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Chickens and Winter Snow

When my wife opened the small door into the chicken house on the first day of the snow she laughed when telling me that the chickens basically flew / fluttered over to where their food was put out, they were not that keen on snow!

We usually give them a treat in the morning - mashed up bread soaked in warm water, or pre-boiled potato and vegetable peelings. They simply love it, then they get stuck into the layers pellets. During the winter they do not seem to eat as much mixed grain which we also provide for them - the wild pigeons seem to like it, the grain that is so at least it does not go to waste.

Layers Pellets

Layers pellets contain all the nutrients and vitamins that chickens need to lay eggs. One thing to watch out for is get food that is free of GM additives and too many colorants - the added colour is used to give eggs a nice yellow yoke. We have ended up buying from our local Caithness store of Pets at Home store in Wick as the Layers Pellets are labeled GM Free and Vegetarian. Plus the people are very friendly and helpful and are also willing to share their "keeping chickens" stories and advice.

Our chickens are free range so they also get to rake about and eat worms and other goodies from the soil.

Chickens out in the snow in February. They certainly did not like the snow at first. They appear to have got used to it.