Topic of the Week - Boredom Busters for Winter

[ChickyWhicky]

We are both in Iowa so it makes sense I used to live up north and thought lake effect weather was bad. Now after living in Iowa when I go back home I think the winters back home are warm even with the blizzards. I only bring a light coat when I visit because the lack of harsh winds makes everything feel much warmer. My mom called the other day and said “it's very cold outside and so windy”. I asked how cold and windy it was and she said 20mph winds with 20F temps. I don’t even consider that windy or cold anymore

Oh I didnt realize you were Iowa, as well! Makes total sense! When you mentioned snow was waist deep trying to get to your coop I was totally in the same boat. Plus the subzero temps and wind we had with it, whew it was a wild ride! Our well froze and we didnt have water for a day! At one point the snow had drifted higher than our coop.

I am the same way after living through arctic weather. 20F? Nearly teeshirt weather. LOL

 

[Mrs. K]

Everyone has such different coop/run set ups, different birds, different climate, different predators. There really is not one way to raise chickens that will work everywhere.

I love to let mine out - but predators are real. Wind, rain and snow, cloudy days - give advantage to the predators. Space is probably the best cure for flocks that get along, and clutter makes better use of that space.

I don't do food hanging, I do mini haystacks, they scratch down, and I can flip onto of snow. I do have wind shelters in my run, so birds can get out of the wind and weather and still be outside.

If your birds are active, bright eyed and eating, they are doing fine.

Mrs K

 

[Lulu-vt]

I have been adding and subtracting different things to perch on in their run. They love these broken wicker footstools that we have. They lose interest in them so I take them away and then put them back two days later! I have added a mirror and a xylophone. The jury is out on the xylophone still! I added a tire with sand inside but will need to rethink that one since the sand froze. I’m going to make a dust bath inside their coop of wood ash, compost and diatomaceous earth. Maybe I’ll put it outside - not sure yet. I also put a low swing in their run. They stare at it but have not yet hopped up on it!
Only half the run has metal panels so I do have to shovel them a little path to the water every morning. They are still pretty much wearies about the snow!

 

[Lulu-vt]

Everyone has such different coop/run set ups, different birds, different climate, different predators. There really is not one way to raise chickens that will work everywhere.

I love to let mine out - but predators are real. Wind, rain and snow, cloudy days - give advantage to the predators. Space is probably the best cure for flocks that get along, and clutter makes better use of that space.

I don't do food hanging, I do mini haystacks, they scratch down, and I can flip onto of snow. I do have wind shelters in my run, so birds can get out of the wind and weather and still be outside.

If your birds are active, bright eyed and eating, they are doing fine.

Mrs K

What are mini hay stacks?

 

[Seaslug]

Sometimes I think the idea of chicken "toys" is taken to literally.

I do "Habitat Enrichment". Allows the chickens to express natural behavior...
My chickens enjoy having various places in the run to roost and dig/explore. The Christmas tree will go out to their run when it comes down. They get leaves, branches, stumps, wood chips, sand -- different substrates and natural materials at different heights and depths. And they get leafy greens, pumpkins, and oatmeal on really really cold mornings (watermelon on really really hot days) along with scraps like fruit and the rare shrimp peelings.

 

[Mrs. K]

What are mini hay stacks?

We ranch, so we always have waste hay. Hay that have been feed to cattle, but some of it is wasted, as they stand on it and it gets trod into the dirt.

In the summer, I leave a lot of my run open ground. I tend to let them out more in the summer. They do more dust bathing. In the winter, I bed the run fairly deeply in hay. It keeps their feathers, and their feet cleaner.

If there is a snow storm coming, I will go down with a pitchfork, and pile that hay up in to mini 3-5 feet haystacks. Then after the snow comes, I can go down, and dig into the haystack, flipping it out on top of the snow. That will bring my chickens right out into the run. They are terrified of new snow in the beginning, later on it won't even phase them.

I also bed the coop deeply with hay. Once a week I throw scratch on top of it. They will totally fluff up that bedding and turn it over in the coop. This breaks large manure droppings and drys everything out. A dry coop is very important in keeping chickens warm.

I cannot give my chickens warm water all the time. They get fresh water and fresh feed once a day. I put the water in black rubber bowls, and can stomp out the ice if frozen.

We have had a very dry fall with lots of sunny days so far.

Mrs K

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Everyone has such different coop/run set ups, different birds, different climate, different predators. There really is not one way to raise chickens that will work everywhere.

I love to let mine out - but predators are real. Wind, rain and snow, cloudy days - give advantage to the predators. Space is probably the best cure for flocks that get along, and clutter makes better use of that space.

I don't do food hanging, I do mini haystacks, they scratch down, and I can flip onto of snow. I do have wind shelters in my run, so birds can get out of the wind and weather and still be outside.

If your birds are active, bright eyed and eating, they are doing fine.

Mrs K

Space space and more space! Thats truly the solution to MANY chicken issues! On very cold winter days my goal is to make sure all 7 hens are alert, acknowledge when called, and receive a little morsel. Check water, check feed, throw some hay or leaves down, take a lap around the exterior for threats/damage to coop, and zip back inside until I go check them again in 2-4 hours. Rinse and repeat. Tomorrow is a new day girls. Maybe the sun will be out! Love that the girls blame me for the weather. Good weather, bad weather I hear ALL about it.

 

[chickachicka12345]

I live in Texas and still have 20 degrees winters!! never give my chickens toys

 

[2iceblest]

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Long, cold days can lead to boredom in the flock. This week, let’s share ideas for keeping chickens entertained and active in winter. For example:

• What toys or items do you place in the run to keep your flock busy?
• Do you use hanging treats, pecking blocks, or other feed-based activities?
• How do you encourage movement and exercise when the ground is snow-covered or icy?
• What enrichment ideas have you found most effective in winter?

Anything else you'd like to add?

For a complete list of our Topic of the Week threads, see here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

I’ve tried swings, a xylophone, hanging treat balls, rolling treat balls, a ladder, and perches; but the girls never appreciated my efforts. Then, a woman suggested sprinkling the “snacks” in a pile of clean bedding. The first time, I put the mound in the pen, they ran away but once the soldier fly larvae were sprinkled in, they went to town! Now, I’m hiding lots of things in there - even the greens. They just want to scratch and peck!
Cleaning it up isn’t bad, either. Just rake, sift, and restock.

 

[Grumpy Lady]

I buy wild chum salmon for my chickens and over the winter toss them some usually a fillet or two a week. I add wooden saw horses for extra perching room. They love to hop between all of the different perch heights when they are locked in on the subzero days.

I am curious where you get your wild chum salmon from? That sounds like a great protein boost and treat. Thanks for sharing.