feeding your flock snow in the winter months?

[JJSS89]

I realize that, what I'm saying is that you can compact snow down. Also that snow naturally compacts on the ground.

 

[RonP]

Agreed, but at a point that "snow" will be "ice".

My backyard trail to my coop is proof of that...

 

[JJSS89]

Well yeah stomping on it makes it ice.

"Snow" is already "ice"

 

[Chris09]

To keep them alive that is fine, I meant when it freezes that is all that wild birds can do.

I would encourage you to find an alternative for long term health of your chickens.

The 11 gallons a day comment is a little extreme. If your snow is extremely powdery then that might be the case but snow compacts pretty quickly and is denser than that. Of course it would never hurt for them to have more water on hand than they need.

Its not extreme, it is in fact the truth.
Do the math and you'll see.

 

[Chris09]

I realize that, what I'm saying is that you can compact snow down. Also that snow naturally compacts on the ground.

Compacted snow should be not that much different than unpacked snow, at best you might get a 8:1 (8 inches of packed snow to 1 inch of water).
The only real difference between the two is the air space and the size of the ice crystals that makes up a flake of snow. The two will still give off around the same amount of water per inch.

In fact there is very little difference between the amount of water in a wet heavy snow and a dry light snow.

10 inches of average snow = 1.0 inches of water
10 inches of wet snow = 1.3 inches of water
10 inches of dry, power snow = 0.7 inches of water

 

[JJSS89]

The biggest point we both made is that having regular water is the best way to go. I'm done talking about snow compaction rates

 

[TalkALittle]

I'm under 3+ feet of snow with another 1.5 feet expected. When it thaws in the spring, how much water can I expect in my basement?

 

[JJSS89]

I'm under 3+ feet of snow with another 1.5 feet expected. When it thaws in the spring, how much water can I expect in my basement?

And at the rate of 1.26 cups per day, how many hens could be responsibly watered during the thaw? Glad I am in the PNW this year, it's in the forties and no snow

 

[TalkALittle]

Glad I am in the PNW this year, it's in the forties and no snow

Don't rub it in. (I would have liked to have inserted an emoji here but there was no smiley face with a gun to shoot your dancing bunny!)

 

[JJSS89]

Careful, that could be considered trolling...just kidding.

I feel for you guys on the East Coast

Which is why I don't live there