What do you do to get ready for winter?

[Indianachickenlover1]

Hello this will be my first winter with chickens and I was wondering what I should do to get ready for winter? They live in a barn with goats and free range in the pasture. I am not sure if the barn will be warm enough for there normal water container. Or if I should get a heater for the outside trough. Or I have seen the heated waterers for chickens at rural king. If you use heated waterers what brands are good ones that will last a long time? I have also thought about just getting a large heated dog bowl and letting the goats and chickens share. They do that lot now anyway. Also is there anything I should look out for? I have heard and read about frostbite but have never experienced it. Can I do something to help prevent that? I would just like to be prepared and if I can do something now to prevent them from getting sick or anything I would love to do that! I have talked to different people and some say their chickens love snow others say they won't go out. Any advice is appreciated!! Thanks

 

[bill3607]

You don't say where you are from, and it is not listed on your profile. So, what you would need, or have to do, will depend on that to some extent.

I don't really do anything because I live in LA aka Lower Alabama. So, there is not really anything for me to do. The water will get frozen sometimes, but it is not often and I can just break it up really easy if need be. And, my coop is well ventilated and well above roost height. So, I am pretty much good to go. My chickens do better in the winter than they do summer.

 

[Indianachickenlover1]

You don't say where you are from, and it is not listed on your profile. So, what you would need, or have to do, will depend on that to some extent.

I don't really do anything because I live in LA aka Lower Alabama. So, there is not really anything for me to do. The water will get frozen sometimes, but it is not often and I can just break it up really easy if need be. And, my coop is well ventilated and well above roost height. So, I am pretty much good to go. My chickens do better in the winter than they do summer.

Oh sorry I live in northern Indiana.

 

[Indianachickenlover1]

Oh sorry I live in northern Indiana. We will most likely get some snow and it will get pretty cold at times. And most definitely be below freezing

 

[Dominique King]

I live in New Hampshire on the east coast so we get pretty cold winters and snow so I get where you are coming from @Indianachickenlover1

 

[Sally PB]

I have also thought about just getting a large heated dog bowl

That's what I use for my chickens. It works well. I keep it in the run, not the coop. I don't want to add humidity to the coop, as that is what leads to frostbite.

They have warm moist breath, just like we do. The warm, moist air will rise, so you want ventilation up high, above their heads when they're on the roost at night.

I have plenty of openings (covered with hardware cloth) for ventilation. In the winter, I cover them with a spun polyester filter material. Air still flows through but it cuts the breeze that comes in. You want airflow, but not enough wind to ruffle their feathers.

Chickens are wearing down jackets. If they are dry, they can keep themselves warm down to extreme temperatures. When their feet, comb, or wattles get wet, that is when you will have trouble with frostbite. 20 degrees F is not a problem for a chicken. 0 F is definitely manageable if they can get out of the wind and can stay dry.

I live in northern Indiana.

You can add it to your profile, and then it's always there. Climate matters a lot for keeping chickens. What works for me in Michigan isn't appropriate for someone in Florida.

 

[Evadig]

I live in the foothills of the Appalachians (Maryland side) and the winters here vary but are fairly mild. I think they are kind of similar to Indiana's (I have traveled through Indiana many times but never lived there).

Anyway, I have an open-air coop so I block off the sides facing the prevailing winds with tarp. For water I use heated dog bowls (I think mine are about a quart) or buckets. They get dirty fast because the hens scratch hay into them, even though the bowls are up on cinder blocks, but that's not a problem for me.

Mine hate snow but on nice days I clear a path for them and force them to go onto the grass. It does them good and helps prevent boredom.

I give them lots of straw to huddle up in if they want (during the day), and mostly I just make sure they're not wet when they go to bed and there's no drafts.

Hope this helps!