Keeping chickens is for all weathers!
Home Page | Diary | Frugal Living | Downshifting | Blog | Earning a Living | Chicken Keeping | Garden Farm | Site Map | Books
Although we have all the basics about keeping chickens in the back garden, there are variations through the season's both in behavioral terms and how we care for them.
This page is based on my own experiences and may differ with some people. After all, Chickens are like us, some like this and others like that!
WINTER
I've put Winter first so it gets the more negative side of keeping chickens out the way!
With the shorter daylight hours, the chickens will not be so active and are prone to lay a lot less eggs. In fact, some don't lay any for weeks.
Because of them spending so much time in the Chicken House, more cleaning out is required and I'm sure we can all think of better things to do on a damp and cold January day rather than being outside!
Now, a subject talked about a lot - do you need to heat their House or have special concerns over them getting cold.
On the whole, the answer is No.
Chickens are evolved from Jungle Fowl. They are outdoor creatures and it's only us who have put them inside Houses.
When I used to completely free-range, come a cold morning, I would often find one had been up a tree all night, slept in the open Coal Shed, in a Hedge or on my Bicycle Handlebar.
As long as they have a comfortable, relatively draught free House, they will be OK. If you have more than one chicken, they will perch closely to each other and no detrimental effects should happen.
They have an attached Featherdown Duvet Cover !.
The only exception to this is if they're rescued Battery Hens not long out of the Factory Farm and many of their feathers are missing. But even then, just ensuring they are in their House which conforms to the above, they'll be fine.
SPRING
The term 'Spring Chicken' comes to mind. After the bleak short nights, there's warmth from the Sun and extra hours to get their system back to laying again.
Now is a prime time for the lurking Fox. Any young Cubs are being trained by their parents to hunt food and Chicken is a firm favourite of theirs, so make sure your setup is secure. I can't emphasize this more.
Spring is also a good time to give the whole area a good clean out.
SUMMER
For me, this has more things to watch out for than the other three seasons.
The main thing is overheating. Make sure your Chicken House has sufficient ventilation and if in an Ark, there is a part where they can shelter a bit from the Sun.
This is also favourite season for the Mites to appear
It's also prime time for them to become broody and they tend not to go outside. This often means man handling them out a few times a day and making sure they drink whilst they're at it. This may start a few punch ups, but it's natural.
This is also favourite season for the Mites to appear. You'll know they have them, because not only do they scratch a lot, but they can get on you as well.
Treatment for this is very recommended.
I've also found they have time pockets where some may stop laying. Again, this is natural and they'll be back, don't worry!
AUTUMN
Just the reverse of Spring really. You'll notice changes in their egg laying. If you live close to fields, you'll start to see the odd Rat or two coming in from the harvested areas.
Excellent time to go round your whole setup, repair anything and shore up for the forthcoming Winter.
Summer brings about more natural food (in this case, my Vegetable Garden!!)
One sure way to determine a baby vegetable to a weed is, the Chicken will always eat the vegetable first!
The neighbouring field being harvested means the Rats will be around shortly
See also
Chicken Feeding Page
See my YouTube video Clip in the Blog
CLICK HERE
The Forum is full of threads with relevant topics
