Chickens on Allotments - Winter Tips

Even with the cold winter weather, chickens are better off to peck at winter greens and see the outside world rather than be banged up in a cage with nowhere to peck or roam around. The veins in chicken feet are designed to keep them from freezing in snow. Hens have their own feather duvets and can puff up to keep warm. In severe frost it is worthwhile to rub some vaseline on the larger combs and wattles for protection against frostbite. A high energy feed late afternoon such as mixed corn helps fight the cold. They also welcome a warm feed in the morning.

Check for any damage and water leaks in the housing structure. Position the coop so that the entrance is sheltered from direct rain and wind. Good ventilation in the coop is vital as the birds will be inside longer than in summer. Air must be allowed to circulate without causing a bitter cold draft. Birds cope very well with low temperatures but a cold draft whistling through the henhouse can kill. Make sure that ventilation is not situated at perch level. Chickens still need some ventilation in the coop so do not cover all ventilation holes up.

The coops may need some extra bedding. E.g. lots of woodshavings, hemcore and straw (chopped up if possible). Shredded paper is warmer than straw (the straw has more gaps and is not as insulating). However paper can get soggy quickly and stays wet. If any bedding gets wet it will need to be replaced. One of the most common, and potentially serious, causes of trouble is wet house bedding or litter.

There is a fundamental difference between chickens and waterfowl, in terms of their respective attitudes towards cold and wet weather. While chickens are often content to sit inside the coop during cold spells, waterfowl just seem to love the outdoor life, whatever the weather.

Keeping Rats Out

The cold weather seemed to have forced the rats to seek shelter underneath the hen houses. There are tell-tale signs of fresh digging and some rat droppings in a compost bin on a neighbours plot. Time to top up the bait stations before there is a major infestation. It is a constant battle.

There will always be rats around, by taking action as soon as there are signs of a visit from a rat you will stop the 'odd' rat from becoming a large colony. Traps can deal with visiting rats before they become major infestations. An advantage of traps is that there is no poison or hidden smelly carcasses to worry about. Keep all food in sealed bins, eg. a good metal dustbin with close-fitting lid.

On one allotment rats even entered a raised coop for food and shelter (bed and breakfast). The solution was to temporarily move the hens to an empty greenhouse away from the allotments at home and place rat traps and rat poison inside the empty coop. This appeared to have worked as blue rat droppings were found after a few days.

	Sufficient space for all chickens to feed together Top up the bait stations with Rat Poison