Should I let my girls outside when there is snow on the ground?

[Cetawin]

Quote:
Ya think? WI and Arkansas are different places.....I am in Oregon and that cold feet = less eggs is nothing more than a personal theory and/or old wives tale. Our chickens tell us different.

 

[gritsar]

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I was simply stating my experience, that cold feet does not equal less eggs. If you want I'll go back thru my egg keeping records of how many eggs I got each day last year during the ice storm, when my hens were slipping and sliding to get back to the coop to lay their eggs and lay they did.
No need to get hateful about it or use the angry smilies just because you disagree.

 

[Kim_NC]

We open the doors for them to go out when we have snow. They make their own decision about whether to go out or stay in.

Birds, including chickens, ducks and other poultry have a network of veins in their feet and legs called "rete mirabile". It prevents freezing, they do not feel cold temps in their feet the same way mammals do. That is not to say that they don't feel the difference in WI weather vs FL or wherever. If it's cold enough, weather can bother them - but again, it's not the same as cold sensitivity in the feet of mammals.

More info about rete mirabile here: http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=491

ETA: a google search for rete mirabile will also bring up additional articles.

 

[Chickenaddict]

My flock prefers to stay inside alll winter long even tho I give them the option of wondering outside and even shovel paths in the yard for them, they hate the snow. I agree with the others about the brahmas who still lay despite getting cold feet. I had the opportunity to have just one hen whom I just recently lost and she was a great layer no matter what the weather was like. Here in MN we had one heck of a cold winter last year with -40 windchills for days on end and they all layed eggs consistantly during that time.

 

[jafo]

The IP was about feathery feet, and snow. I can just see two "snowballs" bound around a feathered foot chicken, from scratching around in 4-6 inches of snow. Do they / are they SMART enough to preen thier feet of snow??? I know our Orps WON"T come out if there's any accumulation, and thier legs are feather free.

 

[newchicksnducks]

They should still be given the opportunity to go outside, even if there is snow on the ground. Our birds first experience was hilarious. When we went to open the pop door, you could hear them rushing towards the door. The first girls rushed down the gang plank only to sharply apply the brakes when their little tootsies encountered the first feel of snow. The girls in the back of the line were still rushing forward...talk about a traffic jam! Oh, where is that darn video camera when you want one!!

My son eventually went out and shoveled a small path for them. They soon adjusted and came out to peck for scratch we had thrown out for them. We also have an old clubhouse wooden ladder laid on it's side on 12" stilts that the chickens like to hop onto and enjoy the sun. This way they can still tuck their toes under their feathers while sitting outside.

 

[Labeedoor]

Day 2 with snow here. More comin' ! My sultans (They have feathered feet also)haven't been out much since we got down in the 30's. The explorer of my flock(this is their first winter) put 1 foot in the snow and froze. Then scurried in and didn't venture out for about 2 hours. Then the flood gates opened and out they went. The gals managed to find all their scratching spots, even through a whole inch of snow yesterday. 2 more inches fell last night, they're out there now. Still a little puzzled looking. I'll see how they do with the other 7 inches we are expecting tonight.

 

[LynneP]

Lovely roo above me! Nice...


Mine are out. This morning was bedding change day, and so I tossed a lot of the shavings from the coop into the run, after disposing of most of the nighttime droppings and surface manure in the dump pit. I can see them from the house and they're flying up to the platform and going in and out of the pop door. They'd rather have the choice, unless it is severely cold. Last year I had them indoors for about 10 days, but even then I opened the pop door briefly when tending the coop.

 

[ging3rhoffman]

We did everything we can for our chickens first winter. My husband insulated
the coop and nailed up boards around the bottom of the coop so wind cant
blow under the coop...he also put some plywood up to block the wind from
cutting through their run...only a 3rd of it is protected from snow and wind
but it will help alot. I am worried about frost bite on combs and frozen feet.
I heard that if you put vaseline on their combs that they wont freeze...is that true?

 

[gritsar]

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Vaseline does help to prevent frostbite.