- Thread starter
- #11
- Dec 17, 2008
- 22
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I appreciate the replies.
Without getting into whole philosophical debate regarding livestock and that inevitable slippery-slope, I am keeping these chickens for one reason alone yet I'm not interested in "pushing" them them for production beyond the limitations of their physiology during the cold and dark months. They weather the winter well and I'd rather not jeopardize their health. I'd not read anything in the various literature I have on keeping poultry regarding this issue other than the general guidelines for using lights to extend daylight hours to maintain production.
So, if chickens are being kept in housing that shelters them from drafts and the weather but is about as cold as the outdoors then they'll probably need that extra energy that's put into egg production to maintain themselves through the deep cold, but if the chickens are in a heated environment extending daylight to maintain production wouldn't be a problem. Right?
It's something to think about if it's correct since, depending on how many chickens you're keeping, feed costs through the winter can get pretty high with the snow covering inhibiting any grazing with few eggs compared to this time of year. My hens go through a lot more feed in the winter months. This time of year they're ranging pretty far and wide getting much to eat away from the feeders.
Without getting into whole philosophical debate regarding livestock and that inevitable slippery-slope, I am keeping these chickens for one reason alone yet I'm not interested in "pushing" them them for production beyond the limitations of their physiology during the cold and dark months. They weather the winter well and I'd rather not jeopardize their health. I'd not read anything in the various literature I have on keeping poultry regarding this issue other than the general guidelines for using lights to extend daylight hours to maintain production.
So, if chickens are being kept in housing that shelters them from drafts and the weather but is about as cold as the outdoors then they'll probably need that extra energy that's put into egg production to maintain themselves through the deep cold, but if the chickens are in a heated environment extending daylight to maintain production wouldn't be a problem. Right?
It's something to think about if it's correct since, depending on how many chickens you're keeping, feed costs through the winter can get pretty high with the snow covering inhibiting any grazing with few eggs compared to this time of year. My hens go through a lot more feed in the winter months. This time of year they're ranging pretty far and wide getting much to eat away from the feeders.
