What to feed your chickens so they survive winter.

Becky shows you what she feeds her chickens so they don’t die in winter. She also talks about how to get the coop ready for winter, and what to do about a sick chicken that can’t handle the cold weather.
Get my chicken book here: beckyshomestea...

[@sybilreneemcgowan1472]

To those that don’t believe chickens are not meat eaters: I watched my Rhode Island red chase down a mouse and swallow it whole. I did not believe what I saw until I saw my Leghorn do the same thing with half the flock in pursuit. Remember the dinosaurs!

[@norman-gregory]

Chickens and mouse is theTruth. The Dinosaurs are a Fiction. Just like a moving Earth and Planets. Have a great day.

[@buttnugget2061]

Mine had a tug of war over a shrew that the cat had caught and left on the patio 🤣

[@dalepetrush4121]

Chicken are preditors. Throw them a snake and watch the fun.

[@CATherine001]

I have chickens in very cold weather two things I can suggest if you have 45 F - 0 F degrees. 1. Collect old shipping crates and lay them on the floor of coop. Then wood chips on areas without crate. 2. Insulate the side walls and them close up with raw wood like a log cabin. 3. If it gets really really cold (my coop has electric) I switch the regular bulb with a heat bulb. Happy Winter Chicks!

[@tristianzane1010]

instablaster

[@brandonunderwood4224]

Our hen house is not wind proof at all. We live in n.w. Missouri and temps get down in the negatives. We have never lost a chicken from exposure in the last 5 years . Chickens are tough birds. One thing we do or not do is clean out the coop during winter. We just add fresh hay when needed.

[@robinginsky]

I live in NE Ohio and would never use wood shavings on the coop floor!! I use 2 bales of straw for deep floor bedding. Straw will not stay wet whereas wood shavings will stay wet and freeze. Also I free feed both oyster shell & grit. The oyster shell helps prevent soft shell eggs. A coop needs ventilation to stay dry so I would never seal it up as you suggest! I actually have a vent in the roof!! There's a big difference in caring for & raising farm chickens vs. having some chickens in the backyard in a prefab coop.

[@westcoaster3763]

I use shavings and they stay dry, and in one of the wettest parts of the country. I think the key is using a Lot of shavings

[@noelabourgoin4561]

And a little note about that cat food that's high and protein you don't want to overprotein your chickens their grain should have enough in it.

[@westcoaster3763]

@Noela Bourgoin my neighbor had a deer get hit on the road, them chickens were all over it like ants on candy..... they ate it until there wasn't a thing left but hide, hair and bones. You should have went down and had a talk with them about protein and grains

[@lazzyloover846]

I'm not interested in chickens but watch because I like you ...you are so adorable😍

[@xitshxbax8049]

Lol somone is looking for a girlfriend 😂

[@xitshxbax8049]

No offense just for fun

[@jeanbeanofthewoods6258]

Becky, your information is priceless. Thank you. My mother raised 200 or more chickens on the farm. She sold eggs. I wish I could ask her so many questions now that I am starting to raise a small flock for personal enjoyment here in the Midwest where the winters are cold. We have a well insulated coop with interchangeable summer and winter doors with some small vents in the walls. My hubby built it and it’s fabulous. Thank you for all of your information. You don’t leave out any details and I appreciate that.

[@alberteinstein9045]

Here in Alaska all my meat chickens are harvested and in the freezer by October. The laying hens do just fine in the mobile hen house with hay and straw on the floor with a cracked corn and oat feed. I grow sunflowers in the summer and hang them from the rafters just out of their reach. the hens need to jump up to peck a seed. I like to think it helps to keep them moving and from freezing, but they still do just fine in winter without. To calk like you suggested is silly. My hens would try to eat it thinking it's a grub.

[@havnfun5]

Do you put a heat lamp or anything?

