What should I do with my chickens in the winter?

Question

Hello! A few months ago I brought three brown leghorn chickens as pets and they're all such beautiful ladies. However, I am slightly concerned about what I should do with them in the winter. Last year in our garden we had over three feet of snow lasting over three weeks before it was all fully melted.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Imperial-Chicken-Coop-Poultry-Rabbit/dp/B004NP3N7A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319763839&sr=8-1

This is the chicken coop I own, and yes, whilst the nesting box is high above the ground, I have concerns as to whether this will be okay for them if we receive the same amount of snowfall this year.

Now I am willing to bring them inside and keep them in a fairly large room in our house, however my main concerns are a) the flooring is wooden, so will they be comfortable walking on this, and if not will covering the ground with sawdust and wood chippings like I do in their coop now make them more comfortable? b) How will they cope with (excuse the pun) being cooped up without any access to grass and being in an environment where they will constantly have humans around them where as in the garden they're mostly free to roam by themselves? and c) if they won't cope indoors, how else can I deal with keeping them from freezing and safe?

Thank you for any advice! This is my first year looking after chickens, and since I got the during the summer, I've not yet had to worry about them in cold conditions.

Answer 1

You have a very nice coop for your birds, now for winter you might want to place straw around the base of this coop(bales)You can staple card board around as well this is a good insulator the straw will keep the snow away from the ground level of the coop and away from the birds area and keep the floor dry since snow melts You might want to hang tarps around the coop to keep elements out as well..The birds will be fine as in having this type housing.

There is no need to bring the birds into your home unless the coop is drafty and the birds can or will become wet or snowed in and have no protection from the elements at all then bring the birds to a better place to be comfortable.

You could run out and buy them all parkas and tiny snow boots LOL LOL just kidding HUMOR

Good Luck and I wish you and your birds well...............

Answer 2

Keeping Chickens In Winter

Answer 3

You have a very nice chicken coop and I wouldnt be that worried about your chickens in that in the winter. What i do is if you have some sort of tarp, cover the far side of the coop. This isnt nessisary, but your chickens will love it because they'll still get to walk outside. Because my chickens hate walking on snow.



Chickens are very hardy animals. They'll definitely survive winter, no matter how cold it gets. Just of course use a water heater so the chickens have an unlimited supply of water. Also, during winter I mix my chicken food with cracked corn. My dad says it gets fat on their bones for the winter. Sometimes I'll even just toss it on the ground in their coop so they scratch through it around and warm themselves up.



I wont worry about answering about the stuff about indoors because Im sure they'll be fine. Even if you do bring them in chickens can survive if you just let them run around or if you keep them locked up. If you notice they start slipping on the hardwood floor though, id get them off the floor quick. It could cause them spradleleg which isnt good.

Answer 4

Although you may not do well in the snow a chicken has long been adapted to live in the cold and will be fine. Heat is the chickens real issue not cold. as long as they have a draft proof shelter with dry air they are fine. the moisture in the cold is what causes the issues not the cold air. if they have plenty of ventilation they are perfectly fine. moisture causes frost bite but other than that they are not bothered by the cold. My hens are all fine in a dry shelter when it drops well bellow zero. Never lost one, the only issues ive had is frost bite when i shut their windows (not a good idea). I strongly do not recommend a heater- it will do more harm than good. those heaters can be real fire hazards when in a closed in coop surrounded by bedding. Second of all its not natural for the hens body to be in a warm environment at night when the heater is on, then during the day head outside and become cold. They will get used to the warmth at night and raise their body temp, then during the day they suddenly get cold. its better for them to stay the same temp night and day and be able to regulate their body temperature themselves.

There is absolutely no need to bring them inside your home, trust me they are fine. they will poop everywhere and stink up you house. Sometimes on the coldest days i will lock the birds into their coop to crowd together for the warmth. they do not like being confined and will throw a real fit. These birds do not mind cold and would rather be outside doing their thing than confined in a warm area. A chicken is not a person, a chicken is designed for extreme temperatures and has a thick coat for a reason.

If you temperature goes bellow -50 (F) then i would say you may want to install a heater but anything higher than that they are fine on their own.

