its getting colder.......

[dastardlydeed]

for those of you in areas that get snow.....how do your chickens handle this? especially free range? do you shovel the chicken yards?

 

[SterlingAcres]

I plan on shoveling the run itself this year.
My grandfather free ranged his birds and never shoveled for them. He did plow them a path to the kitchen door though.

 

[KKluckers]

I snow blow the yards that are not covered. My chickens do just fine without any heat. I just make sure to keep their coops clean and well bedded. Im surprised at how tuff these creatures really are. When moving over here I thought it might be to cold for chickens. I grew up in a area that is very mild and rarely snowed. The birds I had there always freee ranged. So my first winter I was really surprised at how they adjusted so well.
Last winter we had snow to the roof tops here so it is a big change in climate for me. Im still not use to it even after five years. I already cant wait for March to come.

 

[LynneP]

Our run is roofed but I expect we'll get snow drift and need to do some clearing...girls are getting a lovely set of pantaloons, petticoats and dense overcoat...

 

[KKluckers]

I forgot to mention. I have to put the roosters in a insulated coop at night with a heat lamp because their combs will freeze here. It is kinda a pain to move them every night and every morning back out to their girls. The roosters do fine during the day.