I've been out to check on the chickens a few times today and they've let me know that they are NOT snow chickens. They haven't set foot in the snow and don't seem to care to. They are enjoying the covered portion of their run and spending more time in their coop.
I took some treats out to them and they were very appreciative. My roosters were very talkative. You can hear the new roosters (Nicholas and Chief Crazy Feather) crowing from inside the coop.
The plastic is working perfectly and the sleet that has been coming down at an impressive clip has stayed outside of the plastic. The sleet hitting the metal roof creates a racket though.
See? Nice and dry, wind-protected run. It still may be cold outside but they don't seem to mind that part.
As long as they don't have to go out into the snow and there are occasional treat visits, they don't mind this weather.
With Winter Storm Jonas breathing down our necks, I wanted to get the chickens ready. We have plenty of chicken feed and bringing them water isn't a problem. The thing I worried about is driving sleet, freezing rain, and snow. They have an over-hang roof in their run but the wind would bring the snow and ice right into the run.
Luckily we had some leftover plastic that I stapled to the frame. I was able to wrap the door while allowing it to be opened and closed.
This side faces north and it will block the worst of the winds.
When I ran out of clear plastic, I had to use this ugly garden plastic. It's not much to look at but it will give them a lot of protection during the next few days.
Now they have an outside space that is protected on three sides.
The roosters didn't like the sound of my staple gun and kept the girls back but as soon as I'd finished, they ran over to check out the new plastic.
I'll be checking on the chickens often during the storm but I think they'll be fine now.
Here are a few bonus chicken pictures I took today.
This is what happens when I walk near the chicken coop. I get mobbed because they're hoping I've brought kitchen scraps or maybe I'll toss them some scratch or sunflower seed.
Here's Sterling, our Silver Leghorn rooster.
Formerly "Einstein", this white Polish hen is now named Phyllis Diller.
My only Barred Rock hen.
We got our second Easter Egger egg today! Another beautiful, pale green/blue.
Can we all pretend for a moment that it's October? Thanks.
As the chickens grew, I realized their run was much to small for them. They're out in the yard a good bit of the day but I didn't want them to be cramped in the mornings. Also, the younger chickens needed more space to get away from the big guys.
So, we took some leftover deer fencing, some metal t-posts, and some inexpensive chicken wire and made them an extension of their run.
We cut a small hatch in the old fence and opened it up for them. Now, the new extension isn't predator proof but it'll keep the chickens in... which is the goal. Their purple coop is predator proof and they get locked in there each night.
The chickens were so excited about the new space and grass.
It might not be pretty to look at but the added space is perfect. Now they can wait more patiently for free ranging time each day.
Even though it sure doesn't feel like winter is getting closer here in NC, it's time to get the chicken coop and run ready for cold, wet weather.
The new roofing we put on their "porch"gives them a nice large area that stays dry in the rain.
The hanging buckets are their waterers. On the bottom of each bucket are water "nipples" and when the chickens peck at them, water comes out. It's been a great way to give them water because the water stays clean.
I laid down pine bark mulch under their porch roof in the run to help keep things dry. I've been really happy with how it's done. I'll add more mulch as needed this winter.
Winter means fewer bugs to chase and eat and fewer plants to munch on. Keeping the chickens happy and busy this winter will be important.
We hung this head of cabbage after reading that it's a great way to keep chickens entertained. I guess our chickens didn't read that article. They didn't seem to know what to do with it.
The apples hanging from strings, however, was a huge success! They were like apple pinatas!
I stir their bedding weekly since we use the deep bedding method. I sprinkle black oil sunflower seeds in with the bedding when I stir so the chickens scratch their bedding (looking for seeds) and help keep the pine shavings fluffy and dry.
Because the hens are staying in their run until early afternoon (so they learn to lay eggs in their nesting boxes) we had to clip their weeks a few weeks ago. They had gotten so good at flying that they were climbing onto the coop roof, walking down the porch roof, and out of the run!
So, the kids helped me clip the older hens wings one evening. We had to do it after dark when all of the hens were quiet and roosting. We only clip the feathers on one wing so it makes the hen off balance when trying to fly... therefore preventing flying as high. They can jump onto their roosts but not on the roof of the coop. The hens feel no pain during wing clipping and Evan and Charlotte proved to be perfect chicken assistants.
We've tacked up heavy duty plastic over the large screened door and the big window of the coop so the chickens will be warm when the weather turns cold. We've had to open the plastic a bit since the weather has gotten so warm.
Another entertainment idea that my chickens are not amused with... the chicken swing. The chickens are supposed to hop up on the swing and in trying to balance themselves, make the swing move. My chickens have only picked at the rope... none have tried to swing.
