Testimonials
17th Nov 2009
Alison, just a note to say thank you very much for your pluck and gut course today.
I feel a lot more comfortable about despatching in the future, and as I have 16 boys to do within the next month, it has made me more confident on all aspects of killing and preparation for the table.
A great 3 hours, very informative and beneficial to me.
Kind Regards
Sarah Killick
Home > Support and Advice > Snow Advice
Snow Advice

This continuing snow fall and thick laying snow, not to mention the ice, is all just a complete nightmare. The chickens don't seem to like it any more than we do, but, like us, they are just going to have to get on with it.
If you have hybrids, then they are bred to cope with this weather and will not need any more care than they get normally. Chickens will cuddle up together at night naturally and will keep each other warm. Pure breeds, especially some bantams, do seem to need some extra warmth and some straw or hay, which I would not normally recommend, will be appreciated in the nest box and on the floor of the house. An old blacket thrown over the house will help, but don't block the ventilation hole.
The chickens are reluctant to go out in the snow, but will go out in it eventually. Water is the biggest problem as everything is frozen, but the chickens are quite enterprising and will happily eat the snow, so you can abandon the drinkers for as long as there is snow. They do still need food though!
They also need to be securely shut in at night as the foxes and rats are even hungrier in this weather. A rat will gnaw its way in and eat a chicken alive if it can, so keep an eye out for evidence of rats. Tracks are easy to see in the snow and you might be surprised to see just how much night time traffic there is through your garden.


