Cold weather care

BammysCoop

In the Brooder
Aug 16, 2016
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I'm a newbie chicken-mom. What is the best bedding for my coop to keep my girls warm during the winter? I'm in northeast USA, and it's starting to get chilly. Should I let them out during the day to get fresh air? Seems like I should know more than I do. Thanks!
 
I use sand in my Coop and Run year round....I run a heat lamp all winter...It is never warm, just warm enough to not freeze my water...I open the pop door to the run everyday unless a blizzard is happening....? I free range daily to cut out the boredom and to prevent any bad behaviours..Chickens are tough...

Cheers!.
 
What is the best bedding for my coop to keep my girls warm during the winter? I use pine shavings when available or wood pellets when they are not. Should I let them out during the day to get fresh air? Most days I leave my pop door open and let them decide except in below zero Arctic conditions (I live in Canada.)
 
I use compacted straw or straw in nests and floor of coop. I have a 4x5 foot raised coop, with hardware cloth protected space underneath, accessible from coop, for 5 pullets. The coop is in a 500 square foot pen. As long as it's not covered in deep snow I will let them out daily. I have a heated base for my galvanized waterer that I keep in the coop along with a feeder.
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Welcome to BYC!!

Bedding doesn't much matter as long as it's dry and absorbent.
They need good ventilation, even in winter, to allow moisture and ammonia to escape.

I use pine shavings on the floor, but utilize a poop board to remove poops(moisture and ammonia) every other day.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...raphic-gross-poop-pictures/1100#post_13179595


You don't need to 'keep them warm'...they are wearing down coats.
You may want to heat the waterer tho....or frequently bring them liquid water.
This is what I've come up with for hassle free winter water, it works great!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-heated-waterer-with-horizontal-nipples
 
Thank you.

Next questions.
I have 6 hens, no roo. They are all old enough to be laying, but only the oldest one is laying. I'm wondering if it's too late in the season for the other 5 to start? Also, when nature has my one layer slowed down for the winter, should I stop giving them layer feed until she/they start laying again in the spring? I'm concerned that too much calcium when they're not producing may be unhealthy.
 
Thank you.

Next questions.
I have 6 hens, no roo. They are all old enough to be laying, but only the oldest one is laying. I'm wondering if it's too late in the season for the other 5 to start? Also, when nature has my one layer slowed down for the winter, should I stop giving them layer feed until she/they start laying again in the spring? I'm concerned that too much calcium when they're not producing may be unhealthy.
I like to feed a flock raiser/grower/finisher 20% protein crumble full time to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Animal protein (mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided during molting and if I see any feather eating.
 

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