I have my girl's(chicken's) in their house with a heatlamp..

[brenda67]

to keep them warm..we have @ least a foot and a half of snow here..I don't want to let them out it's just way to cold..


My question is what do you do in the winter time for your chickens?

[Missy]

Not a darn thing. I live up in the Rocky mountains. We see some pretty cold temps too. I've made sure they have a coop that is protected from winds. I have their coop (not insulated) lined with all the straw and bedding they could want. The key is to keep that dry and clean. They can bed down and get comfy in that.

I tried using these [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Pet-Supply-Imports-SnuggleSafe-Heating/dp/B00008AJH9"]Amazon.com: Pet Supply Imports SnuggleSafe Pet Heating Pad: Kitchen & Dining@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31P8rXPgW6L.@@AMEPARAM@@31P8rXPgW6L[/ame] and the girls weren't all that interested in it. they are fully feathered and pile up together to stay warm.

I know some chicken keepers in Alaska that coop their hens with no heat and let them range during the day. They're pretty hardy birds. People have kept them for hundreds of years befrore the advent of electricity or heating techniques.

Often if the hens think it's too cold, they won'[t go out. I like to give them the option though. And they have a covered run that keeps at least that much area reletively dry also, but my girls will play "plow bird" and walk paths into the snow.

I was a little worried this week with the temps dropping far below zero at night but they proved to me that it was for nought. They were fine. I make sure they have water that is frost free. (that heater thing under their water dish keeps it free of ice.)

I think if I coddled them they would have a harder time in rough weather than me just letting them be birds. You know? But they have all their needs met and then some. They get their regular chicken feed, oyster shell, and such. But I also sprout mung beans for them and give them other treats (cheerieos wheat or rice chex, table scraps, I grow grass for them in flat plastic containers for them to mow through in the winter when not much is growing etc. Heck, I'll even buy fishing lure live worms and stick those in the grass flats for them to find.

As long as their needs for shelter, nutrition, and water are met, they are very hardy .

I'd love to see pics of your girls. I can show mine if you are interested. I think I have one where they are all together.

[bonnotsm9]

We have a light in the coop for heat. Their waterer is inside with them on a heated base so it won't freeze over.

[ladytoysdream]

Last winter, we had 16 girls and got 14 to 16 eggs a day. Only using one light bulb during the day. No heaters. Lots of water.

This winter, we have 29 girls and finally getting over 20 eggs a day. Last year's girls are just coming out of the molt now.
Hubby took pity on them and gave them a heat lamp for this winter. But it is not on all the time. We use it at night over the roost area. Regular light bulb during the day. And only if the outside temp is really low. A lot of times the heat lamp is not on.
NON heated water dish. I just make sure any ice is broke and they get fresh water every day. If the heat lamp is on, the water does not freeze.
We use sawdust in the coop. And some hay bales in the fully tarped run, on the outside wall.
They get treats as often as I can find them on the cheap.

[ladytoysdream]

But I also sprout mung beans for them and give them other treats (cheerieos wheat or rice chex, table scraps, I grow grass for them in flat plastic containers for them to mow through in the winter when not much is growing etc. Heck, I'll even buy fishing lure live worms and stick those in the grass flats for them to find.

The grass ? Do you cut it or pull it, or give them the flat ?

I'd love to give them worms, but can't on our budget. I did however buy them dry cat food on sale, recently to help push them through their molt.

The cereal - do you feed it dry or as is ? If I have any extra, they get it mixed in with some wet dog food.

I also canned some dry beans recently, using my quick method to give them extra protein.

I also made suet cakes for the wild birds, and the chickens got some too. You would have thought I handed them candy

[brenda67]

Not a darn thing. I live up in the Rocky mountains. We see some pretty cold temps too. I've made sure they have a coop that is protected from winds. I have their coop (not insulated) lined with all the straw and bedding they could want. The key is to keep that dry and clean. They can bed down and get comfy in that.

I tried using these Amazon.com: Pet Supply Imports SnuggleSafe Pet Heating Pad: Kitchen & Dining and the girls weren't all that interested in it. they are fully feathered and pile up together to stay warm.

I know some chicken keepers in Alaska that coop their hens with no heat and let them range during the day. They're pretty hardy birds. People have kept them for hundreds of years befrore the advent of electricity or heating techniques.

Often if the hens think it's too cold, they won'[t go out. I like to give them the option though. And they have a covered run that keeps at least that much area reletively dry also, but my girls will play "plow bird" and walk paths into the snow.

