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Winter free range chickens

 
master steward
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I have about 14 chickens that have done well over the spring and summer.  I have 2 shelters for them as well as a barn, hay shed, and wood shed.  What added measures do I need to take to keep them over the winter.  By the way, shelter wise the tend to ignore all of the above.
 
pioneer
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Location: On the plateau in crab orchard, TN
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We have chicken hawks here in TN, and keep out raccoons/snakes? too.
 
John F Dean
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We have hawks and an eagle.   So far we havent lost any livestock.  The chickens clearly know how to stay under the trees.  I do have 2 dogs for other critters.
 
pollinator
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I don't know how cold it gets where you are. I'm in zone 7 and don't do anything extra. When I had to leave overnight for an emergency, I put an aquarium heater in the water so it wouldn't freeze. They have the chicken house and two dog houses for shelter. I wish I still had the picture of a snowy evergreen tree infested with chcikens😀 Most of mine tend to like walking through the snow leaving dinosaur tracks.  Only have a few birds that don't want to leave the house.  The rest still leave the run when I let them out to free range.  

Sometimes on bitter cold days, I'll make a warm mash which they seem to like.  

We did have a possum that tried to go after the ones in the tree and the dog was having a fit since he couldn't get to it.  Dog and rooster made enough noise to wake us at 1 am so we could help it on its way.  No chicken loss fortunately.  

Over all, cold weather and snow doesn't seem to phase them at all.  They have a harder time on high heat and humidity days.
 
John F Dean
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Hi Tina,

I am on the edge of 6a&d
 
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