How do you get ready for winter?

[PingoBags]

The only thing I do different is add a heated waterer and I add some plastic to the run to stop snow blowing in. We get big snow drifts sometimes but even without the drifts, we get those meh days

 

[Farm Gurl]

Some very good tips here! I love the cabbage idea!

I have a tarp on the north side of the run to block the wind. Soon they will have a house

 

[Farm Gurl]

As for boredom, we switched out their sawhorse roost for an old above ground pool ladder. We're moving a stump into their run as well as the added hay bale. I want to find some bigger tree limbs to put in their for them to play around in.....

I hadn't thought about limbs! I have plenty of those laying around and my chickens would love it!

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I know I cannot stress this enough, but dry bedding is so important year round; but it is vital in the winter, if you want to keep ill free chickens.

Ok, so I have a big coop using deep litter over a dirt floor, when I clean out the hay and debris from the waterers it goes into the bedding. I really have not worried about it as I live in a dry climate and the bedding seems to need/want moisture to properly decompose. Reading this now I am second guessing my coop management.

Gary

 

[RodNTN]

X2 Gary! I have been saying the exact thing all over BYC! Dry bedding plays a major part in keeping a chicken happy and healthy

 

[cavemanrich]

I know I cannot stress this enough, but dry bedding is so important year round; but it is vital in the winter, if you want to keep ill free chickens.

Ok, so I have a big coop using deep litter over a dirt floor, when I clean out the hay and debris from the waterers it goes into the bedding. I really have not worried about it as I live in a dry climate and the bedding seems to need/want moisture to properly decompose. Reading this now I am second guessing my coop management.

Gary

Deep litter needs moisture to function. I think your coop management is FINE.

 

[Smr]

I use a mix of hay and pine shavings. Then I mix scratch seed in it, and my birds have a field day.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Deep litter needs moisture to function. I think your coop management is FINE.

Thanks, I feel like I am doing it right but this is also my first winter, I have so much ventilation I am not worried in the least about condensation. Coop link to right, I am pretty proud of my setup.

Gary

 

[RodNTN]

I use a mix of hay and pine shavings. Then I mix scratch seed in it, and my birds have a field day.

Haha! Hay can keep my chickens entertained all day long!

 

[alibabba]

ETA in PA.
Haven't read any yet, just had to jump right in... What do I do to prepare for winter? Ah nothing...
Seriously.
Yesterday, got tired of taking hot water to the buckets, filled the plug-in waterer.. and plugged it in.

Poop about 2 inches high on the floor under roosts, I'll get to it....

Put doors back on shed/coop? (blew off over the summer storms)Nah. They're good.

Oh one thing, last week got eye to eye with a Cooper's hawk that flew down, so I did throw some yarn up, zig zag over part of the yard where the chickens hang out, grazing.

In 4 years, have not lost a toe, or a comb or a bird to cold.

Oh at first, I babied them! Blankets over coops, doors closed on long cold snaps.

I will still shovel paths in the snow... So they can get around if they choose to.