A Mom's Musings

• Friday, May 11, 2007 - Chickens in winter?

For those of you who live in northern climates and keep chickens...What is it like caring for them in the cold months?  Do they need a heat lamp?  I've heard if you want eggs all year they need a light to keep the "days" longer.  We've always wanted to keep a few chickens for eggs for the family but I think the winter has put me off.  Can anyone offer any pointers or direct me to a good resource?

Thanks!

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• Friday, May 11, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by HandsNHearts
Our coop up north (northern Illinois) was totally enclosed, and in the winter, we tarped over their outdoor run to give them a more protected area from the harsh winds.
Inside the coop itself, we did run a light. The chickens produced much of their own heat, so our light was just a 60 watt bulb on a drop light cord. You could easily do a heat lamp instead. We turned ours on early in the morning, ran it a few hours, then again in the evening....to supplement their longer daylight hours. They should have between 12-14 hours or so of daylight for optimal egg production. We put light plastic sheeting over the windows to block the wind but still allow in the little daylight we received in the winter.
We did have to use a heater base for their waterers some winters to keep them from freezing solid on us when it was really cold.
Deanna
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