smokiechicken1969 Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 This will be my first winter with my chickens. ive been reading the post on to heat or not to heat. are there any other winter specifics such as warming their food. i know chickens have survived without warm food for breakfast for thousands of years but you know how we like to spoil them. also do i have to run vaseline on their combs? and what about the cockerel? im considering whether or not to put a heater in the shed. and the OH is considering whether or not im nuts as he walked out of the door he said 'you'll be buying them christmas presents next!' hm hmmm! will anyone be doing a winter checklist thank you x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 The only thing that I did different in the winter was have the vasaline ready and added a ping pong ball to the glug in a vain effort to stop it freezing. Poo picking the path is great in winter as if you leave it to freeze you can just s"Ooops, word censored!" and flick it into your bucket oooh...and last year my lot got their own Christmas Dinner - extra veg was cooked especially Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Mine had Christmas pud last year made from pellets etc.. I posted a pic - it looked good enough to eat! I used handwarmers to stop the water freezing (the plastic ones rather than the porus ones) Apart from that I didnt do anything special - I even stopped closing the coop doors after a few months! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Mine get warm porridge oats on a really cold day. Have to keep the garden path clear for them though - they refused to walk in snow last winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JS1 Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 as he walked out of the door he said 'god, you'll be buying them christmas presents next!' My mum has already said that ours are getting an iceberg lettuce for Christmas - they couldn't forget the 'grand-chicks'. I wonder if they like sprouts?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Mine LOVE sprouts and got a big sack for Christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Awwww im going to give mine warm porridge, put on the winter cover, buy them presents, cook them xmas dinner and again, basically spoil them xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 To be honest, the only things I did was to make sure that their water wasn't frozen and to give them a handful of corn for 'supper'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 (edited) how do I stop the water freezing during the day I 'll be going to work at 7.30 am don't get back till 5.00pm if it gets down below minus 2 the water will freeze as soon as it goes out Edited September 29, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 To be honest, the only things I did was to make sure that their water wasn't frozen and to give them a handful of corn for 'supper'. what no christmas presents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozboz Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Its my first christmas with the chucks and i've just started having the conversation about winter with my hubby. I was planning on putting a ping pong ball in the water to stop it freezing, anything that can keep the water moving will stop the water from freezing. I've started warming their vegtables up and they get their usual cup if tea. Wondering if i can mix a handful of layers pellets with warm water would this create like a warm mash? I was going to try this in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Wondering if i can mix a handful of layers pellets with warm water would this create like a warm mash? I was going to try this in the morning. Yes you can, its good in the evenings so they go to bed with something warm in their tummies Even better you can mould the pellets when wet: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 That looks so tasty. You can give them extra wheat late as well. It gives them calories overnight to replace what they burn keeping warm. I didn't use any heating last year. All three slept in the cube nest box and even when really icy they were warm as toast when I slipped my hand under their feathers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Redwing, I am seriously impressed! That chicken dinner looks better than any Ive ever had I know what mine will be having Xmas day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 I wouldnt bother, they werent grateful and demolished it standing all over my good plate! little vultures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Awww, they look like they really enjoyed though, gotta be worth the effort, bless 'em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 I've just bought kev a snugglesafe heatpad for the cold nights I worry about him cos he'll be in his catbox in the shed with no girls to snuggle up with. I got mine from Ebay as it was the cheapest I could find. You microwave it and it stays warm for up to 10 hours so I can either pop it under his cat box or maybe inside but at one end?? As for the girls-I have always made them some warm porridge in the evenings during winter or if I haven't got time I just chuck a couple of handfuls of corn in as it apparently warms them up and has extra calories to make up for the calories they will use up trying to stay warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Wondering if i can mix a handful of layers pellets with warm water would this create like a warm mash? I was going to try this in the morning. Yes you can, its good in the evenings so they go to bed with something warm in their tummies Even better you can mould the pellets when wet: Does that have brandy in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokiechicken1969 Posted October 1, 2009 Author Share Posted October 1, 2009 arrrrhhhh haha omg ive just read the replies and seen that christmas pudding. that's fantasic. how funny! now that is dedication to your chickens haha fantastic x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Hi smokiechicken1969, I guess it depends on where in the UK you live and if the weather gets extreme.... I haven't used vaseline on their combs yet. But then I'm in South East so mild ish..... The last 2 winters I've had to break ice a few mornings and top up with warm fresh water, but that's about it really. Run is covered with corrugated plastic to keep out the wind and rain. You've got a shed so it's not going to be portable, but for those with portable housing my personal winter regime consists of moving the eglu housing nearer the house right outside the back door onto my patio. I don't have to trudge down the garden in the cold to open them up each day and I don't have to venture out over soggy lawn. They do have a bit of lawn to free range too, but their eglu and run stay on the patio....... I also have a few cheap rubber door mats (the ones with holes in) to lay down over grass that I do have to tread on so it doesn't wear away in the winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
