How will my chickens do in snow?

[aart]

Lots of well ventilated space in the coop, especially if you don't have a good sized weather protected run.
Tell us how many birds and what sized coop(with pics) and we can help you prepare.

A heated waterer, unless you want to tote thawed water multiple times a day.
I love my heated waterer with horizontal nipples, for both no spills, no evaporation, and best for heated waterers. But need to train them to nipples before winter sets in.

I keep a path shoveled in my run, for easy access to clear snow off roof when needed and room for them to move....also speeds snow melt in run during thaws and spring.
I toss down a thin layer of straw or shavings when icy or to lure them out. Some like to walk on the snow others stay in the small shelter area under the coop...where the dirt stays dry and thus unfrozen for all year dust bathing.

So they only get frost bite when its below freezing, Right?

Freezing temps and humidity or 'wet' skin.

They do eat snow but mostly when thawed water is scarce.

Well, not mine, they eat snow despite fresh warm water always available. I wish I could have captured a pic of the snow banks with peck marks all down it at beak height.
It's funny, but annoying too, many wattles with mild to severe frostbite from snow bank noshing. SMH.

 

[jspeese]

Both Orpingtons and Wyandottes were originally developed in places with pretty miserable winters and as long as they have a coop where they can get out of the elements if they want, they should be fine.

 

[mctom]

My Orpingtons do not like the snow. If its a light dusting they will go out in it. If its even slightly deep, they stay in their coop and we have to put food and water in the coop. On occasion it snows after they have come outside and are under shelter, then they get stranded outside and will not walk back through the snow to their coop. We have to help them get back into their coop in the evening and do a head count to see that no one is hiding from the snow and still outside.

 

[LittleBigBantam]

I dont know about you guys, but my chickens LOVE the snow. When it snows they'll go out and fly around. They love eating it in the winter too. They ignore all water that we give them and go for the snow

 

[NHMountainMan]

Well below freezing. I wouldn't even think about it until it gets down to 10 degrees or less.

Just want to add that wind chill also can impact frostbite, particularly if wet. Temp of 32 and high wind can cause frostbite. So a wind block is important.

 

[ariri30]

Are both those breeds good for 'winter climate'? What are my Buff Orpington's and Golden Laced Wyandotte's going to do all winter?

They may do great in your climate, they may not. That's not because of breed but how will you house and manage them? If they have decent wind protection and good ventilation they can do great. How many chickens you have and how much room is available to them makes a big difference. The tighter they are squeezed the more likely you are to have issues.

Will they like snow? If not what do I do?

Chickens don't like change. When mine wake up to a white world they avoid it like the plague for a couple of days. Eventually some of mine will go out in it but not necessarily all of them. I think it helps when grass or weeds are sticking through so they have a reason to go out and forage some. We all have different conditions, if yours are confined to a barren run with nothing but snow in it they are less likely to go out.

My chickens were outside when this snow (about 1") started falling. The change was gradual enough that they just stayed out in it. If this snow had fallen overnight they would not have been out in it.


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How do I make sure they don't get frostbite?

Frostbite is the biggest risk. They are like you, there is a risk of frostbite anytime the temperature is below freezing. But you don't get frostbite every time you go out in freeing temperatures. They don't either. But if you put water on exposed skin you are at a tremendous risk for frostbite. You need to manage moisture in the coop. The best way to do that is to provide plenty of ventilation but don't allow a cold wind to hit them, especially on the roost. Moisture can come from their breath, poop, their drinking water, spilled or leaking drinking water, or rain or snow blowing in. The way I manage that is to have opening s well over their heads when they are on the roosts.

Great. Thanks for the information

 

[woodmort]

Generally they will poke their heads out the pop door and have a long discussion on what it is and how it got there, The general consensuses being it is something their provider put there to make their lives tougher. Eventually, if there is a path, they will come out and wander around in it until, satisfied that it isn't anything they need to deal with, they will go about their business as usual. In my case that means follow the path to the deck, go under the deck to where they are below the bird feeder and wait for the birds to kick out some good stuff.

 

[moniquem]

This will be my 2nd winter with my 3 girls. Last year my EE spent a lot of time in the coop, she hated the white stuff so I hung a couple of those basket treat hangers in the coop for her. My SS is kind of "special" and my BA didn't care about the snow.

This year I'm extending the run to make it 8X8'. Last year I only covered the top with a dark tarp so snow ended up going in the sides and it was really dark in there. This year I'll wrap the entire run with clear plastic wrap. I'm also going to put in some extra roosting bars and straw on the ground.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Thank you for all the ideas everyone!
I'm sorry, I don't have time to 'like' everyones posts...

 

[Cryss]

I have a section of run under cover so they can eat and drink in a non sow spot outdoors. I never put water indoors, don't want moisture inside. I also have clear tarp wrapping the walls of the run in winter to stop wind blowing cold. It's cold, yes, but not blustery.