winter care?

[starloc]

Ive been thinking of getting a few hens,but ive come up with some realy stupid questions!

Are they ok in cold weather...... back in february it was -10 or so outside, if they have a hen house to live in, does it need heating? or can they keep themselves warm enough so not to freeze?

And...(this is the good question....)

Why do they not fly away?........

[Glutton4...]

I was worried about getting my (almost featherless) ex-batts in November but everyone on here convinced me they'd be better off than in pies or dog food tins, so I went ahead!

Eight hens in a small coop and they were as warm as toast. They grew feathers quickly and I still have all of them (and more!). I have always been surprised at how tough and warm they are, and when I felt the comb of one of them today it was warmer than my hand.

I would confidently say that you'll be fine, so will they! without heating, just as long as they can have a deep warm bed of shavings, or similar, and can cuddle up together.

Can I just add - get a shed (same price as a small coop, but over twice the size) as you'll end up with double the amount of hens you originally planned lol

[Glutton4...]

The reason they don't fly away is they don't fly too well, but you keep one wing clipped just in case!

One of mine flew over the electric fence the other day. It's over a metre high, but I didn't have it switched on, and she wanted to help me digging (for worms) the garden, and I wouldn't let them out.

[davefromthechipie]

-10 in Liverpool in feb
Hens will be fine up there im sure 3 will keep themself warm . I dont know anyone that heats housing for ducks or chickens ( full grown mature chickens thats is ) they can jump and fly !! but as for running away ,one week showing/teaching them there hen house they will stay put . The only problem is foxes if' by the sounds of it not making a fox proof cage.

if temps drop that low close house door and give them good bedding

[starloc]

Its never been that cold before, but it was very cold this year, we had -10 for extended time this year, we have never had even a frost outside at the back of the house, this year everything was solid ice, i went to nurenburg in germany for the toy fair at the begining of feb and it was warm and sunny there , the UK was frozen solid

I have a 6 foot wall all round, ontop im just putting 5 foot of razorwire and an electric fence to keep things out.....(mainly of the shell-suit wearing type...), i suppose that will manage to stop stop foxes getting in? , i have seen foxes walking past the house in the early morning every now and then.
im just a bit worried that they will manage to fly out and then get eaten, either that or someone (or a fox) will steal them for dinner
The winter, i can heat the hen house for them if they need it, but i have never heard anyone saying they do?
i have been told that this winter i can not fill the house with trees and veg, and when i said about getting hens they are now also banned from living in the house during the winter!

[Hilary B]

Its never been that cold before, but it was very cold this year, we had -10 for extended time this year, we have never had even a frost outside at the back of the house, this year everything was solid ice, i went to nurenburg in germany for the toy fair at the begining of feb and it was warm and sunny there , the UK was frozen solid

I have a 6 foot wall all round, ontop im just putting 5 foot of razorwire and an electric fence to keep things out.....(mainly of the shell-suit wearing type...), i suppose that will manage to stop stop foxes getting in? , i have seen foxes walking past the house in the early morning every now and then.
im just a bit worried that they will manage to fly out and then get eaten, either that or someone (or a fox) will steal them for dinner
The winter, i can heat the hen house for them if they need it, but i have never heard anyone saying they do?
i have been told that this winter i can not fill the house with trees and veg, and when i said about getting hens they are now also banned from living in the house during the winter!

What keeps foxes out will keep chooks in, but things like electric fence and razor wire (hope that is a bit of exaggeration anyway) are illegal on top of ordinary garden walls. If someone DOES try to climb over, and gets hurt they CAN AND WILL sue you!

[Flummery]

You will have more problems if your hens over heat than from them feeling the cold. They can dehydrate and that causes all sorts of problems. Their normal body temperature is several degrees above ours and they manage to keep warm very well. Birdie Wife up in the north of Scotland keeps hens - I'm sure she uses no heating.

[starloc]

What keeps foxes out will keep chooks in, but things like electric fence and razor wire (hope that is a bit of exaggeration anyway) are illegal on top of ordinary garden walls. If someone DOES try to climb over, and gets hurt they CAN AND WILL sue you!

There is nothing illegal about razor wire!

As long as you have a sign about it you are covered for being sued by idiots who try to climb over.
We already have the razor wire.....

.....we have had 4 or 5 attempts (in the last 6 months) at smashing in to the house (trying to overpower people opening the rear door!) by balaclavered hoodies trying to find things to steal ( due to the house address being widly listed on the internet and magazines as our companies reg office they think theres things /money to steal,maybe they think the stock is here is well? )

on top of that we use growlights for hydroponics and citrus so they think we grow canabis as well ( we dont ) so they want the `dope` as well!

