How to Keep Your Hens Healthy in the Cold
During winter, feathers are your girls’ best friend. Not only are they excellent insulators – they have an oil coating which waterproofs them.
Feeding for Warmth in Winter
Chickens are adaptable creatures and are able to adjust to cold winter months better than most animals. As the environmental temperature decreases, the hen needs to increase her internal body temperature to compensate for the loss of external heat. This task is quite nutrient demanding since a lot of energy is utilised to generate heat.
Moulting in Laying Hens
You may notice you chickens are losing feathers or starting to look unsightly, this is most likely due to a moult. When birds lose their feathers, stop laying and then regrow new feathers, this is a ‘moult’.