Homestead mailing list

[Rob <becida AT comcast.net>]

At  7/9/2006 06:31 AM,Gene GeRue wrote:

> >It takes about a dozen heavy-breed hens to keep warm enough in the
> >winter here;
>
> Common belief denied by the many chicken books I have. The Taj Mahen
> is insulated, possibly the only insulated henhouse in Ozark County.
> Then I learned it is unnecessary. It is important to provide a place
> that is out of drafts, though there must be adequate ventilation to
> remove moisture and ammonia. Plenty of bedding, a roost above any
> moisture area, no drafts, egg boxes. All covered by a good roof and
> safe from coons. That's about the extent of hen requirements.

In northern Minnesota our chicken house was not insulated, good 
ventilation and draft free are really important. I ran deep bedding 
too. Another thing to keep in mind is chickens will eat anything so 
you want a ceiling high enough so you won't hit your head (or don't go in).
I ran power to mine to keep the water from freezing in the winter. A 
250' roll of UF (outside/direct bury) 12-2 with ground was enough.
I never had a chicken freeze but always kept a good number of 
chickens, it was really more than we needed but they were fun to 
watch run around. Eggs freezing in the winter was a problem, I had 
the idea (but never got a round2it) of running some heat tape along 
the back wall of the nest box and putting another wall behind that.



Rob
becida AT comcast.net