Chickens who HATE snow?

[Searsmom]

I wonder if folks could weigh in on the issue of wet straw getting moldy? I have the same question- I'm dealing with a flooded out run, and have three "ruined" bales of straw I could open to try to absorb it. But if they were walking on wet straw for a couple of weeks, is that as much of a health problem as walking in standing water?

What I would do: If it's in a confined area, yes worry. If it's out in the open, like in an outside run that is muddy/flooded, then the sunshine and constant use will take care of any mold issues. The chickens aren't confined with the mold in an enclosed area, there's plenty of fresh air. Just make sure they're out of the run when you spread it. And, if there's definitely mold - a lot of it, I might not use it. If it's minimal or you just don't know, spread it, and stir it (lol), turn it so it all gets exposed to sunshine and wind. It will be kind of like compost.

I have bales stacked on the side of the run under the chicken house to block the wind in the winter. Come spring, I take those bales and spread them in the run because we always get too much rain. Those bales are rained on, snowed on, have grass growing out of them by spring and usually have lots of creeply crawlies that the chickens and ducks love but that make me shudder.

Sometimes the rain is so bad that I just separate flakes and put a layer of flakes over the entire area, the compact form of the flakes keeps the chicken feet from getting as wet as they would if I separated and spread them.

 

[808inVA]

My egg birds would come out for food or warm water, they would hop/fly between dry spots to get where they wanted to go. The Cornish x would run out, and end up walking in slow motion by the time they got where they wanted to be. We got maybe 4 inches at most all year, but the cold was pretty intense. One of my roosters lost his comb to frost bite, hasn't fallen off yet but I imagine if you grabbed it and let him take off he would leave it behind like a lizard tail.

 

[poodlechicks]

What I would do: If it's in a confined area, yes worry. If it's out in the open, like in an outside run that is muddy/flooded, then the sunshine and constant use will take care of any mold issues. The chickens aren't confined with the mold in an enclosed area, there's plenty of fresh air. Just make sure they're out of the run when you spread it. And, if there's definitely mold - a lot of it, I might not use it. If it's minimal or you just don't know, spread it, and stir it (lol), turn it so it all gets exposed to sunshine and wind. It will be kind of like compost.

I have bales stacked on the side of the run under the chicken house to block the wind in the winter. Come spring, I take those bales and spread them in the run because we always get too much rain. Those bales are rained on, snowed on, have grass growing out of them by spring and usually have lots of creeply crawlies that the chickens and ducks love but that make me shudder.

Sometimes the rain is so bad that I just separate flakes and put a layer of flakes over the entire area, the compact form of the flakes keeps the chicken feet from getting as wet as they would if I separated and spread them.

I have tarp covering the chain link fence around and above my coop/run, except for one side. My concern would be that as the temps rise, the mud + straw could result in mold growth. That's why I haven't put anything on the ground to dry it out. It's a muddy mess.
For now, I think straw might be a good idea because we're in the 40s here and 20s at night.The outside doesn't concern me as much because the chickens don't want to go where there is snow. I have pine shavings in the run, but they are just too expensive to spread inside the fenced area.

 

[Chickens R Us]

My chickens hate the snow, when I open the door they will just peek out. A few of my older hens will fly as far as they can to get to my woodshed to have a dust bath and sun bathe.

 

[Concerned01]

My girls don't like the snow either, we had a storm and the girls were out. Red went in before it hit, Runner and Bertha poor things were paralyzed.
They were just standing there not moving, I had to pick them up and put them in the coop. They were so happy to be warm and dry.
I let them out for fresh air and Bertha will get on their stump and will not move till I get her and put her in the coop.
Their feet get so red with the cold. I just can't stand it so I limit the outside time so they don't get too cold.
The cracked corn really is wonderful and they love the fodder this time of year. But not the snow.

 

[Chickadee42]

My girls hate the snow! They don't want to get their precious little feet cold!
They hate it so much that instead of walking across the scone to get to the waterer 2 of my pullets sat on their outdoor roost and ate the snow!

 

[ownerof7chicks]

No worries! I'm pretty sure that chickens hating snow is pretty normal. My chickens hate snow and they only walk on the snow when one of the braver one comes out and walks. They run on the snow though. If the snow is hard they are not afraid to walk on it but if the snow is soft and they can sink down, they are so scared they won't even come out their coop! We have to shovel a path for them! So no worries! It's all good!

 

[Hooligans7]

Mine don't like snow, but they gradually get used to it. I always have to shovel out an area where they can see a little bare ground — even a couple of times a day. If the snow stays deep and fluffy, they won't walk in it. But if the snow gets a hard crust on top, they'll walk all over it, and a subsequent dusting of snow doesn't deter them. They'll always make their way to protected areas where the snow didn't get into, and scratch and peck the frozen ground. They can't get much of anything, but it makes them happy.

 

[chefintc]

All but one of our six hens will venture out for a snack of apple core or scratch.

 

[rlkern]

I have wondered if the adversity to walking in snow has to do with not necessarily the exposure to predators but the fact that they can't see the dark terra firma that they are used to walking on. Maybe they think the ground is gone and it's not safe.