http://henandharvest.com/?p=604 Sustainability, Good Cheer, Better Food Fri, 14 May 2010 03:12:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://henandharvest.com/?p=604&cpage=1#comment-1123 Rebecca Fri, 15 May 2009 13:06:52 +0000 http://henandharvest.com/?p=604#comment-1123 I'm glad to hear that your chickens wintered well. My chickens are 9 weeks old...looking very matronly and growing like weeds. I was pretty nervous about winter, but sounds like they are the same remarkable creatures during the winter that they are during the summer. Thanks, Matt, for the update! I’m glad to hear that your chickens wintered well. My chickens are 9 weeks old…looking very matronly and growing like weeds. I was pretty nervous about winter, but sounds like they are the same remarkable creatures during the winter that they are during the summer. Thanks, Matt, for the update!

]]> http://henandharvest.com/?p=604&cpage=1#comment-1091 Robyn M. Sat, 09 May 2009 18:02:06 +0000 http://henandharvest.com/?p=604#comment-1091 If you're interested in providing mild heat but not light, you can get ceramic iguana/lizard heat "bulbs" at pet stores. They screw into light sockets just like regular bulbs, and put out heat, but no light. It sounds like your chickens did fine without it, but I thought I'd throw that out as a suggestion! If you’re interested in providing mild heat but not light, you can get ceramic iguana/lizard heat “bulbs” at pet stores. They screw into light sockets just like regular bulbs, and put out heat, but no light. It sounds like your chickens did fine without it, but I thought I’d throw that out as a suggestion!

]]> http://henandharvest.com/?p=604&cpage=1#comment-1090 Mama Taney Sat, 09 May 2009 16:18:30 +0000 http://henandharvest.com/?p=604#comment-1090 We made it through our first winter here as well. We had a really mild winter here in SW Virginia, but we did have some cold nights. We didn't bother with the light - our biddies didn't seem to care and cuddled together for warmth. They're now back out to their warm weather home - our chicken tractor. We move it to a fresh spot of grass every couple days. So far, egg production as been superb (119 eggs in April, from 6 hens, and 379 for the year as of the end of April!), though we do notice that the chickens aren't too wild about the wild weather swings here. One day it's hot, then it's cold, then it's rainy, and so on. So far this month we have yet to have a 5 egg day (our highest collection for a day so far) .. lots of 4 egg days, but also a 1 egg day. Chicken Rebellion run amok! :P Can't wait to here more about yours!! :) We made it through our first winter here as well. We had a really mild winter here in SW Virginia, but we did have some cold nights. We didn’t bother with the light – our biddies didn’t seem to care and cuddled together for warmth.
They’re now back out to their warm weather home – our chicken tractor. We move it to a fresh spot of grass every couple days. So far, egg production as been superb (119 eggs in April, from 6 hens, and 379 for the year as of the end of April!), though we do notice that the chickens aren’t too wild about the wild weather swings here. One day it’s hot, then it’s cold, then it’s rainy, and so on. So far this month we have yet to have a 5 egg day (our highest collection for a day so far) .. lots of 4 egg days, but also a 1 egg day. Chicken Rebellion run amok!
Can’t wait to here more about yours!!

]]> http://henandharvest.com/?p=604&cpage=1#comment-1082 Laurie Thu, 07 May 2009 18:07:28 +0000 http://henandharvest.com/?p=604#comment-1082 My chickens have come thru the winter in fine shape as well, here in Wisconsin. I don't insulate or heat my coop, but I do make sure it is well ventilated at the top and draft-free where they roost. I also make sure they have enough food always, and supplement with dry corn (high calorie). The hens cuddle up with each other and do a good job of generating their own heat. I hear you on the frozen water issue, but I'd rather not install a heater. I just haul twice a day, like you. Maybe I appreciate the warmer weather so much more because of this? Anyway, the chickens and I are all loving the spring weather and getting into the dirt again! My chickens have come thru the winter in fine shape as well, here in Wisconsin. I don’t insulate or heat my coop, but I do make sure it is well ventilated at the top and draft-free where they roost. I also make sure they have enough food always, and supplement with dry corn (high calorie). The hens cuddle up with each other and do a good job of generating their own heat. I hear you on the frozen water issue, but I’d rather not install a heater. I just haul twice a day, like you. Maybe I appreciate the warmer weather so much more because of this? Anyway, the chickens and I are all loving the spring weather and getting into the dirt again!

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