When I looked into getting my feather footed friends I read somewhere that in winter their feet can get incased in ice, snow and mud. To take care of them you have to give them warm foot baths and if they'll handle it, the blow dryer.
I built my coop and area on a hill so that it wouldn't be...
my hens would be happy to stay in the green house but its not safe for them. its sheltered a little bit warmer than outdoors and lots of roosting places. since I got rid of my nasty roo they just don't seem to want to go in the hen house as much. more often than not I find them sitting outside...
There are a lot of chickens from the northern hemisphere. Icelandics come to mind. Also Brahmas handle the cold very nicely. Chickens adapt and the only reason really needed for light is egg production or keeping their day light hours long enough for them to eat and drink or exercise.
I live...