How Cold is TOO Cold for a Chicken?

That’s a question I get often:

It does get chilly here in the winter a couple days out of the year. should I bring them in? And if so, at what temperature? If it goes below 45 or what?

And I thought it was great to read this article, after getting this question earlier this week …

The worst part about having chickens is the winter. “Going outside at minus 30 degrees, managing food and water, it sucks,” says Brazelton. “The chickens handle it well, but I don’t.”

Check out this great article, that talks about LOTS of different aspects of raising chickens … cold weather, feed, health, kids and poultry, etc. The photo is from the article: (Paul Brazelton’s Bantam rooster Stripes)

And so, the answer to this question is this …

Honestly, chickens are probably pretty good down to 20*F, and maybe even lower. It mostly depends on how their coop shelters them from the elements - not so much the coldness. You may also want to add a pretty good layer of bedding material on the floor (more than an inch of bedding), it will help with keeping some of the heat in.

Also, some chickens won’t even want to go outside when it’s that cold outside. They’ll just hang out inside, which could make for cramped conditions, so try and make the inside of the chicken house as big and spacious as possible. However, chickens have feathers, which are excellent at insulating their bodies - almost like down on a goose (not quite, but I think you get the idea that they stay warmer than us).
I hope that helps?
Kelson

P.S. Check this links For 5 Great Tips on Getting More Eggs from Your Hens in the Winter.

Keeping Chickens Home … Not Roaming

I stumbled across this neat, poetic story about how you can keep your chickens happy. It also talks about what happens if you don’t.
It looks rather lengthy, but once you get started … the reading goes quickly. And it’s a cool story with a warning for all of us chicken raisers.

“Bug! Bug!” cries the brain. Rasp and tassle go the feet, as the chicken lunges, pecks and misses. Quick runs the bug, yet quicker still the hungry hen. The chase is on, one gizzard’s growling, and with a desperate lunge the chicken tries to end it all.

The moral … Keep your chickens at home.

All the best,
Kelson

Chefs Teaming Up with Local Farmers

This is a great article, that talks about a budding development in restaurant markets. Chefs, like John Besh The New Orleans Chef, are starting to focus on and work with local farmers.

Why?

“With the price of fuel, the local farmer is a more economical choice,” Besh says. “We’re not paying exorbitant shipping costs. Spending more on a smaller farm is cheaper than buying bulk produce that’s been shipped across the country.”

PLUS …

“I know how he cares for it, what he does. I know he’s not pouring bleach or boric acid on the plants to keep the bugs away. I trust him to produce a product that’s clean and without

chemicals.”

Check out this interesting article about this new development of chefs teaming up with local farmers.

Kelson

Best Winter Laying Chicken Breeds - Part 2

Last time - I started out with a couple of thoughts on picking the best winter, egg-laying chicken breed.

Today, I’ll finish that up with just a couple of quick comments:

In the Asiatic class of chickens … some strains of Light Brahmas, and a few strains of the old style Buff Cochins will let you get pretty good returns on your winter eggs. However, these heavier birds are seldom, if ever, found on production egg farms.

So they’re usually relied on where small flocks must be kept in closely confined spaces, like in a small backyard, or town lot (which is where MANY of us are doing our chickens raising - I might add).

Another important note about this … usually they are considered heavier feeders in proportion to the output of eggs they put out – especially in comparison to the American or Mediterranean classes of birds.
All the best,

Kelson

P.S. for more information about getting as many winter eggs from your flock as you can - you might take a look at this Winter Eggs Report.

Best Chicken Breeds for Winter Laying

Now that we’ve plummeted DEEP - DEEP into the heart of winter, I wanted to talk about this interesting topic that comes up every once in a while with some readers.

What are the best breeds for getting LOTS of winter eggs from your flock. Although five different tips and strategies mentioned in this Winter Egg Report, picking the best breed for you can make a big difference in the results you’ll get in the end.

The choice of the best breed for winter laying chicken stock is mostly a matter of personal preference on your part.

But here are a couple points to consider:

One very important point that you’ll want to note when raising poultry, are the requirements of the local market you are trying to serve and sell to. If white eggs are the favorites for the locals, and thus can be sold for the premium price, then you’ll want to look at Minorcas or Leghorns.

These breeds will give you decent results, although Leghorns, in general, are better summer than winter layers.

The general purpose hens in the American class seem to have the best successes with winter egg production of brown egg. Breeds like White or Buff Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds, White, Buff, or Barred Plymouth Rocks can all be counted on for getting pretty good results for this market focus.

