Let me qualify my "dumb" questions by saying that I don't know anyone else who has chickens, so I have to ask my questions somewhere!
I'm probably concerned for nothing, but I'm wondering about my hens staying warm/dry. They have a nice little shed-like coop with a fenced in outdoor area. They usually just go inside to lay their eggs and to sleep. Even when it's cold and/or rainy. We have put a light inside since it's getting into the 20's at night, but they are outside during the day regardless of the weather. Yesterday they were sopping wet and muddy! They do have food and water both inside and outside. Will they just go in when they need to? Or do we need to do something more? (this will be our first winter with them, hence all the questions!) Thanks for your insights!
Good Morning Sheila Not a dumb question at all. I am one of those protective Mom's so when I know the weather is going to be bad my girls do not get to be let out. If they are caught off guard and I am not home they have the smarts to run not walk to their hen house and get out of the weather. I also think that they learn that they should not be out because I tell them so - did I forget to mention they understand English! I also have now a heat lamp in the hen house running all the time so they can get warm quickly if necessary. O.K. I also spoil my girls with left of fiber (wool, llama, alpaca) when I am working on fleeces all the stuff that would be placed in the compost go into their house. In fact I also place fiber in the nesting boxes, what hen would not want an alpaca lined box? The more they love their home the more they want to stay in it and lay those wonderful eggs. By the way my hens over the years never went down in egg production running the hen house the way I do. Good Luck with your girls.
Grace Gerber Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Mine spend alot of time outside (they have a covered run with wood over about 4' and the rest wire...where they don't seem to even mind snow..and then go inside at night or if it is a dark day. The sunshine keeps 'em laying. I have had chickens for year and never had one freeze to death..and we don't have light except with real young ones...I bed the coop deeply with pine shavings and they have their roost and they do fine. Arn't chickens great? I can't imagine life without at least a few!
another chicken question!
Posted - Dec 03 2007 : 07:34:27 AM
