BeckyBoo

[Tutti Frutti]

Hello Lloyd and welcome! It's my first winter too - brrrrrrrrrr! Some great questions so thank you! My girls just don't seem to have noticed that it was minus three last night

[lloyd]

In my paranoia I went to Maplin and got an external wireless thermometer! I must be mad. But I can now report that the Eglu is now at 6.8'C which is good because if it was as cold as yesterday we would have snow.

 

Thanks for the welcomes, I'll get the girls up on flickr or something soon and post a link. There are lots of photos!

 

L

 

PS what are the conventions for Auto sigs? I was going to have:

 

- Mavis - Colombian Black Tail

- Flossie - Goldline

 

But they are both not GNRs!

[ChrisEllis]

Hello Lloyd and welcome! It's my first winter too - brrrrrrrrrr! Some great questions so thank you! My girls just don't seem to have noticed that it was minus three last night

 

that cold, its suddenly hit everyone unprepared i think

 

I had posted a topic about the frost last night - and a good idea that was shared was to have a quality street tin and fill in around quarter way with sand and put a tea light in there and jus a few holes for oxygen - light the tea ight and put the lid on then put it in their coop - keeps everything above sub zero temperatures and also keeps them a bit warm safely and efficiently

 

let me know how you get on if anyone tries it - seems a good idea

[Plum]

I think it was to put under the water Wouldn't they get burnt if they stood on the tin?

[lloyd]

I think it was to put under the water Wouldn't they get burnt if they stood on the tin?

 

That would be a good idea for the water, but isn't it just easier to take it inside each night?

[ChrisEllis]

no no nothink about it - a tea light is very petit - with oxygen holes and a lot of space plus a very cold surrounding - firstly chickens will be asleep and also it will go out after a fw hurs but it warms up a small bit.

[jkl]

hi everyone,

 

it's also our first winter with the girls and whilst i adore our (and all) chooks i cannot help thinking that a bit of perspective is needed with the cold during winter.

 

chickens have a higher core body temperature, they have a natural covering of (very warm) feathers (except for those who have suffered from being battery farmed - the poor beggars and my immense respect for those who rehome ex-bats), they have evolved to live outside and cope with all sorts of rubbish weather.

 

in my own (hopefully) humble opinion -

 

provide a draught free sleeping area, provide some sheltered area for them outside of the eglu for the day time, maintain fresh water (that means new water every day) and food at all times and just generally look after them.

 

i've got to admit to being a bit cautious/wary of tea lights in a small enclosed environment like an eglu or cube. chickens are bird-brained and i would be constantly worried about them tipping over a candle- i'm fairly sure my girls aren't flameproof!!

[Plum]

Thanks jKl for those sensible words.

 

Chris go and put your hand over a tealight before you do anything.

[mini chick]

hi Lloyd,first i must say (great name)my son is also called Lloyd.This is also my first winter with

chucks, ive bought a clear corrigated sheet from b&q which seems to be working a treat.

I tucked one end in under the top of the eglu,and used the sun shade at the other end to keep it in place. (hope that makes sence)

samantha

sage

onion

[lloyd]

hi Lloyd,first i must say (great name)my son is also called Lloyd.This is also my first winter with

chucks, ive bought a clear corrigated sheet from b&q which seems to be working a treat.

I tucked one end in under the top of the eglu,and used the sun shade at the other end to keep it in place. (hope that makes sence)

samantha

sage

onion

 

Did you just go for a single sheet? if not how did you join them?

[Egluntyne]

I think it was to put under the water Wouldn't they get burnt if they stood on the tin?

 

I seem to remember that the suggestion was that a galvanised drinker was to be stood on the tin, and it was not considered suitable for an Eglu run because of space constraints.

[chelsea]

 

i've got to admit to being a bit cautious/wary of tea lights in a small enclosed environment like an eglu or cube. chickens are bird-brained and i would be constantly worried about them tipping over a candle- i'm fairly sure my girls aren't flameproof!!

 

 

I agree.

 

We have used a pet proof "snugglesafe" on very cold nights in the past - these are very safe and add an extra bit of warmth.

[ChrisEllis]

Well i did say it should be put in a large tin with sand around it and an enclosewd lid on top - and also definitely not for eglu owners - only for coops - this is only what im being told

[mini chick]

yes i only got one sheet 6ft long to act as a canopy