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Free ranging in the winter? - Page 2

post #11 of 25
10/21/10 at 11:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sonew123 

mine would rather get eaten by the dog than go in the snow!  we open the doors every morning for them-dead of winter-I come home from work only to find 40 faces squishes to the very edge of barn/outdoors-and not one foot print out there!  Sissy's  DH and I shovel pathways:-)  They very rarely use them-but we need to get in there too...


Put the food and water outside.  They'll get hungry... wink

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.   - E.B. White

 

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. - Eleanor Roosevelt

 

The best way to be missed when you're gone is to stand for something while you're here. - Seth Godin

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I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.   - E.B. White

 

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. - Eleanor Roosevelt

 

The best way to be missed when you're gone is to stand for something while you're here. - Seth Godin

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post #12 of 25
10/21/10 at 11:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Olive Hill 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sonew123 

mine would rather get eaten by the dog than go in the snow!  we open the doors every morning for them-dead of winter-I come home from work only to find 40 faces squishes to the very edge of barn/outdoors-and not one foot print out there!  Sissy's  DH and I shovel pathways:-)  They very rarely use them-but we need to get in there too...


Put the food and water outside.  They'll get hungry... wink


haha  not if the water is frozen! hahaha

Silver Laced Brahmas, Tolbunts,BBS Marans, Tolbunt mixed bucket of fun eggs and ;A bunch of projects working right now!!!!! wee.gif

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Silver Laced Brahmas, Tolbunts,BBS Marans, Tolbunt mixed bucket of fun eggs and ;A bunch of projects working right now!!!!! wee.gif

SWAP http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/swap-items-1

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post #13 of 25
10/21/10 at 11:31am

I live in the oklahoma panhandle and have triple digit summers and -10 and below winters and my chickens love to wander in the snow and eat it but of course i keep and area close to my house snow free with a large shingled oning (i dont know if thats how its spelt)

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I am a Crazy Cockerel of BYC

The Intelligent One
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post #14 of 25
10/21/10 at 2:35pm

well if the water is outside and frozen and they get thirsty enough they will eat the snow.

Raised chickens growing up, 3/21/08 raising chickens again.
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Raised chickens growing up, 3/21/08 raising chickens again.
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post #15 of 25
10/21/10 at 2:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sonew123 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Olive Hill 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sonew123 

mine would rather get eaten by the dog than go in the snow!  we open the doors every morning for them-dead of winter-I come home from work only to find 40 faces squishes to the very edge of barn/outdoors-and not one foot print out there!  Sissy's  DH and I shovel pathways:-)  They very rarely use them-but we need to get in there too...


Put the food and water outside.  They'll get hungry... wink


haha  not if the water is frozen! hahaha


If I'd known frozen water would reduce their appetite I'd have kept their water in the freezer all summer. wink

Seriously though, they don't stay inside because the snow is torturous.  They stay inside because they don't know what the heck it is.  Most chickens are 6-9mo+ before they ever see snow.  They're adults.  They don't have the reasoning skills we have.  They don't KNOW it's okay to go out in the snow.  Move the feeder outside, they'll go out there eventually and once they learn it's okay to walk in the snow, they'll act just like they did in the summer.

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.   - E.B. White

 

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. - Eleanor Roosevelt

 

The best way to be missed when you're gone is to stand for something while you're here. - Seth Godin

Reply

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.   - E.B. White

 

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. - Eleanor Roosevelt

 

The best way to be missed when you're gone is to stand for something while you're here. - Seth Godin

Reply
post #16 of 25
10/21/10 at 2:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewToFarming 

Thank you! I will see what mine do this winter!! It has already been in the thirties in the morning and they don't seem to mind at all at this point.
Do you put the vaseline on all combs & wattles or just your larger comb chickens? I know my leghorns will need it for sure but I do have some smaller comb girls.
Oh! Are there any special precautions needed for my NN's?


Knit them little tiny mufflers?lol Sorry...I just couldn't resist!

Mom to 3 sons, 2 horses, 1 Chesapeake, 2 BO's, 1 SLW, and 7 refrigerator chicks (eggs hatched after being refrigerated), they are 5 SLW's and 2 BO/SLW crosses.
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Mom to 3 sons, 2 horses, 1 Chesapeake, 2 BO's, 1 SLW, and 7 refrigerator chicks (eggs hatched after being refrigerated), they are 5 SLW's and 2 BO/SLW crosses.
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post #17 of 25
10/21/10 at 2:50pm

The turkeys plow through snow like, well, plows.  The chooks avoid the horrible white stuff.  Only concession made to weather are the tarps on the North and West fencing.  The only time the roo developed frostbite was on one of those Midwest winter days that dawned the promise of the temp. hitting the mid 60's and ended at 19°F with a steady 30mph NW wind with gusts to 50mph.

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post #18 of 25
10/21/10 at 3:28pm

very interesting posts to read im kinda worried about how mine will during winter being only 5 weeks old now but im sure theyll figure it out in time

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem."

- Ronald Reagan
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"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem."

- Ronald Reagan
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post #19 of 25
10/21/10 at 3:33pm

I was worried about this being in New Hampshire where it can get pretty cold with lots of snow.

My only addendum to the "free range in winter is okay" would be to make sure your birds are cold-hearty. Some breeds are not and would probably need more attention when it's that cold.

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post #20 of 25
10/21/10 at 4:34pm

My Japs go into the coop or the trucktop when it's too windy. The Silkies stay back unless the wind gets very bad. The Japs also stay in if it rains or is just way too cold. So, I think it depends on your birds personalities and what top bird wants to do. I have a Roo, but it's a hen that says what and when, the Roo is just to look pretty...

You can always let them out in the afternoons when it's real cold, so it's limited time out freezing their butts off. Some time outside is better than none, no?

Chickens, Ducks, Guinea hens, dogs, cats, horses, Guinea pigs, Babydoll sheep, meat rabbits, 4 Aquariums, 3,300g pond & my Fiance, all at Forever Farms!
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Chickens, Ducks, Guinea hens, dogs, cats, horses, Guinea pigs, Babydoll sheep, meat rabbits, 4 Aquariums, 3,300g pond & my Fiance, all at Forever Farms!
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