Goats and Greens

We buy hardy chickens that can withstand the cold winters in NY.

We raise chickens year-round in Upstate NY. Some things we have learned through trial and error are as follows:

1. Always have water available. We use a heat plate designed for water buckets.
2. Give extra protein when it is very cold outside. Always have feed available in the coop. We give scratch about an hour before sunset in the winter. The digestive process raises their body temperature. If we have an abundance of eggs, I scramble them and feed to chickens warm on exceptionally cold mornings.
3. Keep them moving. Our chickens free range almost every day. We plow paths for them to roam about. Make sure the path leads to a safe place to escape predators. On really bad days, we only let them out in covered runs.
4. Watch for frostbite. If the temperature drops below zero, I put a thick layer of Vaseline on large combs after they begin to roost. Yes, the rooster too.
5. We never provide heat. I think it is just too risky. The birds move around freely. I am not going to take the chance of them knocking down a heat lamp and starting a fire. If you lose power through the night the chicken will not be able to adapt to the sudden temperature change. Any humidity will freeze instantly. We provide a draft free enclosed coop. Always make sure there is a ventilation space above the roosting area to avoid humidity. We use a thick layer of straw on the floor for insulation. If you need to cover any openings in the walls, feed bags and a staple gun are a cheap and easy fix.