Some birds do better in different places. Not all chickens do well in cold weather. This has to do with the amount of fluff they have and how you care for them.
Fluff is down feathers. These are feathers that are underneath the outer feathers. The purpose of these feathers is to keep them warm. The more down a chicken has, the more likely it will be to do well in the cold. Chickens with lots of fluff may not do as well in hot places because they will be too warm. If your chicken doesn't have enough fluff on it, it will not be able to stay warm in very cold weather, so you will have to keep it somewhere warm. A secure coop, for example, will help. You may be tempted to use a heat lamp to keep them warm, but this is a bad idea! The lamp might start a fire!! Chickens with smaller combs and waddles do better in cold weather. This is because there is less skin exposed. Chickens with big combs and waddles, and sometimes earlobes, will be more likely to get frostbite. You can protect their exposed skin on freezing cold days and nights with petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly is flammable, but it does not freeze. Some chickens love running and playing in the snow. Some don't. So, when you feed them, be sure to remember the ones that don't go out and put food near the coop. You'll need to check their water to make sure it's not frozen. Just because it's cold out, doesn't mean they don't need water. Chickens do not eat snow, so they still need to drink. If you do not take care of your chickens, then be on the look out for birsicles. It's pretty easy to care for chickens in the cold weather, but you do have to do a few extra things just to be sure they're okay.
1 Comment
Mandy
1/12/2016 01:01:37 pm
Love how informative your blogs are! Keep up the great work!
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Just two brothers
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