Fewer daytime hour , colder conditions and more time in the henhouse all mix to alter your chickens ’ casual routine as autumn turns toward winter . This causes modification in their nutritional penury , particularly in colder weather realm , such as the Upper Midwest and New England states . As chicken custodian , it ’s important for us to realize how these change impact our chickens ’ dietary needs and to feed the flock accordingly . That way , with right nutrition , our birds will rest healthy even through chilly winter weather .
Increase Feed Rations
Daylight hours are few and temperature get colder as winter approaches , and hen naturally cut back on testicle product and start replacing feather lose during molting . They use the protein they ingest in their level ration to acquire new feather instead of eggs , and when daylight decreases to less than 14 hours per day , hens generally terminate egg production .
In term of nutrition during this time , poulet still need the protein and balanced nutrition leave by a poultry ration formulated for them , but they can be expected to consume 25 percent more per day . Even pot that get unreal ignitor to preserve day length and egg production will run through additional feed to keep tender . Also , during winter confinement , liberal - ranging flocks take extra provender to supervene upon the food they normally scrounge , such as bug , insects and super acid .
Add Carbohydrates
Chickens love to eat prick grains , but it ’s generally recommended that they eat these in circumscribed amounts . That ’s because scratch dilutes the nutritional value of a balanced layer ration and is high in blubber . In wintertime , however , the increased rich contentedness of abrasion can be beneficial for aliment .
The increase carbohydrates in scratch texture — specially crack corn — help Gallus gallus render heat . Feeding a small component of scratch just before dark each evening will allow the good deal to get its nutritional pauperization from the layer ration by twenty-four hours and provide extra carbohydrate to keep it warm at dark .
Encourage Exercise With Food
Winter atmospheric condition often restricts a wad ’s access to the outdoors , but it ’s essential that they stay to exercise to aid them generate heat and alleviate boredom . world-weary wimp can develop bad riding habit , such as fighting , feather - pick and cannibalism , so you ’ll need to provide alternative activities . In terms of nutrition , it ’s also a good idea to supplement their wintertime dieting with leftover , store - bought vegetable because their access to pasture is often limited during this time of year .
There are many ways to further utilisation and bring home the bacon entertainment for your sight . See “ Cooped - Up Calisthenics ” on page 60 for some great boredom - busting activity ideas .
Grit, Calcium & Water
Chickens still involve free - choice grit , Ca and water in wintertime , and it ’s critical that sourcesfor them are n’t wintry . If the poultry fonts become icy , chicken ca n’t drink , and they wo n’t eat if they do n’t have H2O . Also , hard , frozen ground can limit a chicken ’s power to scrounge for grit . If a crybaby does n’t have backbone , it ca n’t grind its food into digestible size and may develop an touch harvest .
Winter Words of Wisdom
Here are some helpful hints for feast your flock overwinter .
Because foraging opportunity are limited , temperature are colder and daylight hour are fewer , chickens dietetic essential change in wintertime . But by being aware of their needs and making a few readjustment , you’re able to easily serve your Bronx cheer flourish through the stale wintertime months to descend .
This story in the first place seem in the November / December 2017 issue ofChickensmagazine .
