Official BYC Poll: Do you allow your chickens outside in the snow, or keep them indoors?

[Mamilo]

Ours come out once the paths are made.

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A little explanation of before, during, and after is in my silkies thread if you want to see more.

Your chickens are too cute!

 

[The Coop Crew]

I let mine go out if they want….they're too spoiled though, they wont take a single step in the snow

 

[Debbie292d]

Your chickens are too cute!

Thank you!

I have a couple of those buff roosters standing there that I have to decide which one(s) I need to rehome. That's the hardest part!

 

[Shabby Chic-Hens]

They have the door to their run open, so they come and go as they please.
The younger ones stay inside. The older ones stay outside.

 

[Kayuduck]

Mine don't free range. Their run is partially covered, but snow still blows in in some areas. If it's not too bad, they'll come out and stay in the snow-free areas. If there's been a storm that has blown snow everywhere inside the run, they won't come out. In that case, I go and clear the snow, and spread a bag of dry leaves on the ground (I bag and save a lot of leaves in the fall, to use throughout the year in the run). They LOVE walking around and scratching through the nice, fluffy, dry leaves! They'd really rather be outside, so they appreciate the carpet of leaves and always come out onto it, no matter how cold it is otherwise.

Here they are today, in single digits Fahrenheit, enjoying the dry leaves and a nice treat of warm mash (their regular crumble mixed with hot water until it's clumpy in consistency).
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Beautiful hens!

 

[Cheekysweetheart]

We just got some snow this year after 3 years of none. Twice this year with about an inch or 2 and all of my chickens were fine with it except for one of our silkie roosters who started screaming his little head off and running around like it was the end of the world as soon as his feet touched it. The girls loved when a few hours later they had a muddy paradise to dig in.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

Their choice, open the chicken door and let them decide, same with rain.

 

[KyCoop]

My 3 older girls went right out in it. The rooster and 6 younger girls were scared of it. ZZ the rooster would not let the young girls explore because he thought it was the most terrifying thing ever. He alarm called every time they tried.

 

[Turd bird]

Snow days can be fun, but what about for your chickens? Some flocks love to explore the winter wonderland, while others prefer staying cozy indoors.

What’s your approach? Do you let your chickens roam in the snow, or do they stay tucked away in the coop?

Share your strategy in our latest poll and see how other chicken keepers handle snowy days!

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Further Reading:

• Keeping Chickens Without Free Ranging
• Frostbite: What to Know About Injury, Care and Recovery
• Caring For Chickens in the Winter
• Winter Chicken Predators To Look Out For
• Cold Weather Poultry Housing and Care

(Check out more exciting Official BYC Polls HERE!)

we let our chickens out in the snow but only when we're home on the weekend because of predators I've already had two killed one from dog and another from a hawk

 

[Slothinc]

we let our chickens out in the snow but only when we're home on the weekend because of predators I've already had two killed one from dog and another from a hawk

I have noticed an increase in of hawks too lately! So while I would normally let them out of their covered run into the snow, I have been keeping them shut in most of the time because of the hawks. But when I do let them out they walk all over the snow just fine. Their little snow footprints are the cutest!