| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| MissWhit |
Posted - Jun 18 2008 : 6:47:22 PM
Hello all! I am moving to Maine this October (about smack dab in the middle of the state) and am going to be getting chickens in the springtime. I have always wanted some Buff Orpingtons and a few Barred Plymouth Rocks, but not sure how they'll handle a cold Maine winter - any experience with especially cold-hardy breeds??????
"The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest." Thomas More
Farmgirl Sister #154 |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| therealshari |
Posted - Jun 22 2008 : 10:04:38 AM
Here on our wild and crazy desert where winter night time temps can drop to -30 and the wind blows at least 10 mph and ofter more like 30 to 50 mph, we have Black Astrolorp, Buff Orpington, Plymouth Barred Rock, a Silver Wyandotte, and a couple White Rocks.
Yes, their combs get a little frost-bitten, but that hasn't kept them from their appointed job.
We do hang an infared light way high and let it run 24/7 from Oct to Apr. We also get eggs all winter long. The hens are really good about staying on the nest so they don't freeze before we get them gathered twice a day.
We don't keep heat on the water (potential fire hazard), but we do provide fresh water twice daily. They learn to drink when the water goes into the house.
Their little trap door is left open unless there is a N or NNE wind, as that blows into their house. That is our coldest wind, and they're grateful for the confinement during those times.
They will go outside on a sunny (although freezing) day even with snow on the ground.
We too, use 2x4 for their roosts and we line the nest boxes with leftovers from skirting our sheep fleeces. Just call our hens spoiled!
Shari Thomas
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| Renee M. in Michigan |
Posted - Jun 21 2008 : 6:47:37 PM
We're in Western, lower Michigan and have had chickens for years. Our coop is a moveable type, made of wood with a trap door that can be closed. We don't use a light for warmth in the winter, and the hens do fine. However, more of a problem than keeping the hens warm is keeping their water thawed. My husband devised a heater to sit under their water fountain using two tin feed pans with a 40 watt lightbulb between them. That's more of the concern for us -- keeping water unfrozen. Also, we made our roosts out of 2" x 4" with the wide part (4") what the chickens sit down on rather than grip with their feet. That helps them to keep toes from getting frostbitten. We're had Americaunas and Barred Rocks. I didn't notice either being more cold hardy than the other, but I've never lost any chickens to the cold.
-- Renee M. up in the mitten
Farmgirl #211
No woman ever made history by behaving herself.
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| MissWhit |
Posted - Jun 20 2008 : 3:10:21 PM
Thank you all SO much for all your help :) I have had a lot of fun researching and checking out different chicken coops - I can't wait to design and build one - the introduce the little chickies to their new home :)
"The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest." Thomas More
Farmgirl Sister #154 |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Jun 19 2008 : 08:56:47 AM
Hi ladies! I just had to jump in here. I know that any chicken with a smaller comb (ie-- rose, walnut, pea etc...) usually can tolerate colder weather pretty well. Those single comb chickens (like the Plymouth Rocks) usually do get frotbitten in colder weather, but, like the other ladies said Whitney, if the chickens have good, draft free shelter with warm bedding in the bottom of the hen-house, just about any chicken breed should be able to live in the colder climates. You might also look for a breed that was specifically developed in some of the colder states. Then you are guaranteed to not have any cold weather issues. Have a safe move!
Aunt Jenny~~~ Love, LOVE the cute chicken house!!! ~~~ Hugs to all ~~~ Tracy
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| mellaisbella |
Posted - Jun 19 2008 : 07:59:05 AM
I Live in Canada and we are on the ocean here. The winters are cold (-40) and the wind whips around. I have white leghorns and they did well. The combs got a wee bit frostbitten, even with the heat lamp. They enjoyed going outside during the day and are still here today....didn't loose one!
"learn to watch snails" SARK |
| Mumof3 |
Posted - Jun 19 2008 : 07:33:25 AM
my dad had chickens in Massachusetts and did nothing except lay down a heavier layer of shavings for them. The hen house (which was inside the barn) had a window which allowed for sunlight to come in and warm it up during the day. We never lost a chicken!
Jenny- I love your outhouse hen house!
Karin
Farmgirl Sister
# 18 :)
Wherever you go, there you are.
www.madrekarin.blogspot.com
www.madrekarin.etsy.com |
| Ms.Lilly |
Posted - Jun 19 2008 : 07:23:07 AM
I have Buffs and they did just fine this winter. Granted I am in Oregon and my winter is a little milder than yours, but they played in the snow and had a blast! We did leave 1 heat lamp on in the coop at night on the really cold nights.
Lillian |
| Annab |
Posted - Jun 19 2008 : 03:26:57 AM
I have had buffs too.
They have done well thus far.
So long as you keep 'em out of a draft they should be ok
Your bigger problem may be frostbite on combs.
I read where you can put petrolium jelly on combs and this wil help
As a whole, most chickens do ok but have more difficulty with hotter temps
Best wishes!
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jun 18 2008 : 6:51:52 PM
 Mine handle winter quite well with just a wooden hen house with an Aunt Jenny size door and a chicken size small door out to their fenced yard. No lights, just alot of pine shavings for bedding. We have plenty cold winters here in the mountains in Utah too..but when I lived in No. Minnesota I did have a light in my henhouse. They are pretty hardy if they can get in out of the wind and all. My hen house is made from an old outhouse. The kid's painted it.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
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