Free ranging in the winter?

[Mrs. K]

I use a lot of hay, older kind as bedding. When we have snow predicted, I pile it up then the next morning, I spread it out on top of the snow, and out they come. I never lock them into the building during the day, they can choose to come in or out. I do have good wind protection.

Another thing about free ranging, is that predators are hungrier in the winter, and seem to get a bit more determined to be chicken eaters in the winter time, when other food might be scarce.

MrsK

 

[NewToFarming]

Quote:
Knit them little tiny mufflers?

Sorry...I just couldn't resist!

You posted exactly what I was thinking here!!

Hmmm...I could crochet little scarfs, maybe a shawl too for my NN's!

Thanks for all the info!

MrsK....I didn't think about the increased risk of predators in the winter time but it does make sense. I will have to keep my eyes open for that as well.

 

[PatS]

We're in Northern California here and we only get a little snow. The first time it snowed the chickens freaked out, but once they got used to the white stuff, they begged to be let out of the run. They have no problem walking barefoot in the stuff for hours! Then again, our wintery temps are usually in the 30s and 40s, which is why we don't get as much snow as y'all.

If it rains they want out. If it is a horrible rainstorm, they shelter in the coop, under the carport, or right up against the house. They know what to do.

 

[Siler]

I shovel or snowblow pathways through the yard that I would use anyways and they walk in those. They won't go in the deep snow, but they'll walk up the pathways. I shovel close to the grass enough to walk on and that's it. There isn't much snow up against the house so they wander all around the foundation, go up the driveway for grit, walk up the path to the wood shop and spend time underneath, etc. Without any leaves on the trees there's more chance of hawk predation, but they have time to run under something if they see anything. The duck and the Roo will see anything before it gets close enough. They don't venture far if there's a lot of snow so we'll shovel and that's easier for me actually so they don't sit on the porch all day. We'll hang feeding stations around the yard so they keep busy. Hubs also plans on setting up a mini pavillion for all the hens to get under in certain areas of the yard so they're free of wind and precipitation. If we know it's going to rain during the day and be close to freezing at night then we wont let them out all all that day so there's no chance of it freezing on their skin. This will only be our second winter, but our first went really well. We had zero instance of frostbite last year.

 

[Frannabelle]

I shovel paths for them. I have a deck that they can go under in the winter when the snow is deep, and it's all sand under there. They love going under the deck on a sunny winter day to take a dust bath.