[@ritamccartt-kordon283]

Hello from TN! The moisture in the air is a real problem here in TN. We are humid here. It rains, a LOT! With that comes freezing in winter! The bedding can be thick, which is great, but, unlike others, we can't/shouldn't leave pine chips or straw on the floor to compost!! As someone said, MOLD will develop! Then it will cause diseases. I clean my chicken house once a week. I put linoleum on the floor of my chicken house to make it easier to shovel out! You can compost all of the pine chips and manure for your blueberries or anything that needs acid soil. I sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth (DE) everywhere (wear a mask)!! Make sure to clean your nesting boxes! Sprinkle them with DE too! Them put down the chips or straw. Scrub out the watering system too! Add a little Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) to their water. It's good for them.

[@ritamccartt-kordon283]

Becky, this was a great video! I like in the beginning how you explained that where YOU are, it doesn't get very cold! How you don't have to put down pine flakes or straw. Your explanations on ways to STOP the wind and rain from getting into the chicken house! How you told us that your cooperation WASN'T what a person needed in a COLD climate!! I've learned so much from you on how to use DE on all the animal ! Thank you!!

[@patriciajohnsonson8639]

I was told it is easy to have chickens. OMG. That was so wrong! They are so high maintenance! Thank you for all of the information you share, I bought your book and managed to keep nine beautiful 2-3 day old chicks alive for two months now. They are now outside in their fortress. LOL. (We have large predators, so we secured the run well. My daughter says they live in a fortress). We love our girls, but we spent way too much money on them than we thought we would. They eat a lot more than I thought they would. I gave them table scraps yesterday and they barely touched it. They are hugely messy, pooping in their food and water, which I clean daily. They run from me as if they fear I will kill them. I don’t understand why they are afraid of me. We have two coops in the run because each coop only holds six chickens, yet all nine girls bed down in one coop every night. I don’t understand those beautiful girls. They are entertaining and cute. I love them and would be devastated if anything happened to any of them. But we have spent more time and money on them than we ever thought we would and we get no love in return. 😀🤷‍♀️

[@cecilitaH]

Yep, sounds about right 🤣🤣🤣. You do get some love in return, their eggs....

[@patriciajohnsonson8639]

@@cecilitaH Yes Cici, we do get their eggs and they gave us many until the weather got cooler and the daylight shortened. One of our beautiful girls died when I reintroduced a chicken I had given away due to being egg bound. I took her back into the flock. Three girls got some flu and one died before we got them to a vet that took care of chickens. The other two, thankfully survived. I was devastated that we lost the one. We now have eight girls. Two are still separated from the rest of the flock but will be reintroduced in about a week. All eight are very healthy now. I sure am learning a lot about chickens though. And the flock runs to me now when they see me, so I am feeling the love. 😆

[@patriciajohnsonson8639]

@@user-yf2iv1rt7l Thank you for all of the information you shared. We have had our chickens for just about nine months now. Three or four of the girls will now squat and let me pet them. The others won’t. I have three of each, buff Orpingtons, black australorps and barred rocks. I am actually down to two black Australorps because one died of a flu. We were able to save two others that came down with the flu. It was so sad to lose our Bailey, but it is what it is. We have a Cozy Coop heater and a electric warming water dish. My biggest concern now is the cold front coming in bringing 50-60 mile an hour wind gusts and potential -30 degree temperatures. I don’t know what to do about the girls. Their ‘fortress’ is wrapped with plastic sheeting. Even the door. We are hoping they will be ok. We live in Illinois and it is going to get extremely cold and windy here. Thank you again for all of your information.

[@patriciajohnsonson8639]

@@user-yf2iv1rt7l Thank you!

[@amandacribb2526]

Hi Becky. You forgot to mention ventilation in sheds/coops. I would recommend ventilation on upper/ middle and lower level due to respiratory tract infections chickens have during cold spells. Chickens in cold climates need an undercover area outside their coop/shed.. Your advice about food is good. My girls have lots of different kind of food for their tea. They are laying well :) Plenty of 🌽. Grit is SO important ! My girls eat this everyday.. Thanks for taking time to share. Could you please do a video about chicken enrichment toys, IE Ladders, tunnels, etc. Many thanks Amanda Cribb

[@PinkieJoJo]

I know this is old but yes. I’ve watched numerous videos from people that actually live in cold climates and having vents at the top are always recommended.

