Winter Care
We have put together some brief tips here to help you keep them in good condition.
Firstly, do make sure the birds are not wading about in mud. It is really not good for them and can harbour all kinds of bacteria and mites. If you are restricted in the space you can give them, then perhaps think of moving them on to a hard or concrete type base for a short while but place some woodchip (hardwood woodchip that is, not bark) in the run. If you have them in a fixed pen, then use the hardwood woodchip as a floor covering in there as well, it really will keep them dry and clean, the rain will drain through and help to keep it fresh.
For their housing - you need to check that it is in good repair and will not allow the wind or rain in (or the rats). If you put a deep layer of bedding on the floor this will help to keep them insulated but do check regularly to remove the worst mess (leaving it smelly will attract rats) and make sure it stays dry underneath the litter. At this time of year sprinkle a powder disinfectant such as Ftalosan - F or bio-dry powder on the floor and this will absorb much of the moisture as well as kill bacteria.
Predators are very hungry in the winter months and will go to extreme lengths to try and have a tasty chicken for dinner. Make sure your house and pen is secure so that foxes, rats and badgers cannot dig into it.
Choose the Bedding well, we suggest our new dust-free Hempbed -e , cosy coop Poultry Bedding or Aubiose hemp bedding. All are very absorbant and the HemBed-E and Aubiose in particular will break down on the compost very quickly, and does help to stop the acrid ammonia smell. Avoid straw if possible because it really does smell when wet, is a perfect hiding place for red mite and is not very absorbant. Hay also should be avoided as it harbours mould spores whcih could be harmful to your birds
Now would also be a good time to give the house a really thorough clean with poultry shield, which would help eliminate any remaining dormant red mite, as well as any other mites and bacteria. With the birds spending much longer in the house during the shorter days, regular cleaning is essential to good health.
For the birds, give them a good worming and parasite control treatment. Verm-x for the internal worms and Diatom or louse powder on the feathers and in the house. Or, Flubenvet poultry wormer which should be available at all vets as it is a "prescription-only" medicine (and also requires an egg withdrawal period). To also give them a boost during the dull winter months try perhaps some Life Gaurd tonic in their water, or Apple Cider Vinegar.
Our feathered darlings really do not like the wind and cold, and don't think about going back into the house, so if some shelter can be given this would help to keep them in good condition. Try and make sure the pop-hole is not facing into the wind, and if they are confined to a run maybe you can put a wind break up on the prevailing wind side. An old fence panel or just some timber attached to the run might help. Perhaps you could fashion a shelter in the garden, it does not have to be grand.
Frostbite can be a problem for their exposed wattles and ear lobes, although not serious, it can leave unsightly blackened areas. Prevention is easy and just requires application of some Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to the fleshy parts, this forms a protective barrier against the elements. The process of rubbing it is also help stimulate blood flow thus making it less susceptible to the cold.
Normal poultry housing does not require heating providing the right number of birds match the house size. However, when it is really cold make sure they have some corn before going to bed, the carbohydrate energy from this will help them stay warm at night. A regular check on their water and Feed should be made as well in case it is frozen this can be rectified by using a heat plate . Do not be tempted to put the food and water into the house (unless you are confining the birds and have no choice), as the birds do not eat or drink once in bed. The water will increase the humidity in the house and any spills will make the litter wet, and the food will get spilt and contaminate the litter too. Wet bedding/litter is one of the causes of coccidial infections. Don't forget to check around their feeder in the evening for any spilt food as this will attract rats even more in the winter.
For the odd treat over winter you can give the birds a protein boost with some dried mealworms, which they will love (be careful not to give them too many though), these extra protein foods are particularly good to give after the moult when their bodies are trying to grow new feathers - feathers are mostly protein. To relieve any winter boredom or feather-pecking, try hanging up a Scaly leg Mite. Any coughs and sneezes should be dealt with promptly because being housed for more hours in the winter can make any disease spread quickly. An all round, almost-as-good-as-antibiotics, product is Herban liquid - really brilliant natural medicine to keep the birds wheeze-free.
Most of these are available from Old McDonalds in Carlow.
