Keeping my chooks warm this winter

[mew]

Hi

We rescued 3 chooks in July and could do with some suggestions as to the best way to keep them warm and snug this winter.

Any ideas would be very much appreciated.

The air vent in the coop - are we closing that off during the evening to stop any drafts or should we leave it open?

Thanks MEw x

[Birdie Wife]

Firstly, how big is the hen coop? Is it a snug size for the number of hens you have, or do they rattle around in there a bit? I wouldn't close the vent unless it's really howling, as damp unventilated conditions are much worse for chooks than cold dry conditions. They really are quite hardy beasts really.

Secondly, a handful of mixed corn just before bedtime is a good way of keeping them warm overnight, as it burns long and slow in the digestion and gives them a bit of central heating, as it were.

[mew]

bit like porridge :0)

[mew]

Hi everyone

Just wondered if anyone else had any ideas or thoughts on how they keep their chook chooks warm and toastie over the winter.

We have a relatively small wooden coop 60 x 120 cm ive just been informed plus nesting area.

thanks again

mew x

[Thomzo]

Hi
IMHO chooks are outdoors animals. Naturally they would roost in trees all year round. If your ex-bats have all their feathers by the time it gets really cold then they'll probably be fine. I got my ex-bats the same time as you did and they've both fullly feathered up now. Mine really don't like being shut up now so I'm going to leave them open. The door to the house faces away from the prevailing wind so they'll be mostly draft free. The door opens upwards so leaving it open will mean that rain can't get in except in the worst of the weather.

They huddle up together at night for warmth so I'm hoping they'll be OK.

Zoe

[Merry]

bit like porridge :0)

Exactly like porridge - oats are a good slow release winter warmer as well.

[Thurston Garden]

I would echo what's been said already.

Hens are outdoor beasts. Keep the vent open, but away from prevailing winds - hens can tolerate almost anything bar wind.

Your henhouse sounds like it will be fine for 3 birds - not much else to do but a scattering of grain in the evening. One thing I do if the weather gets really cold is to make a hot mash: I (used to *cough*) save my potato peelings and stale bread and boil it up on the Rayburn then add in some layers meal/mash to make like a thick porridge for them in the morning. The def like it given the cluck cluck cluckin that goes on when you feed them it - it also helps with egg number that would normally tail off to nil in really cold weather.


Disclaimer: you canny feed any kitchen scraps to hens these days for fear of being taken away in the DEFRA/SEERAD van....

[Millymollymandy]