My chickens DO NOT like snow.

[Squeak61]

Mine don’t like walking in it, but they have no problem pecking at it

 

[Ridgerunner]

When mine wake up to a new white world they are not coming out. It's not the snow they are afraid of, it's the change. After a few days some build up the courage to try it and then they usually go out. I think it's a lot like the first time you open the pop door when they are chicks and give them access to the run. Sometimes it can take a long time for them to build up the courage to try going outside.

This snow fell during the day when they were already out. Since the change was somewhat gradual they never bothered being afraid of it. I only had one inch this time.

 

[chickens really]

Mine have no problems..It's the fresh snow they hesitate over..Crazy Chickens.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've had chickens wade through 9" of snow to go check out the compost pile, but since it was covered in snow and frozen they were out of luck. I find that if grass or weeds they can forage n stick out of the snow some at least will go out. But if it is just pure snow with nothing they can eat available, they tend to avoid it.

 

[Folly's place]

Mine have been horrified since the first two inches fell a few days ago. This week we had another ten or twelve inches, and everyone is staying inside! Actually, I think they are right, but I have to go to work so they can stay in. What's wrong with that?
Mary

 

[Minky]

I shovelled a path for mine today and lined it with oats. They looked. But that was all.
Maybe tomorrow. Tomorrow will be the 5th day of confinement. But we have almost a foot of fresh powder and its still coming down.

But like it was said, they are chickens... takes them a while to build up the courage. When I got my pullets they were 12 weeks old. Took them almost a whole month before someone left thru the chicken door, and started to free range!

 

[DrFeathers]

thanks for all the feedback guys.
My girls have a generous covered run with deep litter and plastic wrap going up most of the way (top 8” open all around for ventilation) and lots of perches and distractions inside. Coming out to play in the yard is just for fun really, for my kids as much as for them, just thought they would naturally be excited by the snow like my dog? Apparently not. Will try encouraging them to come out again tomorrow morning.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Mine didn’t mind the first snow. It was a couple of days later when the temps dropped to single digits - they squawked very loudly at the frozen ground (well one was very loud, the others got up on the outdoor roost or went back into the coop). They wanted to be out of the coop, but didn’t want to be on the ground.