Do you let them out in the winter?

[Chickenaddict]

I don't let mine out during the winter because they don't want to go out. I enclose their run in tarps and plastic sheeting and lay down tons of straw or hay in the run and keep a heat lamp on 24/7 in their coop. Winters here are brutal like -40 below brutal. It was sooo cold last winter I brought them into the garage for the rest of the season which was sooo much easier to care for them as well as keep a closer eye on them. Cleaning out frozen waterers and coop cleaning when it's that cold out was not fun at all. I can't tell you how many times my gloves got stuck on the kennel door from changing their water. I opt for the garage coop again this year as well where the temps never get below 20

 

[egggarden]

If it is above 10 degrees out, I open the pop door. And like Sparks (who is also in Wisconsin!) I throw bags of leaves on top of snow. When the sun shines on the darker leaves, it melts the snow beneath. Our chickens don't like to stand in snow, but they do like to eat it!

 

[Buff Hooligans]

I think my girls would go bonkers if I kept them in that small coop for more than a day... They come out if they want to.

 

[cmom]

My brother live in northern Michigan. His chickens live in his barn and free range at their will.