More than a millennium ago , Gaelic sodbuster observed Samhain ( pronounced : SAH profits ) . It ’s a time of many rites and rituals , and the basis for today ’s Halloween . One such practice was the return of one ’s livestock from summertime grazing land to their winter b . Before being penned , theanimals were driven between two big bonfiresto pull out any ogre or spirit that attached themselves to the brute during their six months of ranging . Now , I ’m not advising everyone to pre - roast your chickens by herding them between balefire ( as if chickens could be herded ) , but I am indeed suggesting that our Gaelic forebears set an excellent common law : using the terminal of October as a marker for frigid - weather measures . In early October , I start catch for lacy , frosted windowpane , a stillness in the forests surround our property and that overall wan - wheat colouration to the land . Those are my signs that it ’s time for me to impart chickens in .
play chickens in ? Why kind of crazy talk of the town is that ? dead on target , if you live in the southerly United States , where the winter low might reach 50 degrees , there really is no need to transfer your Bronx cheer ’ outside routine . ( summertime warmth is a bigger worry . ) If you live in northern regions , however , like those of you already dealing with blow in Montana and pierce lead in the Midwest and Rockies , bringing your birds in for the winter might be a beneficial idea . There are different degrees of cold-blooded - atmospheric condition sheltering , depending on how you conjure up your deal . The survey four guidelines will help control that your chickens have a safe home for the wintertime holidays .
Free Rangers
forage becomes pretty barren during the winter calendar month . gratuitous - orbit birds regain it progressively difficult to subsist on what they find outside . With all but the evergreens losing their leave , safe perches that obscure your birds from keen carnivorous eyes also become hard to find . The frigid season is hard for predators , too , as many of their master solid food source hole up or migrate to warmer clime . loose - roam bird can becomean irresistible aim for wintertime - starved hunter . Protect your forager by bringing them into a coop with an hold in run for the winter months .
Chickens That Aren’t Cold-Hardy
We Northerner ca n’t help ourselves sometimes . Beautiful heat - stout raspberry just capture our attention . We summate them to our flock , despite their being ill suited to our chilly environment . Because of their low organic structure mass and their typically large combs and wattles , chicken breeds such as Sumatras , Japanese Bantams , Cubalayas , and Fayoumis have difficulty retain heat as the cooler temps set in . These and other warmth - intrepid crybaby require a draft - free , well - insulated , floored and heat habitation for the winter in realm where sub - zero temps and deep snowfall are commonplace . They are athigher risk of infection for hypothermia than cold - hardy birdssuch asWyandottes , OrpingtonsandPlymouth Rocks . A penned - off section of a barn outfit with roosts makes an ideal protection for these strong - weather fowl .
The Fancily Feathered
Polish , Houdan , Silkiesand other crested razz typically have a unmanageable time getting around thanks to their key signature feather pouf , which cascades over their eyes and often fog their vision . As a result , these chickens startle well and frequently do not recognize potential hazards until it is too late . These trouble only worsen in winter . The birds often can not see icy patches and are at seriousrisk of accidental injury from slips and falls . In addition , icing watch crystal seem to thrive in the crests of these fancy strain , potentially causing breakage and cryopathy . chicken with feathered feet , such as Faverolles , Dutch Booted Bantams and ( again ) Silkies , have alike feather - weather condition issues . Silkies are a case unto themselves , as their barbicel - less feathers tender pathetic insularism against bitter winter weather . If you enhance fancy - feather poultry — specially to multiply or for expo — a clime - controlled winter hencoop to which you’re able to bring chickens in is de rigueur .
Broodies
Anyone who has ever raised an Orpington , Silkie , Brahmaor other mothering biddy knows full well that a young woman will go broody whenever and wherever she darn well pleases . In the midriff of your terrace construction site ? Yep . In the pile of leaves you rake but had n’t yet gathered up ? Yep . In the middle of a January blizzard ? Yep . They might not lay many egg because of the reduced daytime , but what they lay , they brood . And while a broody hen by nature ray gamy - consistence temperatures in fiat to brood her eggs , she tend to weaken because of her modified nutritional intake coupled with her continual refueling of her high - body passion . In addition , there is always the possibility that her eggs can freeze , especially when the temperature cast off below 0 . Transfer your wintertime broody hen to a warm , easy winter incubator in your b , shake off or garage that can accommodate her and can expand to shelter her brood of chick for the next few months .
Last Monday , I receive a weather notification that the temperatures were expected to send packing to 30 degrees overnight , so I decide it was clock time to bring wimp in . That afternoon , we were busy in the celestial pole b , turning on heating jury , contribute brisk flaked shaving and preparing our winter brooder for our Silkies . Once the brooder reached a comfy 68 degrees degree Fahrenheit , we transferred our slight puffballs from their transportable chicken tractor to their toasty winter shelter . sure enough enough , frost cover the window and grass the next morning . No bonfires were involved , but we did convey our raft place for the vacation — and just in time .
