First snow today; Chickens going crazy.

[boersmamrs]

As it has been said to me by countless members of the BYC community, chickens have survived thousands of years without us. They are pretty smart when it comes to their own survival. My chickens hang out in the rain like it aint no thang. They do hate the wind for whatever reason thoug
h.

Are chickens smart enough to go back in the coop/run if it's cold/snowy/windy? This is their first winter. I tried to corral them back into the coop but they all ran away. They are huddled under the porch, which provides a bit of protection. I can continue chasing them if needed?

 

[boersmamrs]

Plus they don't feel the cold the same way we do.

 

[boersmamrs]

and it was 29 degrees here yesterday and they all hung out and pecked at the snow. When they got cold they went inside the coop and sat on the roost.

 

[photosinpink]

Good point! Need to keep that in mind as the days get colder!

 

[pfewless]

Sorry have not gotten pictures up I have been working on some better winter cover for the girls. I feel the coop I have the 3 of them in may be to small. I got it at the tsc. It said it was big enough for them but I feel they are to crowded.

 

[boersmamrs]

My coop is next to our sauna so I built some trusses today and connected a roof. It looks absolutely ghetto LOL. But it made the coop at least ten degrees warmer. I had water in there today that didn't freeze and it was 28 degrees ALL day. I am glad to have gotten it done, as we are in the middle of a winter storm ALREADY! It is really awful out there.. I also had a old piece of metal roofing that I screwed into the back side of the coop and connecting wall the sauna. I hung an old vinyl table cloth on the front side and they are set for the winter!! It looks so hilarious. I will sleep much better tonight knowing how much warmer the girls are. I have done all the winterizing myself without the aid of my husband, so I feel accomplished no matter how silly it looks.

 

[ericalynne2005]

Mine want to go out in the snow we got 12" of snow up here in MN. Is this normal?

 

[Quailsong]

They won't leave the coop. One of my hens is crowing. They are legitimately yelling at each other. Pecking each other.. and I think my only layer has gone broody and the smallest girls went in her nest and won't get out. She is freaking out and attacking them. It is very crazy. I worry they might destroy each other before the day is through. I think they "love" winter as much as I do.

Mine just encountered their first snow a few days ago. They were all hiding away in the coop even though there were only flakes of snow landing on the ground. I decided to help remove the fear of snow, tossed a whole pile of BOSS all over the run. They're now starting to equate snow with treat time.

 

[Quailsong]

I have pine shavings in my coop. I have heard that straw works better for winter? Is that true? I won't be adding a heat source. It gets REALLY cold here. I am afraid that if I heat the coop and the power goes out due to a bad storm that they will freeze to death.(Not acclimating to the cold nights) Our coop has really thick insulation on the outside though and a deep layer of pine shavings. It stays pretty warm in there.

You're right about the shock of heat vs cold. I don't heat my coops & it gets down to -30C/-22F here at times. They're fine so long as they've been acclimatized properly & don't have a combo of moisture + draft issues. Also, I use deep litter in my coop. Toss in whatever, even compost scraps. That heats up & gets the floor fairly warm.

 

[boersmamrs]

Mine want to go out in the snow we got 12" of snow up here in MN. Is this normal?

It's been snowing here all day. Two won't come out and two won't go in. Whatever makes them happy I suppose