[@brazilianstyle4645]

Her's dont need ventilation because the bottom of the coop is wide open and no front wall this lady is crazy her coop is super dirty.

[@louisacapell]

​@@brazilianstyle4645 you... You think this is a dirty coop???

[@mattsmith7904]

Never seal up your coup the chickens breath creates moisture and collects on the waddles and combs and they can get frost bite air flow is needed to prevent this

[@laceybrown6954]

Exactly!!!

[@dontputmeinabox7250]

I think she means to seal up drafts but she should definitely hit up on venting because it is imperative.

[@johnquest1044]

Right! She seems very nice, but there from Florida.

[@iloveschicken6527]

We just insulate the north wall and have a small window on the west and east side near top of coop that we can open and close. Lots of thick bedding! I prefer hemp and wood chips in winter.

[@chrisscharfenberger6007]

She's got a good channel but I can't take winter weather advice from somebody that lives in Florida. The coop has to breath.

[@wrightchoiceintupperware3053]

I have a insulated heated coop, it stays about 40 to 45 degrees. The water has a heater, so it doesn't freeze I use the chips and hay. I also feed them warm water with oatmeal and berries, they love it.

[@richardschmidt2430]

I love your chicken videos, the best! I am a chicken lady now...23 girls...more in the spring...Love your channel, Becky! Thanks for all you do...in MN: cold and snowy winters....my hubby built a "mansion" for my girls! and a covered run for winter months....it's awesome.....have an awesome day out there! :) Dawn @ Rich & Dawn in MN :)

[@bellevi6722]

You look great! I buy feeder mice and fish from the pet store. I keep a my own meal worm farm in my garage. This helps during cold weather. I just love your videos, they have helped me learn so much.

[@BeckysHomestead]

I'm so glad I can help❤️❤️

[@jkhenderson1]

Thank you for the tips Becky.

[@anthonyjack98]

Hi hope you're OK with the experience

[@renewyckoff545]

Also corn takes a longer time to digest keeping them warmer at night. Agape love ❤😊

[@helenmathieu7808]

Hi coming from the cold Canadian North I add a heat lamp helps during those snowed in days

[@maggibeaujean4039]

Hi Becky, thank you so much for all the info you provide. I have 5 chickens and 1 rooster for the first time in my life and you have so helped me to keep them healthy & happy. You're the best! Thanks again, Maggi from North Florida.

[@80sriceman]

I use alfalfa for our chickens. They have fun peckimg at it first few days. Then they make a mess out of it, whatever alfalfa I put for them to lay on they end up kicking it to the ground. I am gonna try laying down the alfalfa thicker. Thank you for all the useful tips!

[@kidsplayrabbitry4930]

We just had to remove all hay bedding, *warning* MOLD! Those of us who have had one of the rainiest falls I can recall up north need to be aware and remove moldy hay from coops. Stick to your idea of thick kiln dried pine shavings of very low dust quality. Even our straw has had a mold issue! Cold wet and mold will kill!!

[@BeckysHomestead]

Mold is not good for any animal or person. I'm hopping people are not over crowding their coops which I always say is the number one problem. Every living thing gives off moisture with every breath they exhale. So you can see how an over crowded weather tight coop would get sticky and moldy in there. Always open the hen house door for a couple hours each afternoon. ☀️❤️☀️

[@gunnyd9282]

Check your bag of chips. The last 2 bags I bought had paint on the chips.

[@AnYaDang]

$23?! I’ve got em for $3 off the field here. We get -30 temps here in the NH mountains. I have a small flock. I build them a coop with a floor the size of a piece of plywood and have it raised about 3 feet off the ground. Sealed up good like you said. They’ve seen 3 winters so far.

[@BothieC2023]

Always enjoyed your simple but educational lessons all the way from Gweru City Zimbabwe!!

[@hepzlawrence7710]

How many times per week would you feed the protein like tin fish cat/dog food etc?