I was a little worried this week with the temps dropping far below zero at night but they proved to me that it was for nought. They were fine. I make sure they have water that is frost free. (that heater thing under their water dish keeps it free of ice.)

I think if I coddled them they would have a harder time in rough weather than me just letting them be birds. You know? But they have all their needs met and then some. They get their regular chicken feed, oyster shell, and such. But I also sprout mung beans for them and give them other treats (cheerieos wheat or rice chex, table scraps, I grow grass for them in flat plastic containers for them to mow through in the winter when not much is growing etc. Heck, I'll even buy fishing lure live worms and stick those in the grass flats for them to find.

As long as their needs for shelter, nutrition, and water are met, they are very hardy .

I'd love to see pics of your girls. I can show mine if you are interested. I think I have one where they are all together.

Wow..thanks for all the awesome info! When my dh get's back from Georgia I will ask him to post his pictures 4 video's from his Iphone..

[Natalie's Nesters]

I use water heaters and a 60 watt light. I also feed cat food for protein as well as cooked deer meat. I give scratch to keep them warm from within.

[Missy]

The grass ? Do you cut it or pull it, or give them the flat ? Just give 'em the flat

I'd love to give them worms, but can't on our budget. I did however buy them dry cat food on sale, recently to help push them through their molt.

The cereal - do you feed it dry or as is ? If I have any extra, they get it mixed in with some wet dog food. as it, straight from the box. No sugary cereal...no frosted flakes, but corn flakes are fine

I also canned some dry beans recently, using my quick method to give them extra protein.

I also made suet cakes for the wild birds, and the chickens got some too. You would have thought I handed them candy have you heard of Flock Block? You can make similar bu taking leavings of dry or old breads, tear em up in a bowl, add enough water and mix to make like a bread clay. Add in scratch grains. Pack tight into a bakeable container. Even soup cans work. bake on a low temp, around 250 for say an hour checking after 20 minutes. If the top is browned, it's enough time, take it out, let it cool and remove from the form. let it dry out a little longer...it'll be like a rock. Set that in their run or somewhere that they'll find it. Hours of entertainment for them as they peck it apart. The bigger the better though. It might not take the full hour to bake. just keep an eye on it. the intent is to dry out the bread seed mush mix

tried to answer and respond to some of the info. hope that helps.

[Missy]

here's my girls. It's hard to fine one, as she's hiding behind the first one to the left.

Just a quick pic i took wile we were trying to make them coum out of their sleeping quarters so i could clean. You could see the snow flakes sorta. since i was standing there in the doorway. They weren't amused.

Not that you can tell clearly they weren't being very cooperative, I have an Easter Egger, a blue Cochin, a production Red, and two cookoo marans.

[madhen]

I have a heatlamp, because my coop is not well-insulated. It is open on all four sides (chicken wire), and while I have acrylic blocking the wind there are still a lot of gaps. I know they don't NEED the heat lamp, but I also know they like it, especially when I see one of the hens doing the "dead bird" pose (laying with one wing outstretched) right underneath it!!

[Missy]

I have a heatlamp, because my coop is not well-insulated. It is open on all four sides (chicken wire), and while I have acrylic blocking the wind there are still a lot of gaps. I know they don't NEED the heat lamp, but I also know they like it, especially when I see one of the hens doing the "dead bird" pose (laying with one wing outstretched) right underneath it!!

the first time I saw that, I freaked out and rushed to pick the bird up. She got pretty indignant and miffed. SHe was laying in the sun after having dustbathed. She looked a mess, but was laying there just enjoying the sun.

[madhen]

Yes, I knew anyone who had chickens would know immediately what I was talking about!

[Missy]

Yes, I knew anyone who had chickens would know immediately what I was talking about!

She even got her legs into the act, with them kinda splayed out behind and to the side she had the wing stretched out on. she was kinda leaning-ish against the edge of the area they'd dug out to dust bath in.

[ladytoysdream]

Flock block. Yes We been using them for awhile. I been buying them at Country Max which is cheaper there than TSC.

The heat lamp is over the roosts. Mr BERT is directly under it now in the middle of the roost, top shelf at night. Hubby caught him one day sitting there looking up at it. I guess he was trying to figure out how to turn it on. I caught him one day recently up on the roost myself. He got down quick and went into the other room. I think he did not want me to know he checked out the heat source often '

Several of the hens the other day were playing in the one corner under the mini roost. Like taking a dust bath. They were happy

[freebs]

i dont ahve heat in my barn, we do run regular lights 24/7 tho. I do have it all enclosed for the winter now as we also keep rabbits in there.