Keeping Chickens Warm

http://uticaphoenix.net/keeping-chickens-warm/

This is my article just printed in the The Utica Phoenix.

Chickens are amazingly hardy animals and are easy to care for. Choosing the right breed for your climate is only one way to ensure that you keep your clutch going strong through the winter. There are a few simple things that are needed to keep them warm in the coldest months.

You Don’t Have to Heat the Coop
There is always a danger of fire when you bring electricity into a coop filled with litter. When chickens are used to living in a heated coop they don’t acclimate to the weather in a natural manner. The main school of thought is that if chickens don’t acclimate and something happens to the heat source they will be unable to deal with the change.


The Deep Litter Method
The “deep litter method” is essentially keeping at least a foot of litter on the bottom of the coop and mixing it up regularly. By mixing in some food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) (bought through bulk food sources) there is no moisture and no smell. The natural composting adds heat and of course will help your garden grow at the end of winter.

Keep the Drafts Out but Keep Good Ventilation
Chickens need to have good roosts to sit on that are out of any draft. You do have to make sure there is good ventilation in the coop however the vents should be placed so the wind won’t blow into the coop and not in line with the roosts.

Without enough fresh air the moisture from their breath and temperature difference from body warmth will make it damp leading to not only frost bite on the combs but also respiratory problems. They must have fresh air no matter how cold it is.


Preventing and Treating Frostbite
Frostbite can be a big problem especially with chickens with large pretty combs. Some breeds have “rose combs” and are more cold hardy. Applying petroleum jelly to the larger combs when it’s going to be extremely cold will help protect them. It can also help heal if they do get some blackened areas on the comb.

Feathered feet such as on the Brahma breed are hardier in the snow but most chickens try to stay out of the snow. Keeping an area clear of snow will give them area to scratch and dust themselves. They do need a dust bath even in the coldest months. The easiest thing to do is to keep at least an area of the run covered to keep the snow out. Many chicken keepers will use a covered run for this purpose.

Short Egg Supply in the Winter
Some breeds are better winter layers than others, so keep that in mind when you are starting or adding to your clutch. There are two schools of thought when it comes to providing light during the darker months. Some chicken keepers provide artificial light to keep egg production up. The recommendation for this is to start the light on a time earlier in the morning so they may settle down through dusk naturally. Many chicken keepers don’t supplement light and wait out the shorter days. Hens will start laying more after the start of winter as the decline in laying is more dependent on the length of daylight than on temperature. They do reserve their energy when it is bitter cold.

Feed and Water Requirements in the Winter
The most important thing is that they never run out of food or fresh thawed water. Bring out warm water a couple of times a day. It is highly recommended that the chickens are treated to cracked corn during the day to help with energy needed to keep themselves warm. Many keepers also supplement with treats such as warm oatmeal in the morning or pasta later in the day.

Keeping chickens has gained in popularity in recent years as more people begin to wonder where their food comes from. Gathering fresh eggs from the back yard is becoming one of the small changes people can make to feel more in control of our healthy choices no matter what season it is.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/
http://blog.mypetchicken.com/

Where to get chickens
Craigslist – There are many local farms and people that order extra from the mail order hatcheries.
Tractor Supply – Chick Days in the Spring
Mail Order Hatcheries for Heritage breeds- order early for the best choice
http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html
http://www.strombergschickens.com/prod_detail_list/Chickens-Chicks
http://www.purelypoultry.com/chickens-brown-egg-layers-common-c-154_169.html
http://www.cacklehatchery.com/page2.html
http://www.heritagebreedpoultry.com/