Chickens in winter

[N F C]

Yes I do have the waterer and feed bowl in the coop. should I move them out?

I keep mine outside in the run year-round (I'm in Wyoming so we get plenty of cold, snow and wind).

Like I said, if you move those items out to the run, the chickens will have to go outside at least to eat & drink.

You will probably need a heated waterer (or make one) if you do not already have one.

 

[Poultry keeper12]

The tarps are to block the wind. If your run is not covered, you will have to shovel it out when it snows. If you cover the sides of the run to block the prevailing winds (North and West) they will likely come out to enjoy the space.
You don't have to go broke on tarps. I always seem to have a tarp with some holes in it that wouldn't be good for anything other than a wind block. You could even put up thick plastic that you could get from a big box store. But it would have to be well secured. If it flaps around, it will startle the chickens. I have wood framing so I just took my pneumatic stapler out and stapled the tarps up in about 30 minutes.

Alright I do have some tarp in my shed… I will give it a shot.

 

[Poultry keeper12]

I keep mine outside in the run year-round (I'm in Wyoming so we get plenty of cold, snow and wind).

Like I said, if you move those items out to the run, the chickens will have to go outside at least to eat & drink.

You will probably need a heated waterer (or make one) if you do not already have one.

I do not have a heated waterer, I could make one. is there a way I can build it?

 

[N F C]

I found this information in the Articles section:
dyi-forever-water-heater.69914
alternate-method-to-prevent-water-freezing.73180

I purchased my heated waterer at TSC. Some people use things like large heated pet bowls.

I'm sure there are other ideas around, you might need to ask around for some other DIY ideas.

 

[cmom]

Here are some. You can make one. I think there is a thread on making a waterer heater.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...try+waterer&rh=i:aps,k:heated+poultry+waterer

 

[Poultry keeper12]

Thanks you guys.

 

[Kasilofchrisn]

One of the things I did to give the chicken something to do in the winter time is build them a treat dispenser.
I used a Gatorade bottle but any similar clear plastic bottle should work. Widemouth is preferred for ease in filling.
First I drilled a hole in the lid and epoxied in a large fishing swivel.
To this I attach some heavy duty string.
then I drilled some random size holes in the lower sides of the bottle just large enough to let the different scratch grains fallout .
If you pack it tightly with scratch it should stay in there until you get it fastened in the coop.
I attach a screw eye to the top of the coop and hung it at the appropriate height for the chickens to peck at it.
So rather than just picking their scratch up off the ground when I give them treats they now have to work for it parking at the clear bottle until some treats fall out.
Since I want to continue getting decent amounts of eggs I use an outdoor light timer from Home Depot and keep them on 14 hours of light.
Here in Alaska we don't get much daylight in the winter time.
I like the light timer because I don't have to be home to turn it on and off and it keeps things consistent for them they seem to get on a routine of knowing when that light is going to come on and off every day.
mine don't like to walk in the snow either and I am debating putting a tarp up over the first section of the run to give them someplace snow free for the winter.

 

[aart]

Space, lots of space, is your biggest ally in winter chickeneering.
Diversions are great, but nothing makes up for lack of space, IMO.

My run is not sheltered but for a small 4x8 area under the coop,
so my coop is big, or rather I keep the population down for wintering over.
We gets lots of snow here, I shovel out part of the run and a path for me to keep mesh roof cleared, allow some more space for birds, and to speed ground clearing at snow melt season. I toss scratch grins out in the mornings to get them outside. They don't like the snow much but get used to it, some more than others. I'll toss out a thin layer of straw if it gets icy.

I keep feed and water inside coop, easier for me to tend to it and I use lights so they need to eat before pop door gets opened at day break.

There lots of ways to keep water thawed, this is what I use.