How will my chickens do in snow?

[Cryss]

Not sure the point?View attachment 1913635

 

[ScottKelly1974]

I've raised buff orpingtons. They did like snow if it was not too deep. Eating snow is something I've seen many animals do. It is a source of water and maybe starts as a curiosity. For deep snow, make sure you have areas where they can move around. As for my set up, there are covered areas that can handle the four feet of snow sitting on top, allowing the chickens to move around with little or no snow. The food and water are kept under these covered areas. Also the roost is next to the covered areas allowing them to move from one place to another, including the nestboxes. All this is in a protected enclosure. I don't lock them up at night. They can come and goo as they please. Free ranging is something I have to open the door for them to do.
They also have access to the snow, and they will make trails thru it if they want. It is something new for them to experience during winter.
This is also an opportunity for you to try adding new things to their enclosures.

 

[ChickConcierge]

While I don't have any better advice to add to this thread I thought you might enjoy this video I took of my chickens a few years ago of them experiencing snow for the first time:

 

[Kiki]

 

[onvirginiasoil]

I rarely see the white stuff (as it’s usually always hot here).... that’s SUCH a beautiful picture!

I know what you mean. I grew up in the Deep South, and my ambition in life as a kid was to live in a place where it snowed (and had, well, more "terrain"). Since leaving home, I have always sought to live in such places, and I do now. I'll always love snow.

It's funny, the things some of us carry with us from childhood.

 

[onvirginiasoil]

True but tossing some grain to them makes me feel like I'd doing something.

And it's not just you who feels good.

Most of my chickens are molting in wintertime. And scratch (of the sort you use) and high-protein rations do help keep them warmer. I switch from layer feed to game-bird feed when the weather turns cold because of the high protein. If I run out of it and can't get to the feed store, I give my chickens dry cat food. Given that I have two hens who are so old they don't lay anymore (and no, I have never provided artificial light, so they ran out of eggs the natural way: used them all up) and lost the third chicken of that description this year at age 13, I have reason to think my routine works.

 

[rbigokie]

Winter is quickly coming. What are my Buff Orpington's and Golden Laced Wyandotte's going to do all winter? Will they like snow? If not what do I do? Are both those breeds good for 'winter climate'?

Sorry for so many questions...

Thanks in advance!

We had arcana's in Alaska, they done ok in the snow but when it got below zero we would have to keep them inside chicken house till weather broke, they would stand outside till their feet froze off. Long as it wasn't freezing they liked the snow and would play in it.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Mary Chapman]

Most of mine don't like the snow and refuse to walk in it.

 

[woodmort]

Most of mine don't like the snow and refuse to walk in it.

That's because it's your fault for dumping that stuff there.