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SNOW - refusing to come out for food and water?

Discussion in 'Feeding & Watering Your Flock' started by StupidBird, Dec 26, 2010.

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  1. Dec 26, 2010 #1
    StupidBird

    StupidBird Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Stupid Birds won't come out in the snow - the food and water is under their coop! I tried shoving them out by reaching in through the nesting box door. Lots of noise, scramble out on the ramp but scoot right back inside! I've been out every few hours to break up the skim of ice. Atlanta got 2-3 inches last night. Sheesh! The main door is iced shut.

    How critical is it to force them out to get to their feed and water? I haven't seen any footprints in the snow yet except mine.
     
  3. Dec 26, 2010 #2
    Ms.FuzzyButts

    Ms.FuzzyButts Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Mine wont come out either, even for treats.. So I put their food and water inside the coop with them. Now all they need is a couch, hot cocoa and a TV and they will be set!
     
  5. Dec 26, 2010 #3
    HorseFeatherz NV

    HorseFeatherz NV Eggink Chickens

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    Put their food and water inside for them.


    I shovel paths for the chickens - young ones do not understand that snow can happen. Some of my older ones refuse to walk in it.
     
  7. Dec 26, 2010 #4
    Raen

    Raen Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Mine won't come out either, not even for sunflower seeds. We built them a covered area so the snow would't build up and they could get some time outdoors in the winter, but about an inch of snow blew in and they won't hear of it. They haven't left the coop in days, and we're getting a blizzard tomorrow, so I guess they'll emerge in March or so. Luckily, they've got about 10 sf each inside, and the food and water is in there with them, so no worries, but you'd think they'd be bored, at least. Sheesh.
     
  9. Dec 26, 2010 #5
    StupidBird

    StupidBird Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Ok, ok. I'll go out and see if I can cram the huge ol' waterer and feeder into the little bitty tractor hutch - - - if I don't manage to catch them and toss 'em out first.
    pics to follow if I don't freeze first.
     
  11. Dec 26, 2010 #6
    StupidBird

    StupidBird Chillin' With My Peeps

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    OMG, it's the end of the world! Look at all that white stuff! No way would they come out...

    [​IMG]

    Seriously, this is what all the fuss is about:

    [​IMG]

    All I did was kick out the snow and fluff up the straw to hide the rest of the snow. Then I reached in very quickly through the nest box and grabbed the first hen I touched and stuffed her back under neath next to the food and water, repeated with the next bird, and the rest decided they'd live through walking out there after all...

    [​IMG]

    stupid, stupid birds....
     
  13. Dec 26, 2010 #7
    erlibrd

    erlibrd Overrun With Chickens Premium Member

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    We coaxed ours out with a favorite treat after the first snow! now they will come out when it's not TOO cold but aren't really happy trudging through the snow. Under the porch they can find bare soil for a dirt bath but after the bath most times I have to carry them back to the run/coop. Prissy girls!
     
  15. Dec 27, 2010 #8
    ryanhodapp

    ryanhodapp Chillin' With My Peeps

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    mine have taken over the garage. Their coop is in the garage and they have a window to go inside and out to yard. Well my husband hit the coop several months ago with his car (another story),so now the coop is not tight. So now they squeeze through the cracks and walk all over the garage. I dont really mind except for when I need to leave in the morning and I am afraid they will get hit.

    Now that I think about it, they may never go outside again if the whole garage is available, I might have to make some changes...
     
  17. Dec 27, 2010 #9
    kmdsparrow

    kmdsparrow Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I just put down some wood shavings and then they ventured out of the coop. I've seen pictures of other chickens in the snow. Why are mine so "chicken"? [​IMG]
     
  19. Dec 27, 2010 #10
    teach1rusl

    teach1rusl Love My Chickens

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    My Coop
    Quote:LOL... I purposely tossed straw all about my bay of our garage to give them a place to hang out. [​IMG] I'd rather my garage get all pooped up than the coop...easier to clean out. It's still cold, but at least there's no wind or snow...
     
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