http://www.plamondon.com/b2evolution/blogs/blog4.php?disp=comments en-US http://backend.userland.com/rss 60 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:01:04 +0000 Robert [Member] c846@http://www.plamondon.com/b2evolution/blogs/ Chris,<br /> <br /> My personal experience doesn't go below about +15F. According to the literature, chickens in reasonably windproof housing don't suffer until the temperature hits -20C or so. <br /> <br /> Traditional wisdom is that heating the whole chicken house works, but is too expensive, and if you do it wrong the house tends to burn down (the chicken manure and ammonia tend to rot equipment, and feathers and straw are bad for fans and heating elements, etc.)<br /> <br /> <b>Grain and Exercise</b>. The traditional method of keeping the hens warm is to have fluffy litter, usually of straw, and to scatter grain in the litter first thing in the morning and again before dark. In the daytime, the hens warm themselves through the exercise of hunting for the grain in the litter, and the grain provides the fuel to keep them warm. At night, the hens to to roost with a crop full of grain, which they digest throughout the night to provide readily available calories to keep them warm.<br /> <br /> I haven't tried the following, but I suggest two methods of keeping the roosting area less frigid:<br /> <br /> <b>Aluminized bubble insulation above the roosting area</b> This stuff goes by brand names like TekFoil and AstroFoil, and consists of a couple of layers of bubble wrap sandwiched with layers of aluminum foil. It reflects heat. Stapling this to the ceiling and back wall, above and behind the roosts, should make the area warmer.<br /> <br /> <b>Heated roosts.</b> I've always meant to try this, but it's just not cold enough to be worth my while. Make roosts out of electrical conduit or galvanized pipe. Run heating cable down the inside of the pipe. Hook up to a thermal switch if the cable doesn't have one already. Plug in. In sub-freezing weather, the thermostat will turn on the heating cable, and the roosts (and the hens perched on them) will be warm.
My personal experience doesn't go below about +15F. According to the literature, chickens in reasonably windproof housing don't suffer until the temperature hits -20C or so.

Traditional wisdom is that heating the whole chicken house works, but is too expensive, and if you do it wrong the house tends to burn down (the chicken manure and ammonia tend to rot equipment, and feathers and straw are bad for fans and heating elements, etc.)

Grain and Exercise. The traditional method of keeping the hens warm is to have fluffy litter, usually of straw, and to scatter grain in the litter first thing in the morning and again before dark. In the daytime, the hens warm themselves through the exercise of hunting for the grain in the litter, and the grain provides the fuel to keep them warm. At night, the hens to to roost with a crop full of grain, which they digest throughout the night to provide readily available calories to keep them warm.

I haven't tried the following, but I suggest two methods of keeping the roosting area less frigid:

Aluminized bubble insulation above the roosting area This stuff goes by brand names like TekFoil and AstroFoil, and consists of a couple of layers of bubble wrap sandwiched with layers of aluminum foil. It reflects heat. Stapling this to the ceiling and back wall, above and behind the roosts, should make the area warmer.

Heated roosts. I've always meant to try this, but it's just not cold enough to be worth my while. Make roosts out of electrical conduit or galvanized pipe. Run heating cable down the inside of the pipe. Hook up to a thermal switch if the cable doesn't have one already. Plug in. In sub-freezing weather, the thermostat will turn on the heating cable, and the roosts (and the hens perched on them) will be warm.]]> http://www.plamondon.com/b2evolution/blogs/blog4.php/2008/12/15/cold-and-snow-vs-open-chicken-housing-wh#c846 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:46:03 +0000 sheeplady7 [Member] c844@http://www.plamondon.com/b2evolution/blogs/ Hi Robert,<br /> I am wondering if you have any ideas for chicken producers who live in actually really cold climates. I live in Northern Alberta where we get -40C which is the same as -40F every year. We also get extended periods of time where it is around -20C. I don't know what that is in F except it is really cold. I want to have a feed made up at the feed mill but I am not really sure what to have in it. I don't like to buy the small bagged stuff because I don't know what is in it nor do I like the price. this is the 2nd year I've had hens through the winter and they seemed fine last year I would just like them to be better this year.<br /> Thanks<br /> Chris I am wondering if you have any ideas for chicken producers who live in actually really cold climates. I live in Northern Alberta where we get -40C which is the same as -40F every year. We also get extended periods of time where it is around -20C. I don't know what that is in F except it is really cold. I want to have a feed made up at the feed mill but I am not really sure what to have in it. I don't like to buy the small bagged stuff because I don't know what is in it nor do I like the price. this is the 2nd year I've had hens through the winter and they seemed fine last year I would just like them to be better this year.
Thanks
Chris]]> http://www.plamondon.com/b2evolution/blogs/blog4.php/2008/12/15/cold-and-snow-vs-open-chicken-housing-wh#c844 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:39:26 +0000 Darren Davis [Visitor] c774@http://www.plamondon.com/b2evolution/blogs/ I have tried live traps, with all types of different baits and had no luck. Now I am using electric fencing and I hope it works. I have lost about 30 birds this season. Some were quail eaten through 1" hard wire inside the yard. I have not seen the predator, but it must be a racoon. Any suggestions or advise would be helpful, thanks, Darren http://www.plamondon.com/b2evolution/blogs/blog4.php/2009/11/03/chicken-predators-return-for-a-while#c774