Keeping Chickens During Summer And Winter – What To Look Out For
Keeping chickens in the extremes of weather and seasons.
There is a ”need to plan” that you need to get into your head right from the start before these seasons come about.
And I am going to show you.
Keeping Chickens In The Worst Of Weathers
Chickens might seem fragile.
But that is far from the truth, these fowls are hardy and able to take a lot handed out to them.
But there is one thing that seems to be prevalent with many birds, and they can just give up.
Yet, they have some characteristics that allow them to pull through and survive in some of the harshest weather conditions.
Of course, those traits also depend on the different chicken species out there.
Now, there are some chickens that can withstand the harsh conditions of winter and even summer.
But when it comes to keeping chickens in the extremes of weather…
If you can help them out.
Why wouldn’t you?
It depends on the type of chicken, and on the weather they are accustomed to.
So don’t go wasting your money and time with a breed of chicken that likes different weather than the one you mainly have in your area where you live.
It can get very hard with keeping chickens under these difficult conditions.
Winter Time Means Cold Weather
When the cold weather hits, many chickens owners may try to add a heating system for their chickens.
They think that they will do them good.
But don’t try to overheat your chickens, you want to keep them healthy.
Because they can catch a cold or even freeze.
I do have an article on how to prepare your chicken coop with insulation if you want to read it.
You may leave them healthy and safe and in the morning, and when you return at the end of the day you could find them dead.
Just keep in mind when keeping chickens, that they can adapt to difficult weather conditions on their own if given enough time to adjust.
Their body has an efficient changing metabolism that helps them survive during colder temperatures.
If the place where you are keeping chickens is cold most of the time.
Say…
If you live in Alaska for instance.
This weather can have harsh temperatures, you may want to take some precautions before bringing your chickens home for the first time.
In this way, you will be ready for them, as you do not want to put their little lives in any danger, do you?
Cold Weather Hints
- Sometimes, you can have instances where low temperatures can cause the comb or wattle to have frostbite.
I have never had this because I have never lived in an area that is that cold.
But, if you want to prevent this from happening to your chickens, especially chickens that have larger wattles.You can actually rub petroleum jelly or another kind of moisturizer on their wattles from time to time.
Yes really!
- Make sure that their water supply has not frozen into a block.
Your chickens would not appreciate pecking at what looks like water to only find that their beaks contact with a solid mass of ice now…
Do not go depriving the chicken of water, as this can seriously damage their health.
See also Catching Chickens Is Easy?
Think Again!
Everything needs water.
You can get a water heater to make sure that the water does not end up freezing into a block.You might need to look into this if you go away a lot.
Also, make sure the water reserve has no impurities.
Who wants dirty water?
Or the slime that gathers on the surface of the container, and this will also happen in cold water, can’t stop the bacteria in cold weather, only slow it down.
Chickens can get diseases from these impurities the same as we would.
Do you like your water to be clean?So do your chickens.
Make sure the water stays warm enough for your chickens to drink, so no icicles on your water ok…
If you don’t possess a water heater, get some water from inside your house and bring it to the chicken pen in the morning.
The Hot Weather In The Summer Time
If you live in a place where the summer is really harsh and fairly hot most of the year.
Even if you have harsh Summers, that’s enough…
I faced this in the Summertime with my chickens.
Your chickens can, and will suffer from being exposed to heat all day long.
Especially at the height of the day when the hot sun is at its hottest.
They could get dehydrated, so you need to make sure that you have plenty of water handy.
Make sure that you have more than one container of water in case your chickens accidentally tip it over, as they do have a habit of perching on top of the water bowl.
If you have an automatic watering system, I would still have some other source of water just in case the automatic watering system does not work for any reason.
You need to think of these things and be prepared, do not just take it for granted that the automatic chicken waterer is going to work.
I would also check and refill their water supply whenever possible.
Make a habit of going to your chicken coop at the hottest time to make sure all is well with your chickens and that they have what they need, and that includes topped up water.
And if the water is hot, put some cold water in with it.
If you really want to go fancy…
You can get hold of one of those misters, I once got one that was like a hose that you could attach up on the wall with nozzles along the hose line.
Just attach the hose and mist can help your chickens keep cooler.
This item is mainly made as a misting system for plants, but you can use this for your chicken pen.
I am sure that your chickens will frequent it just like you did when you were young and ran through the sprinkler in the garden on a hot day.
Am I saying that I do it now…
I do however put the hose on a mist and direct it at myself in the hot weather when I am out watering sometimes.
Well…
Also, don’t let the chickens run around without providing them with some shade.
Yes, put some shading up on the top of their pen if you can.
If the top of the pen does not have a cover.
Get some shade cloth and tie some rope to the owners and then tie it to the fences on your chicken run on either side, that will work.
See also How to Raise Chickens that Lay Purple Eggs
Also, provide some ventilation in their pen.
If you have windows in the pen, open them up, if the hen house has a roof that you can lift up to get the eggs.
Put a block of wood under it to lift it up a little, not enough to let the chickens find a way out thought…
Another important thing is that when heat waves occur, your hens can lay excessive eggs.
This is really not a good sign.
It means that your hens are very stressed because of the heat.
So you need to take steps to help them out.Even go as far as to bring them under the shade by putting up a portable cage for them.
Anything to get them out of the heat.
When the temperatures go back to normal, don’t worry, their laying process will resume as usual.
Also, during these extreme weather conditions, it is a good idea to observe your chickens for any abnormal behaviour from the ordinary.
Observing Your Chickens
Notice how they walk, what they are eating, and how often they eat for example…
If you see one of your chickens isolating themselves in the corner of the hen house of the chicken run.
Or just acting a bit strange, it means they might have caught a disease.
Get the chicken and put it in quarantine to prevent the disease from spreading.
You should always have a small pen of some sort for these circumstances.
And just see how they go.
If your chicken gets well, return them to the others as soon as you can.
As there is always the issue of the pecking order, and if a chicken has been away for a while.
The pecking order might have just changed, so the less time away the better.
But if your chicken is not well enough, do not go rushing them back because of this.
As they might still be contagious or be picked on by the other chickens if they sense a chicken not fit enough to keep their position in the flock.
Not nice, but it’s natural.
Some symptoms of chicken sickness include:
- sneezing
- depression
- loss of appetite
- teary eyes
- abnormaal stools
- isolating themselves
If you notice any of these signs, you need to have a look at your chicken and do what is necessary to help them.
And yes…
Chickens can get depression.
In fact, all animals suffer depression like ourselves.
I just do not understand that some people out there think because they are animals, that they do not suffer or have the same feeling as we do.
We are all living and that is enough said.
Do not treat them differently if they have depression, care for them and this will help.
Spend time with them, they will appreciate it.
When you are keeping chickens in your back yard, you will learn by observation what is needed, and the rest.
I am afraid when it comes to keeping chickens, it is a bit of guesswork, as they can not speak our language.
But they have a way of communicating with us as we do with them.
This bond will form the more you spend time with your backyard chickens.