With extreme weather changes, you may feel the urge to move your flock indoors, but it’s not necessary and it can create health risks. Since wild birds can carry illnesses, you want to keep bird feeders far from your flock. Don’t forget to wash your hands and change attire before moving between the new birds and your existing flock. Monitor your new birds for signs of illness. Quarantine new birds for at least 30 days before introducing them to the main coop.Infected manure and debris can stick in tire treads and then become dislodged. You don’t want to track pathogens into your coop. Designate one pair of boots for use in your coop, and don’t wear them anywhere else under any circumstances.The best way to protect your flock is to help them build healthy immune systems. It’s also possible that your chickens won’t leave their warm coop to go outside, increasing the risk of moisture buildup and respiratory illnesses in your flock.Ĭhickens are susceptible to respiratory illnesses like Newcastle disease and avian flu, but there are steps you can take to prevent them. Because heaters need power to function, one power outage could spell disaster for chickens that have not acclimated to the cold. First, there is risk fire-especially with the large amount of dust in a chicken coop. Heaters are another option that sound great but could ultimately decimate your flock in a few different ways. If ventilation is poor due to tight insulation, it can lead to respiratory and mold-related illnesses. As they remain inside the coop for longer periods during colder weather, the moisture builds up faster. Chickens create a lot of moisture through respiration and excretion. When it comes to insulation, it’s important to consider more than just keeping the coop warm. If you add too much insulation or install a heating unit, you’re actually taking away their opportunity to adapt, which can cause problems down the line. Chickens are actually able to adapt to the cold over time, so they get used to the falling temperatures. It may be tempting to add a little extra insulation or a heater to ensure your chickens stay warm in the bitter cold. You may also want to explore using motion-activated lights, two-step locks, and electric fencing for especially savvy predators. Chicken wire is great for keeping your chickens in, but you should consider something heavier, like hardware cloth, to keep predators out. During fall and winter, longer nights and scarce food supplies mean some predators may become bolder out of desperation. Knowing what to expect and how to respond is the best way to ensure your chickens are happy, healthy, and protected.īefore purchasing your flock, you probably researched predators in your area and prepared your coop accordingly. If you’ve invested time, money, and effort into raising a flock, then protecting your chickens is probably one of your biggest concerns.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |