- May 11, 2008
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I realize winter is a long time away, but being new to chickens, I am trying to think ahead. Also if you get chicks in late july, by the time they are eight weeks old, winter is on the doorstep, so to speak.
I live in MD, and so we don't have very cold temperatures. Most days are above freezing, and we rarely have snow, though there are winters where we get snow on the ground after thanksgiving and it is there until march, but those are pretty rare.
I'm assuming that on non snowy days, chickens go in and out of their yard like always, even on windy cold days, going back in their coop to keep warm. what do they need to stay warm in the winter. I'm thinking (since so far I have a small coop) piles of straw around the coop under a tarp will provide good insulation (and eventual bedding). When do you keep chickens locked up in a coop during the day and not let them go in and out? If their run has a cover (to keep it relatively snow free, does that help?
pat
I live in MD, and so we don't have very cold temperatures. Most days are above freezing, and we rarely have snow, though there are winters where we get snow on the ground after thanksgiving and it is there until march, but those are pretty rare.
I'm assuming that on non snowy days, chickens go in and out of their yard like always, even on windy cold days, going back in their coop to keep warm. what do they need to stay warm in the winter. I'm thinking (since so far I have a small coop) piles of straw around the coop under a tarp will provide good insulation (and eventual bedding). When do you keep chickens locked up in a coop during the day and not let them go in and out? If their run has a cover (to keep it relatively snow free, does that help?
pat