How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Frost bite?

I took my leaf rake and raked the 2 inches or so of snow back away from the coop so they could get out and at least run around the coop some. Seems to have worked as they are starting to venture back out. They definitely don't like the snow, but then again, I don't like standing around with snow between my bare toes either. LOL

Patrick

On Sat, Dec 14, 2013 at 9:31 AM, <sidesaddle5@yahoo.com> wrote:

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Yours are braver than mine! Since our first real snow (2" about a week ago) mine have refused point-blank to leave the coop. I open the pop-hole, a head or two pokes out, and that's it! What a bunch of wimps. Even the three older chickens haven't ventured to the barn, which they enjoyed last year as a winter play area--they'd even wade belly-deep to get there. Not this year.

<< I am concerned about their water intake. I just have a 3 or 4" deep round metal pan for their water and it wasn't dirty and didn't look like the water level went down at all. Should I worry about it? Maybe they got enough through pecking the top layer of sleet? >>

I think they probably do get some from eating snow, etc. I know I saw mine do so last year, as well as drinking from any little wet places--sometimes just a teeny puddle in the fold of a tarp or whatever. I know the water intake (from the waterer) of my little flock has drastically increased since they've been staying in the coop, so they had to have been getting at least half, or more, outside before now. So I wouldn't worry if they don't seem to be using their water pan and still look healthy. You could put out another pan wherever they are congregating outside, just to make sure.

Rhonda

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