Topic of the Week - Preparing for Cold Weather

[someonewholovesgeese]

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Fall is a transition time before winter, so it’s a great time to start preparing for cold weather. This week, let’s share tips on getting the flock ready for winter. For example:

• What steps do you take in the fall to prepare your chickens and coop for winter’s cold?
• Do you use heat sources, like heat lamps or radiant heaters, during the fall to prepare them for colder temperatures?
• How do you manage water to prevent freezing in early cold snaps?
• What are your thoughts on increasing feed or using supplements to prepare for the cold?

Anything else you'd like to add?

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i dont have to do any of this lol its summer for me soon so i do the opposite

 

[Mamilo]

Hello everyone!

In the closed section, I install 2 radiant heating panels on opposite walls that are plugged to a thermocube. They turn on automatically when it gets to -10 Celsius. I will add 6 inches of bedding on the floor for better insulation. It has plenty of ventilation overhead so moisture is not an issue. I might add seedling mats to the bottom of the nesting boxes if the eggs have a tendency to freeze. I will monitor and see.

For the chicken run, the heated waterer is already plugged in as we’ve had overnight sub zero temps already. The translucent tarps will be reinstalled all around early November. No additional heat is provided as the roof is polycarbonate and heats up the area on sunny days. It’s also easy to roll up the tarps during warmer days. The translucent roof and tarps also keep the chicken run bright with lots of light.

I will shovel out the composted bedding in the chicken run and reapply a thick layer of wood pellets and large flake wood chips (I change the bedding in spring and autumn).

The new addition this winter will be a heated pet bowl to provide warm mash (their feed with warm water) on cold mornings. Cooked eggs and dried mealworms are provided once in a while as treats, as their main feed is an organic crumble feed.

That’s about it! Good luck!

 

[Mrs. K]

I live in western SD, and it is generally fairly dry, but we do get snow, and we do get cold weather.

In the run, I have two small shelters, I put shower doors in front of one, and plexiglass in front of the other. This gives them wind protection and on a sunny day, it is much warmer in there. It is not sealed, it is wide open on both sides. I don't try and trap the heat.

I put quite a bit of bedding in the run. It keeps their feet cleaner. If I hear that there is snow coming, I will pitch that bedding up into mini haystacks. After the snow, I flip that hay on top of the snow, and it encourages them to come out.

I don't have electricity - I use black rubber bowls. If it is sunny, I will fill the empty one, flip the frozen one upside down. The black will absorb enough heat that the ice falls out. But if it is cloudy, I just stomp it out.

Do look inside your coop when your birds are roosted. I like the roost to be away from the walls, and 12-15 inches above their head is the ceiling. This keeps their breath from condensing on the wall and ceiling before it leaves the coop.

Think DRY not warm, dry chickens are warm chickens if out of the wind.

Mrs K