ksmnet Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 We live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and have read a lot about keeping chickens in the winter. Still have not yet decided exactly what we are going to do. One possibility we thought of was to bring them inside to our basement. We have a wood room with a dirt floor, and ample space for them to roam. The water will certainly not freeze, and we'll be able to keep them away from critters. We're concerned about adequate ventilation. We've read a lot about making sure they have plenty, because the air can get bad otherwise (I was going to say foul.) The house is nearly 100 years old, but still we aren't going to open the window in that room to the cold air outside. Besides, it's just below our kitchen floor, and the floor is already cold enough in the winter. We'd like some thoughts. Also, if we keep them outside (covering the run, and placing straw bales around the outsides as well), what can we do about the eggs to keep them from freezing. I work away from home all week, and my wife leaves for work at 7:00 am, and doesn't return until 6:00 pm. They generally haven't laid their eggs by 7:00 am. I should say that we're down to two hens, because one died suddenly the week before last. She must have had a heart attack or stroke or something while laying an egg, because she had not been exhibiting any signs of illness, and was just found slumped over in the nesting box. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackian Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 There is a lady in the USA on here who had her girls in the cellar when there was a hurricane earlier this year..she will hate it that i cant remember her name ...sorry I am sure some one will find her link for you. I am sorry you lost one of your girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksmnet Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share Posted October 28, 2011 There is a lady in the USA on here who had her girls in the cellar when there was a hurricane earlier this year..she will hate it that i cant remember her name ...sorry I am sure some one will find her link for you. I am sorry you lost one of your girls Thank you Jackian. I'll wait to see what other responses I get. Taking them down to the cellar for a hurricane and taking them down for the entire winter are two different things, though. I know there are people who get diapers and keep their chickens in the house. We're not going to do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 This lady hasn't been on the forum in a while, she lives/lived in Utah and I remember her posting once about bad weather conditions. Perhaps if you search her posts it will come up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 I think it may be Bouldercroft? Here's one of her posts about winter! http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=82303 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksmnet Posted October 28, 2011 Author Share Posted October 28, 2011 I think it may be Bouldercroft? Here's one of her posts about winter! http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=82303 Thank you. I've read all through that thread. Good ideas. It regularly gets below 0 degrees Fahrenheit where we live. I'm guessing that if we keep the hens outside all winter we'll have to keep lots of petroleum jelly handy. One concern is that with the size of the Cube, whether or not two hens will keep warm enough - especially at night. I really would like to hear from anyone who can comment on bringing them inside to our wood room for the winter - air quality, etc. We would keep wood chips on the floor, and would have to clean them out regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Sounds like a great excuse to get some more chickens . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 There is a lady in the USA on here who had her girls in the cellar when there was a hurricane earlier this year..she will hate it that i cant remember her name ...sorry I am sure some one will find her link for you. yes, its me me me me me me! funny to see this post as it snowed last night - just a dusting but they are threatening us with 5-6inches tomorrow I only brought my girls in for two nights of record lows and I mean LOW - I think it was negative 16F or something crazy like that. But in all complete honesty it was more for my conscience than their benefit - they would have been just fine outside - they are very very hardy. The summers worried me more as they got soooo hot poor things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
