Winter is Coming! Checklists, tips, advice for a newbie

[Fancypants1]

Checking in from MA. We got the same 2 storms as you in ME - not fun. I was out there 4 times yesterday brushing off the tarp on our run just so it would not collapse. My girls stayed in the coop yesterday and during the 2 feet of snow we got last Tuesday. They really wanted out today. The inside was bone dry except for a few spot where I did not cover or close the trap up completely. I added some hay and they are good to go.

And to think we have another 6 weeks of this.....

 

[Shabana]

We have snow in the UK too ! I think we generally get a watered down version of what you guys get in the states.
I am using the rubber buckets to water them at this time of year as its so much easier to get the ice out and doesn't risk damaging your nice waterers.
I've used more bedding in the coops themselves and put straw down in the runs which are huge and can't be tarped except one which I clear in case the snow weighs too heavily on it.

My birds will come out, they just don't like it if it's snowing and windy at the same time. That said my booted bantams tend to be back in their coop sharpish !

I am offering fishy cat food and meal worms to boost protein to help the late moulters.

Good luck to all. We are getting down to -3 C at worst so far. Can't imagine how you guys cope.

 

[bigmrg74]

I think we've had five significant snow-storms in the past 12 days up here!
The first one was categorized as a "true blizzard". It was a strange storm- the snow flew in sideways and every inch of space got snowdrifts- it even came in on our covered porch- any possible opening got hammered. It lasted for two days, with extremely cold temperatures. What happened to my covered run, was that the snow swirled in and blew all around and I wound up with almost a foot of snow inside my covered run!
Here is how things looked the morning after the first big storm of January.


Wish I had gotten a picture of the inside. Snow even came into the coop from the vents! Not just a little sprinkle either.

The birds were having none of it- wouldn't go out in the run at all. Roosting all day and not even eating.

I shoveled it as best as I could- but the "look" of it was still worrisome to the chickens and they refused to leave the little coop.

So I got down on my hands and knees and put down a whole bale of hay, spread all around, and now they're going outside again. For now.
It gives them enough to step on without burying their feet in snow anyhow.

Most of my gals are still molting- I expected the ones who went through molt in the late fall to take about 3-4 months to finish- some still look terrible.One red sex link in particular.
I have one leghorn who still hasn't molted yet. It's usually around -10 F in the mornings, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less.

Hope everyone and their flock is faring well in this weather!

Yeah, I had the same problem with my tractor yesterday. we had gotten more of a easterly wind and dumped snow into the run part. and I only had about 4 flakes of straw left. They were all up on the roost and in the coop part, and up on a pallet table I have in there as well. Tossed the straw in and I went and got some more straw today. spread about a bale and a half around the coop stuffing in some of the gaps between the A frame and the other straw bales I already had around the tractor to block the wind. tossed some more straw in as well.

 

[LadyCluck77]

Has anyone else noticed the possible link between late winter and laying problems?
Last year around this time my leghorn hen had a prolapsed uterus (which she fully recovered from)
This morning one of my RSL hens got what looked like a prolapsed ovary, which fell out all the way. I'm not sure she will make it, but it seems like this always happens in the worst of winter.
I've got her in a dog crate in my basement.
Her bum is wet from the sits bath so I don't want to put her back outside. Also, I don't want the others to pick at it.

 

[Shabana]

Aww poor little girl.
Hope she recovers. I think you're doing the right thing separating her.
Best wishes to you both x

 

[centrarchid]

Think about how diet during worst of winter compares to rest of year and the needs of the birds in lay.

 

[Alaskan]

good thought.... it might be harder for the girls to have a good diet, since they aren't getting as many greens or bugs.

 

[Achap-henrow]

I give mine cat food from time to time...

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Cat food has a little more sodium than formulated chicken feed. If it's once in a great while probably no harm.

 

[Alaskan]

I am right now feeding them pumpkins from October... wow those things last well