Very nervous first winter hen owners

[PyleGosselink]

Hi all,

Wanted to first shout out you all all to thank you for your posts as we have read them religiously in raising our pullets from chicks to full egg laying hens. Thank you all and I will try to help where I can.

Winter: We have 5 actively laying hens ( 3 golden comets and 2 barred rocks who have been laying for 3 months now, first year) We have an issue with on of the barred rocks ( oprah) who is a very large bird ( NOT the reason we call her oprah, she was named a small chick and as fate would have it.....) Oprah, in her early egg laying career laid humongous double yolk eggs, huge in comparison to the others, she has since stopped laying huge eggs and is now in line with the others.

She started off hanging out at night on the roost with the others, and would have issues getting off the roost. The roost we put in is about 2 1/2 ft off the coop floor. The others do not have an issue at all and just hop down. She no longer is able to get up to the roost and is spending her nights facing the wall in a far corner on the coop floor. Its sad and we worry about her. She kinda waddles when she walks, legs not fully extended and walks then sits. She has a little poop butt but we keep that managed, we think it is from pooping while sitting. She IS laying which is great and she otherwise seems very healthy. No eye mucus or anything like that. Her comb is flopped off to one side if that means anything and is a deep red, which looks very healthy. We started electrolytes last month in the water and ACV as well. She perks up some days and is lethargic in others.

In a round about way - this story is more about wintering our hens. We feel she is just a very big bird and her legs cant support her. Our worry now is that since she is not roosting with the others, She will freeze in the winter.....Take the roost down so the others will lay with her on the floor? Bring her in at night?

Appreciate any advise on both our issues,

Beast

Pete

 

[lazy gardener]

Hey Pete. Welcome to BYC. I see several issues at play here, that will require a few questions being answered.

First, what are the exact dimensions of your coop, including L x W x H? How far is the roost from the wall behind it and the wall in front of it. What is the length of the roost? How deep is the litter in the coop, and what is it? What do you have for ventilation in your coop? Exact size and location of vents?

What are your most extreme high and low temps during your winter, and what is an average mid winter day like? Do you get a lot of snow? What do you have in place to allow them to get out of the coop during the day? Run? Covered run? Will you shovel part of the run? Enclose the walls in plastic for a wind screen?

FYI, I am in zone 4B, 44.5 parallel, with winter temps sometimes getting below 0*F and staying there 24/7 for a week or more at a time.

 

[PyleGosselink]

Thanks so much for your reply. The coop is 2' off ground on stilts. I have attached a photo of the run and the coop. The coop is 5 1/2 x 8 and 5' high itself ( 7 ft off ground with stilts) for 5 hens. The roost is 5 inches from the rear wall, and 4 ' or so from front wall and is 6 1/2 ft in length. I do not do deep litter and use pine shavings, cleaned out every 3 weeks or so. its about 2' fluffy deep. I have 4 very large screened in windows, two on the sides are 3 + ft x 3 +ft. Front windows are 2 ' x 2 1/2 and are all about 3 ' off the floor. 3 nesting boxes in the coop ( they only use two ) and have a smaller shorter roost on a stand that is 3' long 1 1/2 ft high ( kinda like a step roost) I also keep one 2 gallon water tank hanging at head height and a 2 gallon feeder ( organic, non medicated layer pellets ) also hanging at head height.

The run is not ( yet) covered. I bought some pvc coated chicken wire I plan on hanging this weekend. I have a 12" x 12" square hole that they exit to a long ladder with slats every 2" to climb down. We can get down to -10 or so here ( I'm in mid state NY) though very rare, temps stay around 20 - 15 or so in the very dead of winter, but 0 is not unusual. Snow, varies and yes I would shovel out parts of the run when it snows. All wall as are enclosed ( 1/4" plywood and cedar siding on outside, no installation. I built window frames with plexi hinged on the top and open all the time, but they help prevent driving rain and hope fully snow from getting in.

Thanks

Pete

 

[lazy gardener]

Nice job, nice set up. You might try lowering the roost to see if that makes a difference. Or build her a ladder to the roost. Have you inspected her feet?

It looks like you have plenty of fall leaves at your disposal. I'd consider turning their run into a deep litter run. Much healthier for the birds, also eliminates any poo odor.

 

[21hens-incharge]

What I cannot see clearly is what your roost are made of. I hope you have a sturdy roost so it is not wobbling while they try to settle.

Your main roost is 5" from the back wall? To close for larger birds to get up without bumping into the wall.

She may need a ramp.

 

[lazy gardener]

Your main roost is 5" from the back wall? To close for larger birds to get up without bumping into the wall.

She may need a ramp.

Ditto that.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've joined us

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC..sorry you're having troubles with your BR.
Have you examined her vent, belly, and legs/feet closely for any irregularities?
Her ambulation does not sound good, indicates an issue.

Your main roost is 5" from the back wall? To close for larger birds to get up without bumping into the wall.
She may need a ramp.

X3 ... Roosts should be 12" away from wall for most birds. Ramp is a good idea.

I bought some pvc coated chicken wire I plan on hanging this weekend.

Depending on how you support it, you may have serious snow loading issues with chicken wire.....plus it's not predator proof. Also see a possible door clearance issue, top of access door is higher than top of run framing.

Front windows are 2 ' x 2 1/2 and are all about 3 ' off the floor.

Do you have a way to cover the windows in the winter to keep snow and too much airflow out of coop? Covering with clear plastic and leaving the top few inches open to provide ventilation should work.