Snow, what do Your hens think of it this year ?

2 days ago we had a tiny bit of snow and the chickens just ran out and ate it, must have thought it was ice cream! :lau But today we got about an inch of snow, I opened the door to let them out... And I swear I heard my middle rooster, Peep-Peep, go "What the **** is that?" and the 3 boys and 9 hens all crowded in the entrance just staring, some daring to step out, but pretty much FLEW in when they touched the snow.

Eventually they all decided to go out and have refused to come back in, enjoying digging in the snow apparently. I thought it'd be too cold for em', but I guess my silly silkies are stubborn and want to have their outside time. :p
 
This is the first time my chickens experienced snow, we have 6-7", they did not even come out all morning, I opened their big door under the covered part of their pen to coax them out but nope, so I threw dried cranberries and meal worms out in the hay I turned over for them, then they all ran out lol. They won't go in the snow even after I shoveled their covered pen.
 
It's the first time my six girls have experienced snow. They were outside in the run when it started snowing. They pecked at it like someone from above was tossing them food. As it landed on their backs, they picked the flakes off each other.
We have half of the run covered and they have a big space under the coop too. The roof-less part is still covered by hardware cloth and that kept a lot of the snow from falling through.
They avoided any area where snow had fallen and spent most of the day either under the coop or the roofed area, which also has a good windbreak around it.
Spoiled girls... :love
 
It was 4 degrees above zero Fahrenheit when I took this photo several years back. I leave the pop door open and let them decide what they want to do. If a wind is blowing they find a sheltered spot but plain cold doesn't bother them, at least not down to 4 degrees.

Ice.jpg


This photo is also a few years old. This snow fell during the day when they were outside (about 1") so they never bothered to go in. When mine wake up to a white world they don't go out for a few days until they get used to it. Then some will, especially if grass is sticking out of the snow so they can forage a bit. I don't think the chickens hate the snow, I think they just don't like change. Waking up to a white world is a pretty big change.

Snow Feb 2013.JPG
 

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