Answer 5

Chickens are quiet hard birds and can live happy outside all year . It is important that they have a nice dry weather proof coop with plenty of dry clean bedding. Of course if you get alot of snow you are best to clean it from the ground in there pen and around it . But it want bother them. Make sure they have a good healthy diet and that when really cold that there water doesn't freeze up.

Answer 6

If you just get a little bit of snow I would not be too worried. Providing the chickens have plenty of sawdust and hay to get snug and cosy in their house they will stay warm.

It is also a good idea to move their house to a part of your garden that is sheltered but also gets plenty of sunshine. They dont want cold draughts blowing through their house.



If you do bring them indoors because there is a lot of snow then put plenty of woodshavings on the floor, hat is the best thing to do with keeping them indoors. You want them about two inches deep on the floor. As they will have no access to outdoors they will need some greens like a bit of cabbage or lettuce to make their diet more varied.



Also if you bring them indoors keep them in a room with a window and don't use indoor light or the curtains. They will need the natural daylight to let them know when to get up and go to sleep

Answer 7

If you are a beginner or have done some woodworking you will find these plans easy-to-follow as the instructions are very clearly written https://tr.im/bkxgu



The woodworking plans are straightforward so they are not complicated at all. Even if you are a total newcomer to woodworking you will simply be able to master all the techniques that are needed and the woodworking skills very quickly by following the concise and clear instructions.



Another thing which is so great about these woodworking plans is that there have been some videos included and there are some to guide you in how to build benches home furniture dog houses bird feeders sheds and much much more.

Answer 8

Put coup in shed or garage. As you know they put themselves to bed. So you can close the shed or garage door. Open at dawn. For bedding use Rapport. For our chicks {our babies} we give them some dried meal worms about 10 we give them their mash with pasta and tinned sweet corn mixed and some oyster shell. About 12 some set yogurt. Then about an hour before it gets dark another mash mix. The corn releases body during the night. Warm chicks are happy chicks. Ours laid all through the winter. They are prone to red mite. Next tear keep an eye out for them, when they go to bed check the joints. If you get them remove the coup to a safe place. You can use a large box as a temp coup. Cut an air hole in the back and when they settle at night put a heavy blanket over. Take the infested coup apart and creolote it. This will kill tha red mite, they will not return again. It will take about 3 weeks for the smell to go. So during that time make sure at at night that you shut garage or shed door. Also last winter we had a lump of polystyrene put ontop off nesting area. We have read load of books. very interesting. If you need any help you can contact me on [e-mail]. Good luck sounds like you are a good chicken mum

Answer 9

If you decide to bring them indoors, put the chips and sawdust down as much for the protection of the floor as for the comfort of the birds. They can stand the chill pretty good, but for the real cold nights, an electric heater to keep the chill off might be nice. Just remember to check it so it does not overheat and start a fire.

Answer 10

I suggest you follow this thread on Poultrykeeper Forum, which gives lots of detailed advice and will answer all your questions about keeping chickens in winter.

http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5037



and then maybe you'd like to join us all on the Forum, which is a very friendly place to ask all your chicken-related questions. Hope to see you there!



PS The main point is - DON'T keep them indoors! Give them proper shelter and they'll be fine, chickens are hardy birds and need fresh air, out of doors.

Answer 11

Do not let them in the house - ever! They poo everywhere they walk.



Winter isn't a problem for chickens, so long as they're dry, their feathers will keep them warm. They won't grumble about being cooped up either.

Answer 12

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Answer 13

heaters will harm them, no need to bring them indoors, just make sure they have clean straw and keep a regular eye on their water, extra mixed corn can be given as this generates heat, you can always rub a little Vaseline on the comb n wattles to avoid frost bite

Answer 14

Don't bring them inside, hens have thick layers of feathers and they're very well insulated. In winter just have extra bedding in there and they walk through the snow and scratch about quite merrily.

Answer 15

You could put a heater in the coop but it would cost a fortune and could set fire to the coop and burn them alive..I'd say they would be grand inside at night,let them out for a few hours during the day.they'll be fine...Its nice to see that they are still people out there that care enough about their pets to bring them inside..