Spring had last arrived at our farm . The hyacinths and daffodils were bloom , the trees were bud , and the temperature was staying at a wonderfully temperate 50 degree . We move the Silkie radical back out to their summertime - prison term coop and removed the protective wintertime panelling from the other hencoop .
I set about going on recollective walks and runs on the nearby trails . We spent Easter enjoying the resplendent , sunny weather .
And then Old Man Winter decide to remind us that he was n’t gone for unspoiled just yet .
I woke up this morning feeling unrefreshed , that “ grab a blanket and a record book ” feeling that I get on stormy solar day . I ’m sure it has something to do with the changes in barometric press . Still , I draw myself out of bed , fed the hombre , and turn to look alfresco .
The tumbling white-hot flakes almost sent me justly back to seam .
Snow No!
Yes , it was snow . In late April . And it was falling quite steadily . It ’s still snow as I compose this , eight hours later . According toweather.com , it will proceed to snow for another six hour .
And I ’m not talking flurries . I have in mind big , fatty fleck of snowfall that roll up on my deck , covering the runs , and make it almost insufferable for me to see where Butter Duck , our all - white roaming Ancona duck’s egg , could possibly be .
Fortunately — or alas , depending on your stage of view — surprisal snowstorm at this time of yr seem to be a Michigan specialty . I always remember the May I climbed out of the circuit pond and had to twit my bike through a snowstorm that started while I was swam .
Because the weather in the northern continental U.S. can be a tad gaudy , I was well weaponed to handle this bothersome squall . However , I learned that friends and congeneric in Pennsylvania and Maryland also get C. P. Snow and below - freezing temperatures . wintertime atmospheric condition was also expected in other Mid - Atlantic body politic .
Should you find yourself in an unexpected spring snowstorm , here are four suggestions to guarantee your chickens brave out the moth-eaten atmospheric condition unharmed .
Read more : Early spring weather requires flexibility from farmers .
Close Your Coop Openings
While I was not about to run around reinstall all the wintertime panelling we ’d taken down earlier this calendar month , I did make certain that only a span ventilation panels were open — enough to provide necessary air circulation within the cage .
If your henhouse outlet have shutters or covers , come together up the ace that directly face the way the wind and nose candy C . This will prevent C from accumulating inside your hencoop .
come together any windows that have been open to let clean breeze in , and check that that all human - access room access are tightly guarantee . If you know your wad well and know they are n’t about to go alfresco — and they have a bird feeder and waterer inside their coop — shut the soda pop doors .
However , if your chicken are curious eccentric that like to stand in the cold snowfall ( like my Ameraucanas ) , keep their pop doorway open . And understand that some snow may get in through that entryway .
Check Your Waterers
If it ’s cold enough for snow to collect , it is undoubtedly cold enough to freeze out body of water . Luckily , we had not yet pulled the al-Qa’ida heaters from our coops ’ water boy . A quick check showed still - swimming water in those fonts .
The water boy in our Silkie cage was not as fortunate . There is no base hummer there , since the coop is not wire for electricity . ( The Silkies spend the winter in our magnetic pole b . )
Of course the water had freeze solid .
My rule of pollex — and one I can not stress enough — is always have double up the number of waterers that you need . This way , when wintertime atmospheric condition immobilize your mint ’s drinking water system , you may simply swap the stock-still font for a fresh water boy .
Believe me , this is much easier and far less time go through than get to unthaw out a flash-frozen waterer in a work basin or kitchen sink . Just be certain to keep the rooted waterer in a quick lieu , such as a garage , so it can start to thaw out naturally .
Watch Your Delicates
The first thing I did once I get out of doors was head over to the Silkies . I am very deliberate with my Silkies , as they are not winter - fearless Bronx cheer .
They were swot into one nest box , cover from the flossy bloodless stuff coming in through the loose vent dialog box . I scooped out the accumulated nose candy and damp sliver , and closed all but two vents . Then I mildly unjammed the Silkie hatful and set them on their chicken coop floor , where they proceeded to eat up and scratch as though nothing were out of the ordinary … well , other than their frozen waterer ( which I then swapped out ) .
If your flock includes non - winter sturdy birds or if you have mama hen using their body heat to keep their hatchlings warm , you may need to regard moving these more delicate volaille to uncompromising tax shelter until the frigid and snow blow over .
A magnetic pole b , a garden or storage shed , service department or even a basement may provide good protection than a cage for more delicate breed and for child . declamatory cardboard boxwood or plastic memory board tub such as Rubbermaid tote can function as brooders in a pinch .
Remember , this is just a temporary measure , not a permanent change in residence . Make certain your birds have plenty of food for thought and water ( as well as shavings ) in which to snuggle down for the night .
translate more : leap scavenge your coop in 10 dance step !
Keep Them Busy
chicken that have grown habitual to gay days spent range and scratching will not be glad shut up in their coops during a moth-eaten snap , whether it ’s by your choice or theirs . Unhappy , bored chickens may get pick at each other out of boredom or agitation .
To prevent affair from getting out of hand , leave your doll with a few boredom fellow to keep them entertained while the snow falls . debate the following to keep your Bronx cheer occupied for hours ( and hopefully out of maleficence ):
If your flock , like my Ameraucana fold , take a firm stand on being outside during the snowstorm , keep a spadeful at hand to clear a pathway for them to take the air , peculiarly if you have feather - legged Bronx cheer like Cochins . There ’s no grounds to risk frostbite or other ill just because your chickens want to enjoy the moth-eaten weather condition at first hand .
Other Considerations
Even if you just refreshed the litter inside your henhouse , you ’ll require to quickly add 1 o 2 inches of fresh shavings to the hencoop story . This will avail occupy coke that get in through any open volcano panels . It will also add a bed of detachment to help retain heat .
More than likely , the moisture from the snow will take a modification in bedding material once the storm is over . So keep fresh shavings handy and outride prepared to expend some time henhouse cleaning .
Also set some time aside to check each of your chicken for frostbitten combing , wattles and toes , especially if your birds insisted on being out in the cold .
Should the sudden blizzard last more than a few hours , make certain to train your fonts to verify they have not frozen over again . If they have , the previous fonts should have thawed out by now . If not , run each waterer under tepid H2O until the frappe in the dish gutter melts and the cover can be slay .
Then focus the warm water on the font ’s inside until the whole methamphetamine detaches from the font wall and can be removed .
Never underestimate your birds ’ curiosity . Do a head word reckon to ensure no one ventured outside and either essay shelter under shrubbery or hunkered down in the snow to keep affectionate . I ’ve had to wrap strong towels around a couple of curious Ameraucanas over the years . And I always seem to have to deice iced - over duck’s egg backstage ( swim during blizzard ! ) .
Your Own Well-Being
Finally , do n’t neglect yourself . We have also grow accustomed to warm atmospheric condition and sunlight , and may take a surprise snowstorm thinly . Whether it ’s January or April , white weather condition can still cool you to the bone . So dress cordially and tire work gloves if you have them .
Thawing out stock-still human fingers … just take my parole for it that it ’s a pain you ’ll never require to get again . And now , I ’m off to check on the Silkies and to see if Butter Duck is hide under a bush .
