Neighbor Concerns: Are they valid? [winter/cold climate]

[apriljohnson11]

Hi everyone,

I've just heard a second-hand complaint about how I care for my backyard hens. I'm just not sure how to feel about it. The complaint was passed on to me via my neighbor, who is also my hen sitter, and a self-proclaimed "animal-lover" who calls/talks to me frequently about the state of my birds. She is a really sweet lady, but I personally think she might be too emotionally invested.

Anyway. She just called me, crying, to relay concerns from "other neighbors" that think my birds are not being cared for well enough. I just want to check with all the experts out there in similar situations...are my "other neighbors" correct?

We live in North Dakota, and we sometimes have winter storms that dump several inches of snow at once, with wind. I knew the weather would be tough for some breeds, so I made sure to find cold-hardy breeds. My six hens live inside an insulated and heated coop, inside a 10x10x6 chain link dog kennel with a roof and tarped walls (for wind break). They get special food supplements in the winter to help put on fatty insulation. They have heated drinking water. I clean their coop regularly and rake/clean their run. I think the birds are thriving.

I need reassurance, or correction. I need to hear from people who raise hens in cold climates. Please help me make the right changes for the girls if any are necessary. I really don't think they are suffering, but my "animal-lover" neighbor is making me second guess myself.

Thanks!

-April

 

[JacinLarkwell]

They're fine. I'm from Montana, so our winters are very similar. None of my birds have heated houses, and honestly they're not exactly insulated either (they're just wooden walls, there's no fancy insulation or heat trapping materials).

Admittedly yes, we do lose birds when the weather is awful if the birds are older or have health issues. But if your birds are healthy, then they'll be just fine in your set up

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Also wanted to add that my water bowls are unheated and not all of my birds are considered cold hardy

 

[RubelliteRose]

What precisely is her complaint? How large is your coop? The only potential issue that I see, is that they probably don't need heat in the coop. Your main concern should be keeping the coop dry so they don't develop frost bite. It sounds like your flock is well cared for

 

[RubelliteRose]

Do make sure you have plenty of ventilation near the roof so that moisture doesn't build up. A dry chicken is a happy chicken. They are wearing down coats after all

 

[Iluveggers]

Wondering what the heck they would change? Do they want you to bring them in the house all winter? Chickens live fine in Alaska & Canada as long as they have a dry, draft free coop with ventilation. The fact that you have a covered run is a bonus. Heat in the coop is unnecessary only because if the power went out they could die from a quick drop in temp (although gradual change to cold over a few days would not kill them)!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Your birds sound well taken care of. Thank your neighbor for her concern and assure her that your flock lives in better conditions than 99% of chickens in the world.