| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Mary-Jane |
How can I make my chooks more snuggly......during the winter months? Or do I not need to? And is there anything else I need to do for them?
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| LynneA |
You mean they don't snuggle up like that photo of the new dog? | ||||||||||||||||
| Green Rosie |
How is Toby by the way - perhaps he ate Fee's sparkly shoes 
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| sean |
Neither of you are helping. I'm sure someone will be along with a pattern for a knitted hen-cosy soon though. | ||||||||||||||||
| Green Rosie |
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| Cathryn |
 Ignore them MJ. All I do is cover the hut with a large sheet of, sort of bubble wrap stuff that helps insulate it some more without blocking any ventilation. Don't think the hens notice but it makes me feel better. 
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| sean |
You don't knit them cosies?  You cruel woman.
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| Green Rosie |
I wonder if Toby will get a "Toby cosy" to keep that little pink belly warm
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| Jonnyboy |
As long as they have mates to perch next to, and there isn't a large airspace above them then they should be lovely and cuddly. | ||||||||||||||||
| Nick |
Put them in an oven. | ||||||||||||||||
| Marionb |
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| Mr BlueSky |
Bring them into bed with you | ||||||||||||||||
| Jamanda |
Didn't someone ages ago, post a link to website with little coats for chickens? | ||||||||||||||||
| sean |
http://www.chickenssuit.com/ | ||||||||||||||||
| lettucewoman |
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1417224.html
damn! too slow! |
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| Mary-Jane |
You know, when I saw 14 replies to my request this morning I thought "Excellent - Downsizer triumphs again!" How wrong can you be... You're all bonkers.
'cept Ruby and Johnnyboy of course, who are both the sensible voice of reason (for a change). |
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| suomi |
Ok Mary jane, not sure if this is going to be much help either but I thought Id put my twopennies worth in anyway!
we have to have our chooks inside now for the winter,they have a concrete floor..brrrr very cold..  so we have put down about 50kg of wood shavings,great insulator,now they are happy chooks .
smells nice,looks good and keeps them warm. also sounds like a good idea to cover the roof with something. heres to happy warm chickens!
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| lottie |
I just make sure they get corn before they go to bed---gives them the energy to keep warm----plenty of straw underfoot and make sure their waters not frozen---suppose I could do them matching scarves and bobble hats 
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| Chickpea |
I line the hut with a good thickness of wood shavings, give them corn before bed time, and sometimes a warm bit of porridge, refresh their water, and they are quite happy. The run is fox-proofed, so I don't even shut the pop hole nowadays, they have perches and get high up, so no draughts. Happy birds, and still laying almost daily for me! | ||||||||||||||||
| Northern_Lad |
You have two basic routes:
1: stick more chickens in the same space 2: stick the same amount of chickens in a smaller space. Either way you're doing the same thing: increasing your chicken per volume ratio. May I suggest, as I thing the witch in a hedge did, lining the hut with bubble-wrap, on the inside, but don't go all the way to the back wall if you can help it. On a slightly lighter bent; kill that bloomin' cockeral - no one's gong to be warm and cosy if they're woken up at 4am every day. |
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| lottie |
My cockerel doesn't crow at 4 a.m. at this time of year----he has a lie in
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| Louisdog |
Love the chicken suits!
I have heard of people putting a hot water bottle in for theirs every evening. I felt mean as we never do that for ours! Like Lottie we give ours corn just before bed and they seem to do OK. Havn't had any frozen to the perch yet anyway 
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| Andy B |
They will cope with a bit of rain but dont like it when its windy so put up a wind break or some straw bales just to keep the worst of the wind off. | ||||||||||||||||
| Mary-Jane |
Blimey - lucky you Lottie. I wish I could say the same about my cock...he's up and ready every morning at 5am, if not before...
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| Green Rosie |
Time for some suitable rude comment from the (male?) DS fraternity.......
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| Northern_Lad |
I couldn't possibly comment.
MJ - how about some candles to keep them warm...? |
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| kevin.vinke |
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| Sarah D |
That's ducks, in my experience; chickens hate the rain, but don't mind the wind. Ducks will sit around in the rain and carry on as normal whilst the chickens run off inside. Puff of wind and the ducks are under the trees, though. Back to the original question, chickens are completely hardy, and the only thing to watch for really is their combs freezing. On normal winter nights, as long as they have clean bedding, plenty to eat and their house isn't too draughty, they will be fine. They will sit up close to each other and keep themselves warm. |
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| lottie |
Mine knows he's not allowed to "disturb" me before 6 at the earliest
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| Rob R |
Brandy | ||||||||||||||||
| Mary-Jane |
What?
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| vanessa |
Chickens have excellent insulation! Draughts in the hen house should be avoided, but ventillation is still needed. Plenty of choice of perch, and they'll snuggle-up as much as they want / need to. As said before, frozen combs are the biggest danger, but whilst it's not nice to think of bits of their combs breaking off due to the frost, it doesn't seem to actually harm them. This can be safeguarded against if you smear the combs with vaseline. | ||||||||||||||||
| lottie |
My gran used to swear by always smearing babies feet with vaseline before they went out in the winter | ||||||||||||||||
| Frewen Feltmaker |
I have horrible visions of bits of babies feet breaking off now
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| Andy B |
Wouldnt they keep slipping over? |
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| lottie |
Under their bootees -----she was an odd woman---knew a lot about chickens though----and babies
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| Lorrainelovesplants |
vaseline on combs and wattles if you think its going to be frosty. Tepid drinking water.....leftover cooled down milky porridge on cold mornings (not every day - just a treat)
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| fenwoman |
Re: How can I make my chooks more snuggly...
chooks? snuggly? <bangs head on desk repeatedly> They are livestock. You may think a lot of them, but they are livestock all the same, not cuddly wuddly chooky wookies.
If you look at them closely you will note that they are wearing their own feather duvets. When they sit on the perch at night, the feathers cover their feet. My oeg bantams, one jap and a couple of odd ones, all roost out in the walnut tree no matter what the weather. |
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| Mary-Jane |
Re: How can I make my chooks more snuggly...
Did your head hurt awfully when you banged it repeatedly on the desk? |
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| Andy B |
Our Ex batteryhen chooks are still laying, even now when its dark and cold!! I didnt think that was possible for a chook! | ||||||||||||||||
| Mary-Jane |
Ours too!
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| vanessa |
We have one who is laying regularly through our current spell of freezing weather ... plus one who has a baby and one who is sitting on half a dozen eggs!! I don't think hens always know what time of year they're "supposed" to do things
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