What's everybody else doing about their chickens in this weather?

[duchesse]

Mine don't even want to set foot outside, apart from one evil psychopathic enterprising Araucana that hitched a ride on a Silkie yesterday (I have a picture if anybody's interested). They hate the snow and they hat the cold and their water is freezing inside their coop. I'm thinking of leaving them all in the coop all day with food and water so that the temperature stays up. What do you think?

Mine are hopeless! We don't have snow (yet) but had torrential rain all over Christmas. Two of our chickens slept inside, and the four others decided to sleep outside in the rain. They looked so miserable, but it's their choice I suppose...

I think it's a good idea to keep them in for a while, but they are amazingly resilient.

I've put winter covers down the sides of the run to stop too much snow blowing in. I put it just above chicken-head height, so they can still see it out. It's quite warm when I go in! I've scraped snow off their roof to let more light in through the perspex. They're getting extra treats for breakfast, like left over Reddy Brek, porridge, crusts, and - their favourite - soggy Fruit and Fibre, with added poultry spice. And in the afternoon I give them some corn. They have been known to have the odd slice of cake, too.
They won't actually leave the run to free-range in the snow, and there's rather a lot of clucking if they do step on anything cold. Haven't resorted to the hot-water bottle yet, but we're only -5 tonight. I think the eglu can stand -10. Hope so, anyway. Really don't want frozen chicken tomorrow!

We have put lots of hay in the coop for extra warmth, and I give them porridge and poultry spice for extra warmth. They have ventured out onto the snow, but are really not keen, and I haven't let them out free range since the beginning of the week.

Duchesse you have a Silkie?! I would love one!

Mine are boinging around in the snow scrabbling for extra corn. they get weetabix or porridge with warm water for breakfast and tea and the little ones have a snugglesafe and extra straw in their coop. The big ones huddle in their coop.

I'm taking the water in at night and putting fresh warm water out during the day, hoping it won't freeze.

Both runs are covered.

My friend's chickens were all eaten by a fox on Tues night - hungry beasties abound at the moment, so take care of your ladies.

I don't blame the foxes, they're hungry too, but how AWFUL to lose your girls to raiding foxes. We don't have foxes around here, or they are too nervous to come into the village because there are a lot of dogs around.

However, we have to be wary of owls. The villagers told us they'll swoop down and pluck chickens from their roost at night. We hear owls at night, but have never seen any. They must be huge to be able to carry a chicken away!

as am still waiting for back doors mine just trek across the garden and come into the utility room and stay there all day

they did come into the kitchen for a bit but I shooed them out

SECRETLY WOULD LIKE THEM TO COME AND LIVE IN MY HOUSE WITH ME

Mitchy DON'T: they will poo on your carpets. I know all too well. Mine get in when the doors are open in the summer. Lost a hen? Look in the dining room/bedroom/bathroom etc.

I have just made a couple of snow forts with the dc's and in the process cleared some snow so let the birds out for a peck at the grass.

My girls (pekins and silkies) Are not one bit impressed, and are only leaving their coop for food and water. I've been making them some warm porridge before bed time to get them through the really cold nights.

I haven't got any carpets - but still, think it is better for them to get on with the important business of scratching under the trees and bushes outside

dog would happily trail after them eating any poo though