Wisconsin Winter

[ShellBell73]

So we’ve actually been quite fortunate so far this winter with decent weather. We’ve had some dips and now for the last 24 hours it’s been raining a cold rain. We are supposed to get 2 to 4 inches of snow tonight into tomorrow. We’ve had a mix of advice in that some people leave their chickens in all winter long no matter what while others let them out on nice days as long as it’s not snowing or freezing rain. I know our girls and Roscoe love being outside so can anyone give me some advice? Also, does anyone out there feed their chickens leftover shells? How do you prepare them?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I know our girls and Roscoe love being outside so can anyone give me some advice? Also, does anyone out there feed their chickens leftover shells? How do you prepare them?

Hi there, hope you are enjoying BYC!

I let the birds make the choice. Do what works for you!

I feed back egg shells (in addition to another calcium source).. by setting them aside without rinsing after using.. with the halves separated enough to dry out before going moldy. Once dry, I place inside a container until I'm ready to take out.. crushing only slightly but leaving good size pieces.. powder is NOT desirable as it will go through the gizzard too fast to be absorbed.

Some people bake, rinse, etc.. I've never YET faced any salmonella, e coli.. or other serious bacteria issues.. noting I only use shells from my own flock.

I serve either in a separate dish or on top of (in) my standard oyster shell dish.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Howdy.

Down here in Colorado we get some really nasty weather too.

I also let mine choose whether to stay in or venture forth. They seem to know which they prefer on really bad days.

I do make sure to do an evening head count just to be sure no one hunkered down out of the coop.

I dry my egg shells in the oven at 200° for 15 minutes or so. Most of the time mine are from hard boiled eggs so are already cooked. I just want them dry when I put them out. In all my years I have not had any issues doing it this way.

 

[ShellBell73]

Howdy.

Down here in Colorado we get some really nasty weather too.

I also let mine choose whether to stay in or venture forth. They seem to know which they prefer on really bad days.

I do make sure to do an evening head count just to be sure no one hunkered down out of the coop.

I dry my egg shells in the oven at 200° for 15 minutes or so. Most of the time mine are from hard boiled eggs so are already cooked. I just want them dry when I put them out. In all my years I have not had any issues doing it this way.

I appreciate it Thankyou!!!

 

[ShellBell73]

Hi there, hope you are enjoying BYC!

I let the birds make the choice. Do what works for you!

I feed back egg shells (in addition to another calcium source).. by setting them aside without rinsing after using.. with the halves separated enough to dry out before going moldy. Once dry, I place inside a container until I'm ready to take out.. crushing only slightly but leaving good size pieces.. powder is NOT desirable as it will go through the gizzard too fast to be absorbed.

Some people bake, rinse, etc.. I've never YET faced any salmonella, e coli.. or other serious bacteria issues.. noting I only use shells from my own flock.

I serve either in a separate dish or on top of (in) my standard oyster shell dish.

I appreciate the feedback Thankyou!!

 

[Mrs. K]

I have outside shelters in my run, where the birds can get out of the wind. I too am of the opinion that they know more about being a chicken than I do, and let them make the choice.

I crack my eggs, and toss the shells in the scrap bucket.

Mrs K

 

[Jenbirdee]

It is freezing rain here in Maryland today, and my ducks love it, my geese couldnt care less about it, but my chickens !! I am worried about them getting too wet and too cold, so I did not let them out of the coop yet today. I might let them out for just a little while when the temp gets closer to 40 but it is a steady rain expected to last all day and all night. They are 9 month old orpington pullets.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I know our girls and Roscoe love being outside so can anyone give me some advice?

I open the pop door every morning and let them decide what they want to do. In Northwest Arkansas the coldest I saw it was -4 F (-20 C). Growing up in East Tennessee the coldest I saw it was about -10 F (-23 C). Chickens were walking around on the ground with no problems as long as the wind was calm. If a cold breeze was blowing they were out of the wind.

When my chickens woke up to a new white world they stayed inside for a couple of days. Then some of them started going outside in it. Not all but some. I think it helped that they had something to eat when they went out in it. I saw a trail to the compost pile in 9" of snow, and they foraged on dead grass and weeds sticking out of the snow. I'm convinced the cold or snow was not the problem, chickens just don't like change. One day 1" of snow fell when they were out foraging. The change was gradual enough that they just stayed out in it.

I don't worry about rain. In warmer weather mine enjoy the rain, it can bring worms up for them to feast on. I understand freezing rain, but I trust them to know how to handle that too as long as they have a dry place to go to if they need it.

I'll tell this story about a dog, not a chicken. One morning my dog was laying in the front yard keeping watch when it was right at freezing. It was calm weather and there was a heavy frost on the ground. The sun was bright, a beautiful morning.

My wife saw that dog and said she must be miserable. That dog was not a hairless chihuahua used to only being indoors. It was a 50 pound mutt with long black hair and a full undercoat. That dog was exactly where she wanted to be. She could have gone inside a garage through a doggie door where the temperature was in the 60's F if she wanted to. What my wife said had nothing to do with the dog. What she was saying is that she would be miserable if she were the one laying out there. I figure my chickens know where they are most comfortable and where they want to be so I leave that up to them.

Also, does anyone out there feed their chickens leftover shells? How do you prepare them

When I open the eggs I put the shells in a bowl that goes to the compost pile. No crushing, washing, or cooking. The chickens have access to that compost pile. I'm comfortable doing that, many people are not. They don't always eat them either. If they are getting enough calcium from other sources they don't need them.

If you feel more comfortable washing, cooking, or crushing them by all means do so. It will not hurt a thing. I just suggest you offer them on the side, not mixed in with the feed. If they don't need them they don't need them. Let them make that decision. They know more about being a chicken than I ever will, so I try to let them be chickens.

 

[ShellBell73]

I have outside shelters in my run, where the birds can get out of the wind. I too am of the opinion that they know more about being a chicken than I do, and let them make the choice.

I crack my eggs, and toss the shells in the scrap bucket.

Mrs K

Thankyou!