It may be August but the first frost is just around the corner

[Chichi_08]

I realized today that the cooler weather and shorter days are just around the corner. Being new to backyard chickens I want to ensure that the ladies are comfortable this winter. We live in Ontario so very cold snowy days are inevitable. I plan on covering the run in plastic, but I'm not sure how often they will want to come out of the coop with the cold days. Any suggestions on how to keep the warm? Entertained? Should I provide them with extra light during the days? Thanks!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Don't cover them up too much, it can cause condensation. Your chickens should be able to keep themselves warm as long as they stay dry and draft free. After it freezes you may want to put hay or straw bales around the coop. Do you get a lot of snow? How will you shovel out the run?

I use hay for mine to stand on after I remove the snow. I take warm water out twice a day and I use rubber bowls and buckets so I can bash out the ice.

 

[Chichi_08]

We can get a fair amount of snow. I was thinking I'd cover most of the run and some of the screens in the coop. Thought I should keep some fresh air flowing through the coop. As for shovelling the snow, if it's needed I don't have a problem shovelling out the run if it's needed. Good idea about the hay. I use it now to cover the run. I was looking at purchasing one of those heated bowls. Are they any good?

 

[CapricornFarm]

I used to just hang a light bulb near the waterer and it kept the water open enough for them to drink and extended their daylight hours. I stapled plastic feed bags over screened in areas to break the wind.

 

[CapricornFarm]

The chickens didn't seem to mind the cold in TN. But a few of the roosters did lose some tips off of their combs. I shut up the coop at night, even the pop hole so they stayed in if the temperatures were very low.

 

[BantyChooks]

Don't cover them up too much, it can cause condensation. Your chickens should be able to keep themselves warm as long as they stay dry and draft free. After it freezes you may want to put hay or straw bales around the coop. Do you get a lot of snow? How will you shovel out the run?

I use hay for mine to stand on after I remove the snow. I take warm water out twice a day and I use rubber bowls and buckets so I can bash out the ice.

X2 on that. While I don't shovel the snow out of the run more than I need to make sure the door swings, I still leave the door open unless it's in the middle of a blizzard or below -20C or so. Fresh air is good for 'em, and they're tough critters.

 

[BantyChooks]

We can get a fair amount of snow. I was thinking I'd cover most of the run and some of the screens in the coop. Thought I should keep some fresh air flowing through the coop. As for shovelling the snow, if it's needed I don't have a problem shovelling out the run if it's needed. Good idea about the hay. I use it now to cover the run. I was looking at purchasing one of those heated bowls. Are they any good?

They're pretty much useless for nights here without heavy modification and effort. I suggest if you get one, use it during the day and just dump their water at night. A few hours without water won't kill them and it would be frozen solid anyway. As for your lights question, some use them---I don't. Nice for them to have a bit of a break from egg laying when they need so much energy for heat.

What area of ON?

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

The chickens didn't seem to mind the cold in TN. But a few of the roosters did lose some tips off of their combs. I shut up the coop at night, even the pop hole so they stayed in if the temperatures were very low.

Has anyone here tried putting Vaseline on combs and wattles to prevent frostbite? I realize that might be a tough task if you have a lot of chickens but I only have six and was wondering if the Vaseline thing worked.
This is my first bunch of chickens (I'm sure it's obvious, lol) and appreciate all the help I can get!

 

[BantyChooks]

Has anyone here tried putting Vaseline on combs and wattles to prevent frostbite? I realize that might be a tough task if you have a lot of chickens but I only have six and was wondering if the Vaseline thing worked.
This is my first bunch of chickens (I'm sure it's obvious, lol) and appreciate all the help I can get!

I haven't. I don't have frostbite troubles on hens, but cockerels get scalped and I've just come to deal with that. They're strips of flesh out in -40 weather, no amount of greasy stuff is gonna save them.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

I haven't. I don't have frostbite troubles on hens, but cockerels get scalped and I've just come to deal with that. They're strips of flesh out in -40 weather, no amount of greasy stuff is gonna save them.

Once in a while we might get down to -20 for brief periods of time during the night but our usual winter lows in Jan/Feb are in the single digits.
I might try the Vaseline thing, just for the heck of it.
I'm retired, lol, and have a lot of free time.