We live where it will get to -30 in the winter time. Keeping the water open can be a challenge. Because we have electricity in our coop, we use a heated dog dish. I put a big rock in the center so they can't tip it over. We've tried several other things, but this has worked the best for us. We also have a small heater in the coop for when it get really cold. It doesn't go on until it's at least 0. Sadly there are times when the hens have to stay in, because of the cold or because they don't like walking on the snow. We give them games to play -- hang corn on the cob or cabbage head from the ceiling and they peck at it.
Like Cathryn, we have a tarp over one part of a small run which keeps the snow off some of the dirt.
Once you find what works for you, winter isn't a big deal -but easy for me to say - my first couple of yrs with hens I worried all the time!
Rita
--- In CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com, CathrynTherese <cathryntherese@...> wrote:
>
> Once there is snow on the ground my silkies stay in. My egg layer's outdoor pen has a roof on it and side tarps so they get the sun from the end but are protected from the winds and bitter cold.
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