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  • hens in winter

    I have 5 black rocks, only been a chicken keeper for 7 months and loving it. We had our first snow this week and was wonder what changes to make to keep them happy and comfortable.

  • #2
    Don't go mad with trying to keep them warm. A chicken is a little two-legged radiator!

    Make sure their coop is dry and draught-free. Also, make sure that have a draught-free run, if you can. They don't mind cold, they don't really mind the wet, but they don't like wind. Access to enough Layers' Pellets and fresh water during the day, and a handful of corn as a treat before bed-time, which will keep them warm over night.

    My lot regularly get soaked to the skin, and still happily stay outside in much worse weather than I will tolerate.

    Funny fings, Chooks!
    All the best - Glutton 4 Punishment
    Freelance shrub butcher and weed removal operative.

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    • #3
      Agreed - they need somewhere to shelter if they happen to be woosies like mine and dislike bad weather. Most of mine hate the wet and stay indoors all day on a wet day, just popping out when the rain stops for a while.

      I sometimes add a drop of hot water to a dish of pellets for them and serve the slightly mushy mix warm (not hot). And make sure their water doesn't freeze if temps drop very low...
      sigpicGardening in France rocks!

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      • #4
        Wussy Chooks, Kathy? Mine play in the snow, and jump in the puddles! the only one that stayed indoors in the rain was that vicious ruddy Rooster.

        They do look miserable when they're wet, so I've put a tarpaulin over their coop and surrounding area, so they always have somewhere dry to go if they want.
        All the best - Glutton 4 Punishment
        Freelance shrub butcher and weed removal operative.

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        • #5
          My hens also do not mind the cold weather, not even the wind and rain. I worried about them terribly last year as they'd just come out of the hot stuffy barn but they were fine. This year we are having a much colder winter and they don't seem bothered at all. They are free range most mornings and their run is extremely draughty, well it's just a wire fence, but they can go into their shed if they want to shelter. Perhaps after their awful life in the barn they just want as much weather as they can get
          The best things in life are not things.

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          • #6
            I worry too! Can't help it! We've put a tarp over their run so the rain stays off them unless it's coming in sideways! They go in their house and sit in a fluffed up row if they get too cold. Only had two eggs this week from four of them, but I'm told this is Normal?!
            You may say I'm a dreamer... But I'm not the only one...


            I'm an official nutter - an official 'cropper' of a nutter! I am sooooo pleased to be a cropper! Hurrah!

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            • #7
              Mine have a roof over part of their run, but they're usually out in the uncovered area, whatever the weather. They rarely go into their house during the day except to feed or lay.

              Ancee, my 2 chooks, bought Point of lay at Easter are still laying 2 eggs a day, most days.
              Could anything be getting in to pinch the eggs?

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              • #8
                Nothing can get in, it's like Fort Knox as we back onto a field so don't want anything getting in. We never get any wildlife in the garden (apart from birds) no foxes, hedgehogs, badgers.
                No sign of eggs that have been broken and eaten. They all lay in one side of the nesting box. Very rare that any of them lay in the right, they always go in the left box. None of them lay in the run, or in the garden if they are having an explore.
                That's weird vc isn't it? mine are practically the same age, point of lay, bought in April ?
                They are being feed on layers pellets mixed with mixed corn. Do you think I should change this?
                You may say I'm a dreamer... But I'm not the only one...


                I'm an official nutter - an official 'cropper' of a nutter! I am sooooo pleased to be a cropper! Hurrah!

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                • #9
                  Same food as mine have, Ancee, so its not that.
                  Maybe one of the experienced chook keepers can suggest something

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                  • #10
                    Weird hope someone comes along soon then....
                    You may say I'm a dreamer... But I'm not the only one...


                    I'm an official nutter - an official 'cropper' of a nutter! I am sooooo pleased to be a cropper! Hurrah!

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                    • #11
                      Layers' Pellets all day. A SMALL handful of corn in the evening. Feeding corn to chickens is like feeding doughnuts to children.

                      They may be planning to moult this time of year, and even of not, they will lay far fewer eggs due to the length of the day at this time of year. As the days lengthen again, so egg production will increase again.
                      All the best - Glutton 4 Punishment
                      Freelance shrub butcher and weed removal operative.

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                      • #12
                        ^^^^ what G4 says. Take the corn out, and give them a handful late afternoon.
                        It's also not a given that young hens will carry on laying through the winter, some have a rest or just lay the odd occasional egg. I'm only getting a few a week.

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                        • #13
                          Ancee, could they be selectively only eating the corn thereby reducing their laying times. I'm guessing really.
                          sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
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                          • #14
                            One year, when my kids were small and their mates used to come around in the Summer my hens had a sudden drop in egg production. They used to sit in there feeding them corn out of their hands. As soon as I stopped it, production came back to normal. Though to be honest, slowing down in Winter is very normal. I think they need about 12-14 hours of daylight per day to produce an egg, commercial growers use artificial light to top them up.

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                            • #15
                              Ah, so the little blighters are sitting eating corn, lazing about, taking it easy, chilling out hey?! Little monkeys! I shall decrease their corn, but as I have a large tub of mixed pellets and corn , it'll have to be once they've got through it! There is no way I am going to pick it all back out again! So it's as simple as them being greedy little guts coupled with being lazy equalling no eggs?! No wonder they're always laughing their little heads off. They do seem such a cheerful bunch - no wonder, their mum is feeding them 'junk food'! Little fatties
                              You may say I'm a dreamer... But I'm not the only one...


                              I'm an official nutter - an official 'cropper' of a nutter! I am sooooo pleased to be a cropper! Hurrah!

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