I have a few tips for winter chicken welfare. I have seven, 10-month-old Aracuna Hens. We had a few nights here in the northeast where the outside temps dipped to single digits including wind chill. I do not provide heat or an insulated coop. However, I do have the run area wrapped in greenhouse plastic all around, except for 12" on top of our 9 ft. tall run for air circulation.
The North East corner is wrapped, floor to ceiling due to eastern storms and wind gusts. I implement a modified deep litter method. On nice days when I can, I go in with my muck rake and shave off the top 2-3 inches of poop and bedding and add another 4 inches of pine shavings, keeping the floor area nice and thick with shavings. At a minimum, even on cold weeks, I always top-dress the shavings.
The nest boxes sit on top of an insulated army blanket. I have a thick, thermal curtain behind their nest boxes to prevent sudden drafts when opening for egg collection. The roofline is vented to allow for air circulation and humidity control.
Here is something I do in the mornings to get my hens warmed up after a very cold night.
Don't forget to let your birds out as much as you can-weather permitting. I put on many layers of thermals and hang out with my girls as they free-range in the yard for at least an hour a day when possible.
I keep a lawn chair in the yard and multitask by catching up on emails, phone calls, and reading. The fresh air is good for all of us. Babysitting is necessary as we have TONS of hungry hawks and one golden eagle in our woods.
Best wishes to y'all and may you have a peaceful and prosperous New Year!
Kathy Jorgensen
aka: Pottstown-Pa. Chicken Chick
The North East corner is wrapped, floor to ceiling due to eastern storms and wind gusts. I implement a modified deep litter method. On nice days when I can, I go in with my muck rake and shave off the top 2-3 inches of poop and bedding and add another 4 inches of pine shavings, keeping the floor area nice and thick with shavings. At a minimum, even on cold weeks, I always top-dress the shavings.
The nest boxes sit on top of an insulated army blanket. I have a thick, thermal curtain behind their nest boxes to prevent sudden drafts when opening for egg collection. The roofline is vented to allow for air circulation and humidity control.
Here is something I do in the mornings to get my hens warmed up after a very cold night.
- HYDRATION: I provide warm water in a separate waterer from my heated one. They love it first thing in the morning like I love my coffee. They all gravitate to it and get their fill of warm water and hydration.
- FEED: I make a mixture of oats, dried cranberries, and some scratch with a few tablespoons of hot water, enough to moisten. This too gets them going and interested in their regular feed in the morning after a cold night.
- BEDTIME SNACK: An hour before bed, I make another bowl of warm oats, with some scratch and I mix in meal worms and dried crickets. The extra protein seems to help them generate a high metabolism and increased body temperature.
- DUST BATH: I put peat moss into a galvanized bucket along with cooled ash from our wood stove and warm it up by the stove. In the morning after a really cold night and all the birds have eaten, I dump the warmed contents into their dust bath. They go nuts, vying to be the first 3 hens in the dust pool! This is a pampered treat, but one that is worth it.
Don't forget to let your birds out as much as you can-weather permitting. I put on many layers of thermals and hang out with my girls as they free-range in the yard for at least an hour a day when possible.
I keep a lawn chair in the yard and multitask by catching up on emails, phone calls, and reading. The fresh air is good for all of us. Babysitting is necessary as we have TONS of hungry hawks and one golden eagle in our woods.
Best wishes to y'all and may you have a peaceful and prosperous New Year!
Kathy Jorgensen
aka: Pottstown-Pa. Chicken Chick
