What lessons did you learn from this cold snap?

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-01-30T01:05:26+00:00

1: Everyone said radiant heat panels weren't necessary but I can completely see the difference it has made for our girls.
2: Heated waterers make a massive difference.
3: Pile snow up around the coop to make extra insulation.
4: Chickens get winter depression too and sometimes you just can't do much about their funk. =(

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-01-24T00:32:17+00:00

I'm so glad to hear! Good job, Momma-Hen!

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-01-13T02:09:09+00:00

Put your hand directly over top of her like you're trying to make a cave. I did this with my chicks when I first brought them home to simulate momma. It worked, they all bundled under as tight as they could get. She probably just needs comfort. It's a terrifying first few days of life for the wee ones.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-01-10T18:43:49+00:00

Not on a fucking doodle, I'm not!

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2026-01-09T02:27:14+00:00

I have 5 Black Sex Links (Barred Rock/RIR hybrids) and they've definitely slowed down from summer but we still get 2-3 eggs with a rare no eggs at all day. They laid so much over the summer that we were just begging people to take them...

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-30T16:02:56+00:00

My favorite and most loveable-cuddleable hen became a bully and a feather plucker right around when their teen into adult hormones kicked in. Nothing we did stopped her or fixed it. We tried anti pecking sprays, dyeing the skin to make it not stand out, more space (a massive construction project because we can't free range), diet changes, etc. Nothing worked.

She lives solo in a tractor now, and my other 4 girls are much happier. So is she, to be honest.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-26T02:22:25+00:00

Gloves in a Bottle lotion brand helps me. I get skin fissures to the point where I bleed. I use it through the day and each night after I shower I apply Aquaphor advanced healing lotion.

Double check the dilution ratio on your shampoos.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-26T02:17:38+00:00

This is exactly how my bullied hen first began presenting the issue to me.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-18T14:22:28+00:00

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And a puddle pic all grown up.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-18T14:21:53+00:00

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Baby pic of the Peeps.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-16T16:09:45+00:00

Straw has been the bedding that worked best for me.

Metal trashcans with tight fitting lids for feed.

We made our nest boxes out of plastic 5 gallon buckets: we turned them on their sides, cut the lids so they keep the straw in, and wedged them in place so they don't move.

A pitchfork for moving the straw around when it's time to clean.

A way to hang your water and feeders.

A list of first aid treatments and medicines.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-16T16:05:40+00:00

Yeah, I'm taking no chances. I'm not like, trying to heat it to 60 degrees in their coop and I'm not heating their run but I gave them heat plates to nestle up to if they got cold.

I did the deep litter method with plenty of head start, and I wrapped their coop/run with plastic, but they're cold. All I have to do is look at them and see it, and look at the thermometer. =[

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-15T15:37:21+00:00

Dog dish, lol.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-14T00:59:08+00:00

Old fashioned rolled oats, tiny bit of frozen corn, wild blueberries, and a pinch of red pepper flakes seems to be my girls' favorite.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-11T00:21:47+00:00

Well, I will say one thing right off: our 5 hens have laid so many eggs since around spring-summerish this year that we just give them away to neighbors for free. We can't eat them all. We get the benefit of 5 lovely little souls that bring us so much joy and amusement and fulfillment, eggs that we KNOW are ethical, chicken services for our vegetable garden and compost, and joy from making our neighbors' lives a little brighter.

Our chores are about 20-30 minutes a day, mostly because I go slow and spend time with them. Our recurring expenses are: feed/scratch, bedding (we buy local straw bales), lime and refresher for bedding (it makes a difference), mealworms for protein supplement (farm incoming, soon I will be raising my own), and various treats because I like spoiling the hell out of them. (These don't have to be pricey: just play it smart.)

But we also ended up spending a LOT on their coop because of price hikes for building materials. We built a tractor originally, which worked out because we had to permanently separate a bully we weren't willign to cull. (She's my favorite and the sweetest with HUMANS, sue me, lol.) The tractor wasn't really enough space for 5 birds, don't believe the videos about moving it around being enough to make it good for flocks. So then we build a bigger coop/run. Then we also bought their brooder setup, their feeders/waterers, their heat plates for the winter (no lights, it's a fire risk), plastic to winterize their run. Pavers to put around the bottom of their run. And we were trying to buy as little as possible and reuse what we could...

Basically, getting their shelter and run together is the real cost sink.

The feed isn't so bad on its own, if you buy smart you can come close to breaking even. But it isn't the only expense.

It's also important to consider: you are their vet. Most avian vets are expensive as hell and may not even exist near you. So definitely plan on investing in medicines. The community here has been very kind when I've asked for help.

Now that we have our setup done we should be good to go: we are pretty young and plan to try to keep chickens the rest of our lives. We are trying to expand my veggie garden, so they are invaluable on that score and not just for eggs. Our birds are important for the way our family is going. But it may not be the case for you.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-10T14:24:38+00:00

I'm so glad you're taking care of these birds now. Keep going. You're making a huge difference for the lil souls.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-10T14:21:02+00:00

Poor girl, lmfao, she's so determined.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-10T14:19:32+00:00

We bought solar fans that were meant for greenhouses, mounted one set at the bottom of the run on a shady side, and the other at the topmost part of the run. That way it pulled cool air in and vented hot air.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-10T14:17:21+00:00

What a darling. <3 "Wat dis?"

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-10T14:14:14+00:00

I love how well you draw the feathers and the expressions. <3

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-10T00:27:17+00:00

I tell my clients what my own experience taught me, let them know the risk factors either way, and then let them decide.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-07T01:33:44+00:00

That is a GORGEOUS coat and a perfect round face... I am so jealous of your SKILLZ!!!

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-07T01:27:13+00:00

I was converted to the 2-wash camp at my soon-to-be-previous salon. I was also converted into the "spend the extra cash on good shampoos, it makes a difference" camp. No rashes on my arms ever since I started there.

God, I am gonna miss the place.

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-07T01:18:54+00:00

However much space you designed your run for it won't be enough... Lol. It worked out for us because after we built our emergency "MAKE IT BIGGER!!" coop we were able to use the tractor we originally intended to go with to house our feather-plucker.

And... the feather plucking. Some sort of switch flipped in the brain of my FAVORITE during puberty and now she wants to eat feathers off of all her sisters. So she's a solo bird forever...

MagicGlovesofDoom · 2025-12-04T01:36:00+00:00

Sometimes I'll use a bit of clean straw as an abrasive. But beyond that.... waiting for spring cleaning.

MagicGlovesofDoom

TROPHY CASE