Recent content by annabelle12

  1. annabelle12

    Review by '' on item 'Delaware'

    My Delaware hens have grown on me. They are good birds, they just tend to make a little more noise that the rest of my flock, especially as young pullets. Maybe not the best choice if you need quiet birds. Harvey Ussery writes about how this breed has been degraded from its original greatness...
  2. annabelle12

    Review by '' on item 'Buckeye'

    I only have one buckeye hen, so that is a small sample, but I think she is great. A bit of a loner, I thought she might get ganged up on, but she holds her own, and is always off investigating something. She has also caught and eaten snakes, voles, and mice.
  3. annabelle12

    Comment by 'annabelle12' in article 'My Greenhouse Coop'

    So great! Thanks for sharing this. Inspiration for my 2015 winter plans.
  4. annabelle12

    Chicken weight issues

    Hi - I know this is an older post. If you still need info, EE are on the lighter side. Mine are at the bottom of the pecking order and sometimes get shoved away from the feed as well. I make a little extra effort to get them some feed. High protien meal worms, and even some scrambled eggs do...
  5. annabelle12

    no eggs

    Shorter days can halt egg laying. So can molting. Have they molted?
  6. annabelle12

    post your chicken coop pictures here!

    Here is my coop, modified from The Garden Coop plans. The chickens can come out into a larger space protected by electric fence to forage during the day. The whole thing is open in the summer for ventilation, then we tarp and plastic it for the winter, but the whole top still open for great...
  7. annabelle12

    Molting and adding heat to coop

    I know it! Our temps are dipping to around 10 degrees tonight. Unseasonably cold. Dang polar vortex! I agree with no heat usually - but I can see if they are featherless, it might help! Just make sure they have ventilation still:)
  8. annabelle12

    Heat lamp temperature

    Yes I agree. No heat needed! Check out this great article on ventilation...the most important thing in the winter: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-coop-ventilation-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop I know its hard not to worry, but just picture all the wild birds out...
  9. annabelle12

    How to prevent frostbite?

    oops. well, thanks for sharing anyways! just checked the moisture and ventilation in my own coop. the temps are dipping down sharply to about 10 degrees tonight.
  10. annabelle12

    How to prevent frostbite?

    @aart Thanks much for the ventilation link - instead of writing things over and over again about ventilation....I'll just share your link. Well written!
  11. annabelle12

    How to prevent frostbite?

    Never thought of that! Just make sure the chickens can't get at 'em. Don't they say on the package "do not eat" ?
  12. annabelle12

    What can you use for bedding?

    I have no experience with sand but those that use it usually rake out the poop like cleaning a cat box. Not usually used as "deep litter". I have two coops - in the one with the wooden floor I use pine shavings, adding over the poops and cleaning out to the compost pile once a month. Works...
  13. annabelle12

    winter prep?

    Make sure they have access to unfrozen water, either by changing it twice daily or investing is a heater to keep it from freezing. Make sure your coop is well ventilated...this will allow moist air to escape and go a long way toward preventing frostbite. I leave the pop door open and have a...
  14. annabelle12

    How to prevent frostbite?

    Make sure your coop is ventilated. Moist air plus cold temps equal frostbite. Coop humidity should be under 60%. I leave the pop door open and have a roof vent...a vent near the bottom and top of the coop will draw out the moist air from the chickens breathing and droppings at night. This is...
  15. annabelle12

    Deep Litter

    It depends on how bulky the litter material you are using is. When I use leaves, it can get up to 2', but usually it is below 1' with finer cover material. Just keep adding enough organic material to cover the poops. I clean out once a year, in spring, and have not found it to ever give off...
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