Urban Chicken Update
May 3rd, 2009 | By Matt Mayer | Category: Chickens |
Well, we made it through the winter. Winter for me here in Iowa was more mild than last year, snow wise, but much colder. The chickens handled it surprisingly well. I put a CFL bulb in their coop (which they did not like) for warmth (I guess it’s supposed to be a heat bulb. Duh) Anyway, after a few nights of them sleeping on top of the coop away from the light in super cold weather I decided they must be hardy enough and not need the extra warmth, so I removed the light. I did however wrap their coop in the fall with bags of leaves, including the roof. This seemed to work well enough that they weren’t in trouble through the winter.
No problems there. Dragging out to deal with frozen water twice a day was a bit of a pain. Especially when it was dark on both trips. We managed.
But, now that spring is here the chickens are really earning their keep. They’ve been pacing the walls of the dog kennel wanting to get outside to explore and eat, not unlike me in my house, although I don’t have to go outside to eat. When I’ve let them out they have done a fantastic job of digging up the garden and working in the leaf shreds and compost I’ve put on top of the beds for them to look through. I had heard about how good they did this, but even I’m surprised at how well they do this. It’s kind of shocking even. Better than advertised as far as I’m concerned.
We’ve had a mishap or two with plants and the cold frame, but there is enough other stuff for them to get into that they don’t come back after being shooed away. They are even starting to learn that when I come after a while it means they need to get back in the kennel for the night. They don’t seem to mind pushing back from the buffet and going home to rest for a while.
Keep an eye out for more chicken info in the coming months. Drop a note to us on the Barnyard about your animals.
My chickens have come thru the winter in fine shape as well, here in Wisconsin. I don’t insulate or heat my coop, but I do make sure it is well ventilated at the top and draft-free where they roost. I also make sure they have enough food always, and supplement with dry corn (high calorie). The hens cuddle up with each other and do a good job of generating their own heat. I hear you on the frozen water issue, but I’d rather not install a heater. I just haul twice a day, like you. Maybe I appreciate the warmer weather so much more because of this? Anyway, the chickens and I are all loving the spring weather and getting into the dirt again!
We made it through our first winter here as well. We had a really mild winter here in SW Virginia, but we did have some cold nights. We didn’t bother with the light – our biddies didn’t seem to care and cuddled together for warmth.
They’re now back out to their warm weather home – our chicken tractor. We move it to a fresh spot of grass every couple days. So far, egg production as been superb (119 eggs in April, from 6 hens, and 379 for the year as of the end of April!), though we do notice that the chickens aren’t too wild about the wild weather swings here. One day it’s hot, then it’s cold, then it’s rainy, and so on. So far this month we have yet to have a 5 egg day (our highest collection for a day so far) .. lots of 4 egg days, but also a 1 egg day. Chicken Rebellion run amok!
Can’t wait to here more about yours!!
If you’re interested in providing mild heat but not light, you can get ceramic iguana/lizard heat “bulbs” at pet stores. They screw into light sockets just like regular bulbs, and put out heat, but no light. It sounds like your chickens did fine without it, but I thought I’d throw that out as a suggestion!
I’m glad to hear that your chickens wintered well. My chickens are 9 weeks old…looking very matronly and growing like weeds. I was pretty nervous about winter, but sounds like they are the same remarkable creatures during the winter that they are during the summer. Thanks, Matt, for the update!