I just wanted to start this discussion here. If you have any thoughts or comments, please add them below. I’ll finish up with some more thoughts on this next time.

Kelson

‘Doing In’ Your Chickens

We talked about this not too long ago …

the idea of what to do with chickens when you no longer need them. And, I think, a lot of people have the same outlook as this author:

I have two Delaware Whites that I bought when they were 12 weeks old. I never got to properly bond with those girls. They had never been held as babies and were not fond of us picking them up. There is just something extra special about raising your chickens from chicks. Plus, the Delaware Whites are very noisy at 7am, their poop is extra wet and it is stinky, and they are a dual breed meaning that they are good egg layers and good for meat as well.
Read more at her blog

Even with chickens that you’re not very attached to, it can be a difficult decision. However, when you signed on to raise chickens, you already made the decision that you would face these tough choices head on … whether you wanted to or not.

It’s just like facing difficult choices when you have children. You know you’re going to have to make the choices, but it’s still hard to do.

In the end, though the decision is difficult, I don’t think you can go wrong providing for the needs of your family. That’s what life is all about. And you are doing it in the most responsible, respectful, and healthy, way.

Kelson

Oh, and you should just go check out her blog anyhow … because she has a lot of useful chicken raising tips and ideas that you’ll find helpful.

Commercial Egg Producers Are Disappearing?

Oprah was on the other day. And she had a guest on the show, who was trying to shut down commercial animal production facilities - including cattle, pork, and chickens.

Now … I totally agree that these places offer terrible conditions for these animals.

BUT … if we allow these laws to be passed that limit the size of cages they can be kept in … there is absolutely NO DOUBT that the prices of the food will go up.

Commercial Egg Slideshow

Check out this very informative slide show (from the Department of Animal Sciences, at Purdue University) - detailing several of the steps involved in commercial chicken egg production. I think if you look at how this is set up, it will become clear that the ease with which they do this COULD still stay the same. HOWEVER - even if they simply expanded each cage to allow each chicken to move better - they would be losing half of their production … INSTANTLY!

I am more of the opinion that if you want wholesome, organic eggs - you should just buy them OR grow them yourself. They’re available. Don’t drive the prices up for every single person in America by requiring egg producers to meet a specific spacing standard.

What do you think? What else can we do?
Now … if you are interested in producing your own eggs on your small backyard lot, you might check out this helpful digital book. It talks about how you can get more chicken eggs, even in the tough winter season.

All the best,
Kelson

Local Farmers Promoting Their Products

Local Farm Advertising Ideas

This is a great article, out of the UK.

It’s the story of a local farmer who has been trying to spread the good word about eating and using local produce.

And it’s working!

This article is a great inspiration, and it’s definitely worth a read for any local, small farmer who might be trying to come up with better ideas for getting the word out about their produce.

My favorite part of the whole article - was summed up in that one picture.

And maybe this quote …

sales of the milk have held up in the face of very competitive pricing of retail milk and greater general economic uncertainty.

Kelson

Super Chicken … Here it comes to Save the Day ?

Recently, we finished our Chicken Comics and Jokes website.

One of our chicken comics was about a Super Chicken, who we called …
‘Cluck Kent‘

And even though we think chickens are super, I was a little skeptical of an article I read this morning.

It looks like the U.S. government is going to go ahead and start considering, and most likely allowing, the sale of genetically altered and modified animals as a food source in grocery stores to the American public.

You can read more about this here:
Genetically Engineered animals

I am deeply troubled by the government’s attempts at allowing items to be sold to us without really seeing what the implications are for people.

I’ve been reading a tremendous amount on this particular topic recently. And the nutrition value and healthiness of this food source is SERIOUSLY in question for me.

I want to encourage you to read the article. See what is coming soon. And no … this ‘Super Chicken’ may not be all it’s quacked up to be.

If you are doing any sort of backyard chicken farming - prepare to keep going with your healthier, more natural, more nutritious food source. Because, in my opinion, you’re going to need it.

Talk soon,

Kelson

Poisonous Pet Foods - general tips

HOWDEEEEE!

I love that saying. I used to hear it every week when I would visit my Grandma and Grandpa out on their farm.

Anyhow …
I caught this video the other night. Although it is for household pets - in general - I thought you might appreciate the tips and ideas in it.

And there might even be one tip for those of us who raise chickens.

The tip in the video says to avoid avocados - for birds. Apparently it causes an accumulation of fluid around the lungs and heart of birds and small pets.

But, if you want to watch the whole video you can check it out here, on ABC:
Poison Pet Foods video

I thought it was very good, and very informative.

Totally worth a couple minutes of my time.

All the best,
Kelson