Flock Talk
Keep Warm
By Ana Hotaling
Clear a path to the coop so you don’t have to tromp through snow, and clear some snow-free space for your chickens, too, when they free-range.
In years past, I’ve written numerous articles about how to care for your chickens during the frigid winter months, how to prevent frostbite, how to prepare your chicken coop for winter, how to help cold-injured chickens and so on. Recently, as I looked out at the blanket of snow and saw the 1-degree reading on the thermostat, it dawned on me that I’ve never covered essentials for those of us who keep flocks in states, such as Michigan where I live, that see below-freezing (and below-0) weather.
If you are thinking about keeping chickens in snowy states, or if you already do, consider one — or all — of the following winter must-haves.
GLOVES
Proper hand protection is quite possibly the most important essential you’ll need during the winter as a poultry-keeper. The work gloves we wear during the rest of the year simply don’t protect against the biting cold. They can lead to frostbite if relied upon.