what do i do for winter

[chickenmama109]

hi I have a flock of 12 11 hens and 1 rooster
I want to start getting ready for winter
and start finding things to keep my chickens worm
but this is my first winter with the flock
and I don't know what to do


thanks to all help

 

[Ridgerunner]

Where do you live? What kind of weather and temperatures are we talking about.

How big is your coop and run, in feet or meters. How well is it ventilated and how good is your wind protection? Do you have photos you can share?

How do you currently water them? Do you have electricity at the coop?

 

[Birdinhand]

chickens can handle pretty extreme cold if they are given protection from drafts, while at the same time provided ventilation and water that isn't frozen. with the hopes of keeping egg production up during winter, I provided insulation to the inner coop and made the door in the floor of the roosting area that is off the ground. I'm not sure how much it helps but if figure at the very least provides some comfort and helps them adjust to the wild swings in temperature we get here, crammed between two mountain ranges at sea level. the most significant thing I've found so far to effect egg production and I think overall quality of life for them is light. in the north here, the days get really short come December. I added three windows to the side of the roosting area and when I extended a run off the side, I covered it with translucent roofing. The girls seem to love having more light and their egg laying nearly doubled with in a few days.

 

[andreanar]

Just keep them free of drafts. We have no electric at the coop, so we have to go out a few times a day to keep the water from freezing on very cold days. Sometimes we use a heated rock that sits under the waterer. We check feet, wattles and combs to make sure frostbite isn't starting.