Southern chickens and snow

[TJAnonymous]

I live in the South. Our winters are typically in the 40s. On occasion when we do get snow, it is usually melted within a day. Except for the occasional freak snow storm. Like now....

We just got 8-10 inches of snow and expecting yet another storm on Wednesday with more snow. I have 35+ chickens and 7 ducks. I can say for certain that at least 30 of my chickens and all of my ducks have never seen snow before....

None of the chickens want to come out of their coop and none of the ducks want to stay in out of the weather. For both sets of animals, their water bowls are outside of their coops with floating heaters. Of course I didn't quite plan on so much snow.... So my chickens can't really get to their water because of how deep the snow is.... It is still snowing or I'd go shovel a path for them.

So instead I brought them a bucket of water inside their coop. Hoping it doesn't freeze in there but it does feel much warmer in the coop with all the chickens in there. There are openings all along the soffits on both sides of the coop for ventilation to help keep moisture down. It felt warmer than outside but not moist... They also have food inside the coop.

Now I just have to hope they don't bully each other too much after being cooped up for days in a smaller space than they are used to

 

[Cassandra Lana]

I would just spread out stuff to keep them entertained, corn on the cob, suet , hay , spread out loose treats (cracked corn/ mealworms), whole chunks of leafy greens, all will entertain. Try spreading a flake of hay outside put treats on it and see if they will walk on it. Corn , seeds , and nuts can help them stay warm but don’t just do suet and corn cobs cause ducks can’t really use them with their bills.

Good Luck and Have Fun with the snow ! ~Cassie (some of my birds playing in snow today below)

 

[TJAnonymous]

I swear to God that ducks are the dumbest animals that were ever put on this earth.... I took the chickens and ducks some warm oatmeal, warm compressed alfalfa, and some Alaskan pollock dry cat food kibbles. The chickens dug in with gusto. The ducks ran away in a panic like I was trying to kill them. Even when I backed away, they completely ignored it. I guarantee when I go back out there in an hour or two to feed the horses that everything will still be sitting there frozen in the pan. Stupid ducks.... Pretty, but stupid.

 

[RaineyTN]

Mine won’t come out either I just keep rotating out water dishes and putting them in the house with feed

 

[rosemarythyme]

I shovel even if it's snowing, just so they have the opportunity to go out and drink or scratch around, if they want.

For the chickens, do you happen to have flock blocks on hand? This is when I'd want to use them, to give them something to busy themselves with indoors.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Mine won’t come out either I just keep rotating out water dishes and putting them in the house with feed

Oh, mine left their coop as soon as the automatic door opened at 7 AM. They huddled together in the middle of the yard during the heaviest part of the snow storm instead of taking cover under their 3 sided lean-to that DH built on Saturday to give them extra shelter in addition to their coop.

When I brought the warm treats out for them, they were snuggled up to each other in the lean-to. I set the pans down right on the edge to try to keep them from panicking that I was too close. Didn't work, they scrambled right over the food the moment I stepped away.

I'm so aggravated with them.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I shovel even if it's snowing, just so they have the opportunity to go out and drink or scratch around, if they want.

For the chickens, do you happen to have flock blocks on hand? This is when I'd want to use them, to give them something to busy themselves with indoors.

I don't but I DO have stuff to make some. I will have to gather up ingredients when I go back out to the barn to feed the horses. I have whole corn, meal worms, whole oats, sunflower seeds, cranberries, and lots of other goodies

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

I shovel even if it's snowing, just so they have the opportunity to go out and drink or scratch around, if they want.

For the chickens, do you happen to have flock blocks on hand? This is when I'd want to use them, to give them something to busy themselves with indoors.

It is also easier to shovel less snow multiple times than several inches to a foot or more ONCE. LOL

 

[TJAnonymous]

It is also easier to shovel less snow multiple times than several inches to a foot or more ONCE. LOL

True... I made my teenage daughter and her 2 friends (both boys) shovel a pathway to the water for all the animals...

I also remembered that I had a homemade heated base that I made from a cookie tin and lightbulb. I put it in the coop with a small 3 gallon waterer. Fingers crossed that it will do the job.

 

[RaineyTN]

Well mine won’t even get out of there pajamas much less come out of the coop