The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Heather on November 29, 2010, 10:19:59 am
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Brrrr! This is my 1st year keeping chickens. I have 2 adults and one 7wks old in a hut -size about a 2ft6" cube. I've double-covered the roof to make 100% sure no wet can get in. There's 1/2" gap at top for air, and access is through a pophole, closed at night. Will they be alright? I'm used to indoor pets, and I'm not used to crawling into my cosy bed and leaving pets outside in minus 10deg. Except when we locked the dog out by accident, but that's another story! Any advice will be appreciated.
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They'll be fine. If you were to go out at 2a.m. and put your hand under their wings they would be as hot as toast! Their feathers will keep them warm. Just think of tiny wild birds with only their feathers to keep them warm, they cope and so will your hens. A bit of corn at night will help too.
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If a feather duvet will keep YOU warm, it will your hens too lol
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Whe so many millions of chickens are treated with cruel indifference it is really good to know that loads of people care deeply about the welfare of their dependant chooks.
Good for you for caring.
With someone like you looking after them they will prosper.
The above advice is right.
If you keep out the wet - they hate and fare badly in wet or damp housing - and make sure they are ventilated without draughts playing on them, their shelter will be fine. Reduce airflow but never cut if off. They need fresh air 24/7 365.
A good layer of dry litter in the house will keep rising cold to a minimum.
(I've noticed that my litter is getting a little damp as it is well-matured and it will be changed this week)
Make sure they have unfrozen water.
You can then concentrate on heating them from the inside out.IMine have pellets available ad lib and they should never get hungry.
A little extra help in the Winter is useful in the diet - add broken (is it called kibbled?) maize (which is about £6 per 20kg and lasts a long time) to any mixed corn or to thier pellets and this will burn well inside them. Don't overdo it as it can make them fat.
I mix 25-30% maize with mixed corn and give a good helping to them in the mid-aftenoon before dark. It will stoke them up for the night.
You can also add a little Poultry Spice to their food once a week - just a sprinkling - and this will give them 'a bit extra' in trace and other elements to keep them fit under adverse conditions.
Other than that, their natural insulation will do the rest. If being kept in during the snow makes them bored and leads to feather pecking, treat any victims quickly with anti-peck spray to make sure they don't develop bald patches.
Keep up a supply of green stuff from time to time to compensate for any indoor living.
You can do very little more. Keep an eye on them and they will get through teh winter better than you!
Good luck
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Thanks for the advice Moorlander :) Helpful for me too as this is my first winter with chickens