Official BYC Poll: What’s the most challenging part of chicken keeping for you during winter?

[Evadig]

I have used cleaned out Walmart brand 1 gallon Vinegar bottles to transport water. The bottles have a strong snap cap. You could roll them down the hill in front of you or drag them behind you on a rope.

We use them when we go camping. They get bounce and rolled around in the bed of the pickup. Haven't had one pop open yet.

This is a great idea; thank you!

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Pop off caps...you just reminded me of the time Dad & I went to the grocery store in his 4x4 for a few items, a gallon of milk being 1 of them. He set the milk on top of the big console between us, for the ride home. I had a bag of groceries on my lap. I forget what made him hit the brakes, but I clearly remember the events that followed. The gallon of milk went airborne & bounced off the dashboard, then hit the floor. When it hit the dash, the top popped off. Nevermind it was not even opened yet...the force of hitting the dash & that supposedly "safety locked" cap popped right off! I grabbed it as fast as I could, scopped it up, had a tough time getting the cap back on, had to peel off the safety rim, but luckily, I saw only about a cup's worth of milk had leaked out. Dad uttered a few choice words, I cannot repeat here. We cleaned it up once we got home.

Apparently, we hadn't cleaned it up good enough. Every time we turned the heat on, a faint but distinct aroma of sour milk permeated the cab of the truck. When spring arrived, the odor was more noticeable. When the heat of summer arrived, the stench became quite overwhelming. Even if it was 99 degrees outside, we ran the a/c, but those windows stayed open.

I got a bucket of hot soapy water & scrubbed. I got white vinegar & scrubbed. I tried Simple Green & scrubbed. Eventually, the odor did subsided...about 2 years later.

The lesson was learned...going forward, hold onto that damn milk the entire trip home! Your nose will thank you!

 

[jreardon1918]

Buying eggs. The girls are back in full production. Yay.
Seriously, the cold is really not a big issue for me and the girls.

 

[SkyAJK]

My flock seem to be a bit less active here and there in winter and when it is really cold, they look even more quiet. I make sure to give them vitamin drink, extra heavy duty protein, garlic and apple cider vinegar to bring them through winter.

Our winter here is mild, no snow, but there are a handful of night that the temperature gone to to 9C=48F, that is not that cold compare to other part of the world.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

What is the purpose of the garlic and ACV?

 

[chickengr]

What is the purpose of the garlic and ACV?

garlic and hot peppers are natural antibiotics and together with acv boost immune system.

 

[SkyAJK]

What is the purpose of the garlic and ACV?

I read that they help to boost immune system. I think the ACV helps with crop or prevent it from turning into sour crop issue.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

garlic and hot peppers are natural antibiotics and together with acv boost immune system.

I read that they help to boost immune system. I think the ACV helps with crop or prevent it from turning into sour crop issue.

Ah. I've heard that garlic is toxic to chickens.

 

[chickengr]

Ah. I've heard that garlic is toxic to chickens.

only if they eat 1-2 lb at once. when they have respiratory issues I give them 4-5 whole garlic cloves, chop in half if too big. 10 years of keeping chickens and it only helped. I give them garlic just once and wait till they get better (about 7-10 days).

 

[SkyAJK]

Ah. I've heard that garlic is toxic to chickens.

The bird vet told me that garlic busted blood vessel in chicken........
What I do know is that my chickens seem to be more active when I give them garlic in their water here and there.

As I am not giving them garlic every day or every week, I do not worry about it.

A few of the baby chicks I raised I gave them a drink of garlic drink for a day of their tiny lives, they turned out to be strong, inquisitive and active chickens.

Edit to add - Mom told me her aunty had a fish farm, mom used to stay there during school holiday and she saw her aunty gave the sick chicken garlic and it was ok the next day.