Preparing Chickens For Winter
Last weekend shocked us all with the 90 degree temps and it was nice to have more fall like temperatures this week. The leaves are slowly changing and the falling to the ground. Soon we will all be hands on deck cleaning up the yard and preparing it for winter. Ugh I dislike that season!!!! We are also preparing our chickens for there first winter.
We have made a water bucket that has water nipples on the bottom for them to drink from so they don't poop in it and toss tons of grass and wood chips into there bucket anymore. We also purchased a heater that will sit in the inside and keep it from freezing this winter. They took to learning that very quickly. We pecked there Beaks again the metal nipple a few times and then sat back to let curiosity figure it out for the rest of the flock.
We also bought the supplies to finish the roof for the run section. We picked out clear pvc corrugated plastic for the roof. We wanted light to come in but not snow, rain, and hawks. It was 30.00 a panel and 5 panel later it was complete. The Mr. did a awesome job on that and I feel so much more at ease knowing they will be safe in there and I don't have to look a blue tarp anymore.
Next we have to order there heat panel for the coop. I still have anxiety over this after the whole coop fire but this is the safest option we can find. Its nice because they have learned to put themselves to bed when it's dark and I just go in the run and close the door into the coop. I probably dont have to do this but I figure it's even safer.
These ladies are growing so fast and there feathers are so beautiful and I'm constantly looking at them trying to figure out if we have a rooster in the group. They are 10 & 9 weeks old today...I am pretty sure our silver laced wyndotte "Shirley is a rooster but time will tell.
We took a little trip over to the other side of town to check out the wetland board walk they just built and stopped at the park which is right next door. We are trying to get as much time together outside before we become hibernated people.
We have made a water bucket that has water nipples on the bottom for them to drink from so they don't poop in it and toss tons of grass and wood chips into there bucket anymore. We also purchased a heater that will sit in the inside and keep it from freezing this winter. They took to learning that very quickly. We pecked there Beaks again the metal nipple a few times and then sat back to let curiosity figure it out for the rest of the flock.
We also bought the supplies to finish the roof for the run section. We picked out clear pvc corrugated plastic for the roof. We wanted light to come in but not snow, rain, and hawks. It was 30.00 a panel and 5 panel later it was complete. The Mr. did a awesome job on that and I feel so much more at ease knowing they will be safe in there and I don't have to look a blue tarp anymore.
We also put a swing in the coop run for them to have some fun on. I would say 80% of the chickens use it.
Next we have to order there heat panel for the coop. I still have anxiety over this after the whole coop fire but this is the safest option we can find. Its nice because they have learned to put themselves to bed when it's dark and I just go in the run and close the door into the coop. I probably dont have to do this but I figure it's even safer.
These ladies are growing so fast and there feathers are so beautiful and I'm constantly looking at them trying to figure out if we have a rooster in the group. They are 10 & 9 weeks old today...I am pretty sure our silver laced wyndotte "Shirley is a rooster but time will tell.
Penelope
big Bertha
seriously she gives you this look like "really???" all the time
Total teenager!
sookie is sweet and curious
Oreo is so soft and gentle
look at how crazy fluffy there behind feathers are! It's crazy how they have so many different types of feathers on one bird.
batgirl and big Bertha are Henrys go to gals!
here is Shirley - the one I suspect is a rooster. the other Wyandotte is not as big as her and Shirley's tail feathers are a little taller and her comb is redder too! We will see the older she gets.
We took a little trip over to the other side of town to check out the wetland board walk they just built and stopped at the park which is right next door. We are trying to get as much time together outside before we become hibernated people.
Henry made this water color painting of his chickens all by himself. So impressed!
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