Tuesday, 15 November 2011

Preparing Chickens for Winter

Winter can present it's challenges for any animal, and it's no different for chickens. No matter what season it is, providing the optimum conditions for your flock is essential. They may not be producing in the winter, but invest effort in their upkeep and they will start the new laying period in prime condition. On some days they will elect to spend the majority of the day inside the coop because of the snow. The top ten tips we have on how to help our chickens through the winter months are:

Housing matters
1. Ventilation in the coop is essential for our poulty throughout the year, so don't be tempted to block up every hole in the coop in the belief it will keep the birds warm when the wild weather comes along. The chickens will be spend longer roosting due to the shorther daylight hours, but during this time they will still need a flow of air through the house. Roosting birds produce a lot of moisture and if this allowed to become condensation on the walls and ceiling of the coop' it will cold and damp conditions which are far from ideal for our birds. Do carry out any repairs on the coop to block out any drafts, as these can kill a rooosting bird, but ensure there is a way for warm air to depart and fresh air to enter.
2. Bedding and litter should be of an adequate depth to provide a level of insulation but don't be tempted to stuff the coop full of straw thinking it will create a cosy house. Straw can look clean and dry, but it is not particularly absorbent and has a habit of sweating when soiled with droppings or muddy feet. This can quickly give rise to fungal growth and the resulting spores can lead to illnesses in the chickens. If possible it's far better to use shavings or litter products on the market.
Mucking out
3. This should be at least a weekly task, but during the winter you may need to increase the frequnency due to the birds spending longer in the coop. If you are unable to increase the freguency of our cleaning regime then try a quick spot of poo picking each morning or placea sheet of newspaper under the perch that can be removed when you let the birds out each day. It will prolong the life of the litter and help keep the coop clean.
4. The weather will also mean that the chickens will be traipsing mud or snow into the coop from outdoors. This can be reduced by providing a dry porch area next to the pop hole and by putting a slightly raised area at the entrance using a pallet or section of pallet. It may be a little unsightly but it gets the birds off ground near the pop hole which will be getting poached in wet weather, and it can be cleaply and easily replaced or cleaned when it becomes too dirty.
5. Dampness can occur  on the floor of the chicken coops despite your best efforts, so winter is a good time to invest in in a powder-type disinfectant such as Stalosan F. Sprinkling this on the floor of the coop after it has been cleared and before the new litter is applied, it will not only act as a disinfectant, but it will pervent smells and help dry the floor of the coop.
Feed and water
6. Disinfect the feeders and drinkers every week using a good quality disinfectant, but always be sure to give them a good rinse and dry before refilling them. Also check the grit pots are not soiled and clean them too.
7. It's worth considering giving your chickens free access to feed during the day as opposed to measuring out a specific amount, because their consumption rate will vary depending on the weather. If you use mash as opposed to a compound pellet feed, then mixing it with a little warm water when you feed them in the morning will be appreciated by the chickens, but mind that the mash doesn't freeze during the day. And ensure the food is removed at night if you use outdoor feeders otherwise you run the risk of attracting veminin.
8. A handful of corn grain given as a scratch feed an hour or so before our flock goes in to roost will provide some extra energy to keep the birds warm during the night.
9. Bring drinkers indoors at night or empty them completely. It's far easier to fill an empty drinker in the morning than wander around with a kettle of boiling water trying to defrost a solid drinker-besides, in a really heavy freeze the drinker stands a good chance of being broken by the expanding ice.
10. On some days the temperture may not get above zero and any water put out first thing could quickly freeze over. Your chickens need constant access to water as even on cold days they will drink a significant amount. If you are around during the day, it may simply be a case of breaking any ice that forms; otherwise consider putting the drinker in a sheltered spot or positioning the drinker on a heat source running at a very low setting just to keep the edge off. I've seen people place drinkers on an upturned flower pot that has a tea light or candle inside- it seemed to work very well but obviously be aware of any potential fire risk. Don't be tempted to add anything to the water to stop it freezing' daft as it mat seem there have been cases of salt or even antifreeze being added to stop the water freezing. That's all the tips.                                 

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