SNOW/Chickens?

[One Silly Chicken]

Im in Eastern Pa and we got alot of snow this winter. My girls will not come out of their coop until I shovel the snow away from the coop and their run area. Once they have a some what clear area they are fine.

 

[alhanse77]

We have had a deep layer of snow all winter. My chickens must think they are tiny penguins because they are always hanging out in the snow. They tend to stay cooped up only when it is really windy or actively snowing. However, they do have a dry, snow free coop where they can seek refuge at any time. Either there or under the deck. Silly girls.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

They'll be fine as long as they have a place to go in and warm up from time to time. I find that if I keep the run mostly shoveled they'll go out (up to about 3-4 inches of snow). They love it when I throw down a flake of hay.

Had to add some pictures, I'm a picture kinda gal:

(this is one of my favorite pictures of them, they were SO EXCITED to get out of the run and "go get the mail" - you can see one was so excited she is slipping and falling in the back).

 

[blueberrychickens]

They'll be fine.....mine were & Im sure we've had more than what you guys are getting.

You can see the girls are out in the run, hanging out by the door waiting for a treat!

 

[1234duck]

Thanks I feel a lot better knowing that the snow & cold weather won't hurt them as long as there is a covered, cozy place available all the time for them. I'm always out there in the cold, rain or now the snow, trying to always make there living area a little better.}}Grrrr..even till my fingers are sooo frozen that they hurt.}~ And after all that, guess where the dang birds are sleeping right now?? They went Back up in the same tree as every night.(even in the freezing snow) The last 2 nights I tricked them in to coming in their house & locked them in. I tried luring them back & they wouldn't come.~ Oh well I'm not stressing over it any more, it makes me Beyond a witch!! Julie

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

well, I have several breeds and some jump out first thing and start lookin for good things to eat in the snow... My Delawares for example. My cochin bantams are curious but won't stay out long. My dorkings have NO interest in the snow... I have 2 light sussex and nothing much stops them... LOL

I think your girls will be fine snow or not. If you have to kick them out of the coop to clean it they will survive til you let them back in. Might not like it but they will survive...

Dave

 

[duckking]

My chickens don't really like walking in it. We just got 14" of the stuff too. Luckily a good portion of their run is covered, so they are out of it pretty well. We haven't got the potion of the run over the duck pool covered...I mean...why bother...lol. I put down a bunch of straw to protect the ducks feet, but they don't seem to care. I mean I cracked the ice off the pool this AM - a good 2" thick - and the ducks were in there in 10 seconds. They love shoveling the snow with their bills. I have yet to figure out ducks....

 

[Iheartchicks<3:)]

mine are fine.. we have over a foot!

 

[Mrs. Mucket]

Most of my chickens don't want to step out in the deep snow either, but I really like them to get fresh air every day. I've been tossing some hay on the ground at the end of their ramp. They go out and scratch, spreading it around, and then they'll stand and walk on it or sit in the sun. Sometimes I'll put scratch or seeds (rattling the bucket of course) on the hay if they need more encouragement to go out. They eat the hay too, and their egg yolks are looking summertime yellow!

Edited to add: SuperChemical, I see you already suggested hay! I think I was distracted by your cute pictures and didn't read your post the first time around.