( the atempts to break in in the way described have gone on for over 10 years , long before growlights , so its not just the growlights! )

Its not all for that though they also stole loads of lemons and chillies last year so it helps for that as well, i hate groing things just to have them pinched

The razor wire is to be raised a bit, with probably barbed wire above and bellow it for added protection from scallies and foxes

Its an added bonus that it will keep foxes out if i put hens inside

[davefromthechipie]

There is nothing illegal about razor wire!

As long as you have a sign about it you are covered for being sued by idiots who try to climb over.
We already have the razor wire.....

.....we have had 4 or 5 attempts (in the last 6 months) at smashing in to the house (trying to overpower people opening the rear door!) by balaclavered hoodies trying to find things to steal ( due to the house address being widly listed on the internet and magazines as our companies reg office they think theres things /money to steal,maybe they think the stock is here is well? )

on top of that we use growlights for hydroponics and citrus so they think we grow canabis as well ( we dont ) so they want the `dope` as well!

( the atempts to break in in the way described have gone on for over 10 years , long before growlights , so its not just the growlights! )

Its not all for that though they also stole loads of lemons and chillies last year so it helps for that as well, i hate groing things just to have them pinched

The razor wire is to be raised a bit, with probably barbed wire above and bellow it for added protection from scallies and foxes

Its an added bonus that it will keep foxes out if i put hens inside

Sorry starloc what a bloody horrible place to live I feel for you
If it was me and moving wasnt an option try this
Top 10 Badass Guard Dogs - Listverse: Ultimate Top 10 Lists
Id go with the bottom one personably lol

[Hilary B]

There is nothing illegal about razor wire!

As long as you have a sign about it you are covered for being sued by idiots who try to climb over.
We already have the razor wire.....

.....we have had 4 or 5 attempts (in the last 6 months) at smashing in to the house (trying to overpower people opening the rear door!) by balaclavered hoodies trying to find things to steal ( due to the house address being widly listed on the internet and magazines as our companies reg office they think theres things /money to steal,maybe they think the stock is here is well? )

on top of that we use growlights for hydroponics and citrus so they think we grow canabis as well ( we dont ) so they want the `dope` as well!

( the atempts to break in in the way described have gone on for over 10 years , long before growlights , so its not just the growlights! )

Its not all for that though they also stole loads of lemons and chillies last year so it helps for that as well, i hate groing things just to have them pinched

The razor wire is to be raised a bit, with probably barbed wire above and bellow it for added protection from scallies and foxes

Its an added bonus that it will keep foxes out if i put hens inside

I did say 'on an ordinary garden wall' if your home is registered for business purposes, that would make a difference.

[Birdie Wife]

You will have more problems if your hens over heat than from them feeling the cold. They can dehydrate and that causes all sorts of problems. Their normal body temperature is several degrees above ours and they manage to keep warm very well. Birdie Wife up in the north of Scotland keeps hens - I'm sure she uses no heating.

Spot on, Flummery and it's been down to -24degC up here

If it's looking like it's going to be a cold night, I give them a scratch feed of wheat about an hour before bedtime. It burns slowly in their digestion and gives them a bit of 'central heating' through the night. They really are hardy wee blighters though.

[starloc]

-24C ,Theres no way it will get that cold here ( i hope!) but it was so much colder this year, maybe next year will be colder!, they should be fine in a house outside, i just need to decide when to get it all sorted and sneak them in!

and then the good bit.....try and teach our dogs not to chase them......sheepdogs, the pups came from a farm so they should be ok with birds! a they had them there , but they will just have to be kept apart till they are ok as they are a bit playfull.... being collies and all.

[sheena]

You're not kidding about dog's and chooks.

Since I got my chooks, my boy dog has been going mental trying to find what is making the tapping noises on the house. My girl dog gave up after a while, but my boy is a nightmare! Can't even lock him in the main house when attenting the chooks, cos he will try and climb out the windows (even tho they closed, he stupid like that).

But I will have no problem with anyone nicking my chooks (neighbours have threatened to nick my eggs)... but they all scared of my dog's and I gave up locking the backdoor now, unless I go out.

Anyone stupid enough to attempt it, will end up dinner for my 2 rottie's! lol
I love my dog's, but love my chooks more!

[davefromthechipie]

my collies great with the hens/chicks, if anything he moves when they come close since one pecked at his eye last year ...

\\\\\the look of " For god sake says alot

[starloc]

I did say 'on an ordinary garden wall' if your home is registered for business purposes, that would make a difference.

Its just the registered office, not listed for business purposes, but it doesnt need to be business to have razor wire

you can legaly use razor wire on any/most residential propertys as long as theres nothing like a conservation area or a bylaw preventing it ( most places do not have this ), you do legaly need a sign though ( it usualy comes with the wire a lot of places ), Obviosly it needs to be high enough so young kids wont cut themselves and it cant be hidden in trees or anything