Free ranging in the winter?

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
Put the food and water outside. They'll get hungry...

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
Put the food and water outside. They'll get hungry...

haha not if the water is frozen! hahaha

 

[Panhanle RIR]

I live in the oklahoma panhandle and have triple digit summers and -10 and below winters and my chickens love to wander in the snow and eat it but of course i keep and area close to my house snow free with a large shingled oning (i dont know if thats how its spelt)

 

[TechEdFireman]

well if the water is outside and frozen and they get thirsty enough they will eat the snow.

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
Put the food and water outside. They'll get hungry...

haha not if the water is frozen! hahaha

If I'd known frozen water would reduce their appetite I'd have kept their water in the freezer all summer.

Seriously though, they don't stay inside because the snow is torturous. They stay inside because they don't know what the heck it is. Most chickens are 6-9mo+ before they ever see snow. They're adults. They don't have the reasoning skills we have. They don't KNOW it's okay to go out in the snow. Move the feeder outside, they'll go out there eventually and once they learn it's okay to walk in the snow, they'll act just like they did in the summer.

 

[oldchickenlady]

Quote:
Knit them little tiny mufflers?

Sorry...I just couldn't resist!

 

[ivan3]

The turkeys plow through snow like, well, plows. The chooks avoid the horrible white stuff. Only concession made to weather are the tarps on the North and West fencing. The only time the roo developed frostbite was on one of those Midwest winter days that dawned the promise of the temp. hitting the mid 60's and ended at 19°F with a steady 30mph NW wind with gusts to 50mph.

 

[usmcmp]

very interesting posts to read im kinda worried about how mine will during winter being only 5 weeks old now but im sure theyll figure it out in time

 

[Kevin Freeheart]

I was worried about this being in New Hampshire where it can get pretty cold with lots of snow.

My only addendum to the "free range in winter is okay" would be to make sure your birds are cold-hearty. Some breeds are not and would probably need more attention when it's that cold.

 

[secuono]

My Japs go into the coop or the trucktop when it's too windy. The Silkies stay back unless the wind gets very bad. The Japs also stay in if it rains or is just way too cold. So, I think it depends on your birds personalities and what top bird wants to do. I have a Roo, but it's a hen that says what and when, the Roo is just to look pretty...

You can always let them out in the afternoons when it's real cold, so it's limited time out freezing their butts off. Some time outside is better than none, no?