Chickens and Snow

[path.otto]

Yeah I had to cut off eggs to a coworker. I only have two layers and one stopped laying when sunset happened at 4:30. I only add light in the morning at 5 am.
So I'm getting around 4 eggs a week from one Golden Comet.
My five Golden Comets laid through two winters. Lost two last spring and one retired from laying at the same time.
I have seven Barred Rocks 14 weeks old. I'm hoping they start laying by mid-January.
The Barred Rocks are my first late summer chicks so I don't know when they will start.
My Golden Comets were early spring chicks and started to lay at 4 months, all five were laying by 19 weeks.
Do you add light?
Is that a Barred Rock in your avatar? GC

I had 4 Barred Rocks but I lost two of them. I also have a New Hampshire Red, Buff Orpington, 2 SLW and a going on 6-year-old white Americauna. They are all cold hardy and did very well last winter.
I don't add light, I don't really care whether they lay in the winter. I don't sell eggs, I give any extra to my kids during the summer and will buy mine this winter. I have chickens purely for my own enjoyment. They make me laugh!

 

[Grits&Eggs]

I love reading the stories! I lived up north as a kid and remember all the snow/chicken fun, but here in Florida, where it is humid 78 F (tonight we expect 52 - after the rain front pushes through....) the chickens are chillin in the compost pile:

 

[Cryss]

Do your chickens not just eat all of the straw? I accidentally left a straw broom out in the run for a week and came back to a nub! I just use pine shavings.

I got my rooster when he was 7 weeks old. From day one he has had a pendulous crop issue causing sour crop. In researching the condition I have read horror stories about chickens eating straw/hay and developing sour crop and worse, impacted crop. I have never used straw or hay because of this. Am I just being overprotective?

 

[aart]

I have never used straw or hay because of this. Am I just being overprotective?

Could be...many use straw and hay without impacted crop issues.
I use straw in nests and sometimes spread some in run or with shavings in coop.
Have also tossed out flakes of hay for winter diversion.
No impacted crops here(knock wood).
BUT I am paranoid about tossing large quantities of fresh grass clippings onto run,
cause they chow it down....so I just pile it along the outside of run(1/2" HC down low) and they can pick at it thru the mesh.
Everything in moderation...and be a keen observer.

 

[Kat2141]

Last winter my girls stayed in the barn all winter, and they hate being inside but must have hated the snow more because the door was open for them. This winter, it doesn't stop them unless it is deep. When we plow the path to the barn, they are more than happy to use the walkway now and come out and peck around the porch and driveway.

 

[aplummer101]

I faithfully shoveled the snow out of the run after each snowfall the last time I had chickens. This time we put a roof on their run, it cost (400$) but I am really glad we spent the money. It was a fun project that my whole family (7) assisted in completing.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I think they just don't like the change. When mine wake up to a white world they generally stay inside for a couple of days but I leave the pop door open so they can decide. Usually on the second or third day at least some go out to check it out. I've had some wade through 9" to get to the compost pile, a favorite foraging spot. Didn't do them any good, it was buried in snow. They also checked out a few other favorite foraging spots but when it is that deep they don't do much. If it is not very deep and grass and weeds are sticking through the snow they are much more likely to go out foraging.

I took this photo about five years ago in Arkansas. It snowed about 1" during the day while they were out. The change was gradual enough that they never bothered to go inside. Walking in the snow did not bother them.

In my opinion if they have a reason to go out (like forage) they are much more likely to go out. If all you have is a small barren run with nothing to forage on why would they want to go out? Depth can have an effect too.

 

[tripletfeb]

This is my first winter with chickens. Mine love the cold but hate the snow. We got one inch of snow two days ago and they refuse to go out. The door is open for them but the snow is on their ramp, they wont use it! Goofy things