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W "A Family Tradition for 128 Years" Winterizing your chickens By Andrea Clarke, OMAFRA, Port Perry Winter is now upon us, and many backyard chick- en flock owners are unsure of how to keep their birds comfortable in cold weath- er. Domestic poultry are remarkably tolerant of cold weather, but if they are too cold the birds will be stressed and stress re- lated problems will occur. Frozen water, frozen combs and cold birds will result in a drop in egg pro- duction, and a huge in- crease in feed consump- tion. Birds with frozen combs may be the victims of cannibalism; roosters with frozen combs may be- come infertile. The poultry barn should be insulated with rodent proof insulation to at least R-8 for walls and R-10 for the ceiling. The ideal tem- perature for chickens is 21 degrees C. If it is difficult to pro- vide a warm temperature, you should consider rais- ing breeds which are adapted to cold weather. Breeds with large wattles and combs, such as Leg- horns and Minorcas, get frost bite very easily. These breeds come from hot climates and theirs are larger than the hens, but because they don't sleep with their heads tucked under their wings like the hens do. Breeds with small combs or ones with rose or pea combs should be raised instead. Exam- ple include Wyandottes, Silkies, or the crested breeds such as the Polish. Heavily feathered breeds such as the Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire can tolerate more cold than lightly feathered breeds such as the Cor- nish or Leghorn. While feather-footed breeds such as the Cochin have insu- lated toes, they tend to get mud, manure and snow stuck to their feet and therefore must be kept ex- tra clean and dry. The Chantecler is a good all-purpose breed, bred for meat and brown egg pro- duction. It was created in Quebec to obtain a fowl which would be of good temperament, and could withstand Canadian win- ters. Chanteclers are white or partridge (red- dish brown) in color. Other good winter brown egg- layers are the Wyan- dottes, which come in many colors. Regardless of which breed you have, it is im- portant to keep the pen clean and dry. There should be at least 6" of dry wood shavings to insulate the ound. Draftiness and dampness must be avoided because this re- moves the layer of warm air trapped by ruffled feathers. Ammonia levels must be low, since it is harmful to the birds. If you can breathe normally with your head one foot from the floor of the pen, the level is acceptable. Clean out droppings frequently. Allowing the birds to roost will help to concentrate the manure in one area. Ensure that there 1s enough floor space for the birds you have. Two square feet per bird is the absolute minimum; four square feet is much better. In addition to their regu- lar balanced ration, you can feed the birds the occa- sional flake or alfalfa hay to keep them busy and out of trouble. Bored birds can develop bad habits such as feather picking, cannibal- ism, and egg eating. You should also ensure that parasites don't build up, such as lice and mites. Egg layers should have 16 hours of day length to optimize egg production; the drop in the number of eggs in winter is due in part to the decreased day length. A60-watt bulbin a 10x10 pen is enough. It is best to provide the extra light on a timer set to goon at night and to go off after sunrise. This ensures that the birds aren't at feeders or on the ground when the light goes off suddenly when itis still dark. Check your birds daily for signs of stress, and to ensure that they are clean, have food, fresh water, and are comfortable. If you do this you should have no trouble keeping chickens in even the harshest of weather. Merry Christinas Here's wishing all our valued friends and neighbors the best holiday season ever! FROM THE STAFF AT GORDON L. CORNER to. 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