Feathered feet/legs in harsh Maine winters?

[pgr]

Does anyone have any real-life experience to share about feathered feet/legs in Maine? I'm looking at a couple breeds, such as the French Marans and others, but I'm weary of the feathered legs and the risk of frostbite with all the sub-freezing temps and ice we get in Maine winters.

 

[DobieLover]

Does anyone have any real-life experience to share about feathered feet/legs in Maine? I'm looking at a couple breeds, such as the French Marans and others, but I'm weary of the feathered legs and the risk of frostbite with all the sub-freezing temps and ice we get in Maine winters.

I'm not in Maine but we get harsh winters here in NY.

I have a Salmon Faverolles rooster, several of his feather legged daughters and a d'Uccle pullet. None have suffered frost bitten feet.
I keep a thick layer of wood chips for run litter and a thick bed of hemp bedding and/or pine shavings in the coop.
I keep their heated based gravity waterer at chest height to reduce the chance of someone stepping in it. They also have a bucket waterer with a thermostatically controlled heater and horizontal nipples at chest height.
Prevent them from getting their feet wet and they'll be fine.

 

[pgr]

I'm not in Maine but we get harsh winters here in NY.View attachment 2634540

I have a Salmon Faverolles rooster, several of his feather legged daughters and a d'Uccle pullet. None have suffered frost bitten feet.
I keep a thick layer of wood chips for run litter and a thick bed of hemp bedding and/or pine shavings in the coop.
I keep their heated based gravity waterer at chest height to reduce the chance of someone stepping in it. They also have a bucket waterer with a thermostatically controlled heater and horizontal nipples at chest height.
Prevent them from getting their feet wet and they'll be fine.

I miss the snow of Upstate NY

I completely forgot to add - our chickens are free-range, so no run. Their coop is in our large, fenced yard and they did choose to spend most all days outside of the coop, even with snow and ice and wind. On the extremely brutal days I did keep them closed up, but that was only a day or two and they were going stir crazy, begging for the mini door to be opened.

 

[pgr]

Anyone else with advice on feathered legs, free ranging, and brutal winters?

 

[Lexicon]

Anyone else with advice on feathered legs, free ranging, and brutal winters?

I live in northern Canada and have a Brahma. She has no problems with her feathered feet. She walks around in snow for at least five months straight.
The one thing that I would add about our winters though is that we don't get melting during winter. Once the snow arrives, it generally stays below freezing until spring, but even during the spring melt Isabella takes care of her own feet and they look just fine.
My experience has been that feathered feet are not an issue in northern winters.

 

[Bigegges]

My amberlinks did great this winter in 3-4 feet of snow best egg layer I have ever had in the winter I was getting 6-7 eggs form 10 birds in the middle of winter and I free range them all year round

 

[SacredWaves]

I miss the snow of Upstate NY

I completely forgot to add - our chickens are free-range, so no run. Their coop is in our large, fenced yard and they did choose to spend most all days outside of the coop, even with snow and ice and wind. On the extremely brutal days I did keep them closed up, but that was only a day or two and they were going stir crazy, begging for the mini door to be opened.

I am in northern Maine. Where people go to freeze to death...lol. I have a covered run for winter. I have feather foots, and the cover keeps the snow and ice off their feet. If it's too cold, they stay in. I feel that the only way to keep the snow and ice away, is cover the run. You should have a run anyhow, imo. Added protection from predators, plus you can leave them to go in and out, if you need to leave for a bit. The cover also gives shade and air predator protection. Again, these are my thoughts, and I am no expert. I do however, live in Maine.

 

[pgr]

How did I miss all these replies?! Thank you all so much for your thoughts, advice, and input!