The Garage Lodge - Bowman Ranch

NEW BABY CHICKENS 🌟UPDATE🌟

Our new additions to the Bowman Ranch flock experienced the outdoors today and met some of their flock mates. They even managed to escape their old milk basket enclosure a time or two, which tells me they were more than enjoying themselves. Adventurous and curious little creatures, they are.

Stay tuned for more on Plymouth 1, Plymouth 2, and Plymouth 3, at least until we find names for them. You’re more than welcome to share your own name ideas, and follow along as they grow to produce the very eggs we all enjoy.

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Top 7 Things To Prep Your Chickens For Winter.

Out here, when the mornings start to bite and the barn roof frosts over, you know it’s time to make sure the flock’s ready for the long haul. Chickens are tougher than folks give them credit for, but a little preparation goes a long way when the wind starts howling across the pasture.

1.) Keep the Coop Tight but Breathing
Now’s not the time to turn your coop into a sealed box. Chickens can handle the cold, but damp air and drafts are the real troublemakers. Patch the gaps that let the wind whistle through, but leave a vent or two up high so that moisture and ammonia can drift out. A dry coop is a happy coop.

2.) Bedding Down Deep
That old trick your granddad probably knew, the deep litter method, still works like a charm. Lay down a good thick bed of pine shavings or straw and let it build up a bit over time. It traps warmth, keeps feet off the cold floor, and even starts to compost a little, adding a touch of natural heat.

3.) Water That Doesn’t Freeze Solid
A chicken without water won’t eat right, and a hen that won’t eat right won’t lay. Use a heated waterer if you’ve got one, or swap out rubber bowls during the day before they turn to ice blocks. Keeping the water flowing keeps your flock healthy.

4.) A Little Extra Feed for the Night Shift
When the sun drops early, toss a handful of cracked corn or sunflower seeds before they roost. Gives them something to digest through the night and helps them stay warm from the inside out. Just don’t overdo it. Steady layer feed and grit should still be the backbone of their diet.

5.) Watch Those Combs and Wattles
Big combs and wattles can get frostbitten when it’s real cold. Keep the air dry and, on the bitter nights, you can rub a little petroleum jelly on to protect them.

6.) Light It Up or Let Nature Take Its Course
If you want to keep the eggs coming steady, add a small light on a timer to stretch their daylight to about 14 hours. Some folks prefer to give their hens a break in winter, and that’s fine too. Follow your rhythm and theirs.

7.) Keep Them Busy, Keep Them Happy
Cabin fever hits birds too. Toss a cabbage head on a string, scatter a little scratch, or put out a flock block. It gives them something to do besides pecking each other.

Come January, when the wind’s rattling the tin roof and snow piles up on the fence posts, you’ll be glad you took the time. A well-prepped coop and a healthy flock are just part of the rhythm of farm life, steady, simple, and good for the soul.

So here’s to warm barns, content hens, and the sound of soft clucks echoing through the cold. That’s winter done right.