[@donnagarcia4541]

4 yrs ago! WHERES BECKY??? Love her videos ❤️👍

[@fortunateadventures3664]

Just wanted to stop by and wish You and all the kids a Very Merry Christmas 🎄 🐔🐣🐮🐽🐓

[@Tyleda360Cafe]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom! Our chickens arrive in June and thanks to you we feel better prepared!

[@michelleliddle6375]

Really enjoy your videos ,they are informative and very upbeat .

[@jennybadajozz]

Thanks so much for the tips Becky

[@johnquest1044]

Air Flow is needed for frost bite, your nice I appreciate you. But you live in Florida???

[@renewyckoff545]

Clean crushed egg shells. Free and a good calcium source for us too. Many of us are allergic to seafood. And its expensive. Food for thought 😊❤

[@BeckysHomestead]

Egg shells are a closed loop! Where does the new calcium get added to the diet?? You need to add calcium☀️❤️☀️

[@beltoftruth56]

Becky your the best .thanks for all the tips for country living with chickens

[@patriciajohnsonson8639]

I had no idea how complicated it is to keep chickens healthy! O M G.

[@tinybrookfarms7123]

Thank you for this great information. I am just staring out and I am learning so much from watching your channel. I am in the process of buying my land. Praying I get this land I am trying to buy. Chickens will my first project to start with. I am in a cold climate so this is a very educational video for me. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[@krismurphy7711]

You can also feed them Chicken Scratch and Layer Pellets/Crumbles. LOL Comes in 50LB bags.

[@theurbanthirdhomestead]

Yeah, if you want them infertile. I don't trust that stuff anymore. After feeding mine the organic Purina, they completely stopped laying until I switched to my own feed.

[@ericnana4976]

Merry, merry, merry Christmas to you Ms. Becky and your family.

[@ChiChiGlamShop]

My chickens love dog food, dry and canned. They love the stuff! I use really good feed, but they still prefer my dogs food lol. I have healthy girls with beautiful eggs.

[@theurbanthirdhomestead]

Mine get beef cat food. They love it! 😍

[@freerangegirl4457]

So excellent. Thank You!

[@HamidKhan-ik5jt]

I love the rooster. He is so elegant.

[@brendasmith5937]

Hi Becky! I love your videos! I would like to recommend to all your followers in rhe colder climates, that when your chickens are spending more time indoors, its a good idea to find good quality pine shavings that are "cleaned" of most of the dust. Even my horses had breathing issues with regular pine bedding if they were in during the winter. I used Guardian bedding, but there are several other brands available also. This is also really important when you have baby chicks on bedding as well.

[@BeckysHomestead]

All animals should be able to go outside if the want to. Nothing wants to be locked in a little "room"☀️❤️☀️

[@brendasmith5937]

@@BeckysHomestead absolutely! My horses were someones show horses before I bought them. They were kept inside all the time. I noticed a huge difference in their health once they were able to spend the majority of their time outside. But good bedding is an issue for your animals when they are inside.

[@kidsplayrabbitry4930]

I think your talking about the kiln dried shavings. We now only use Irving horse pine shavings for this reason. Plus they are less likely to be moist. Had a problem with the basic Tractor Supply brand so now stock up on Irving. Smaller lighter packs down kiln dried! Lasts longer. Moisture is a problem this fall in New England, too much rain!!!

[@brendasmith5937]

@@kidsplayrabbitry4930 yup. Which are fine once they are washed and screened for dust removal. We have several brands avaialable like that now. I use Guardian.

[@dianacassinelli9467]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Becky...you are my inspiration for my proyect

[@sharicampbell9068]

Thank you for sharing all you know! I have always wanted chickens although I've never been around them much & I live in Michigan. I have enjoyed learning more with you! Thank you!

[@edithwortman32]

Me encanta todos tus consejos!!! Muchas gracias por ayudarme a cuidado de mis gallinas!!😊

[@nailog2062]

I read your book loved it

[@BeckysHomestead]

Thanks you, I’m glad you like it☀️❤️☀️

[@bonnieharris7146]

You are so intelligent, thanks you for all the cool info.

[@kthomp55]

Don't forget the mealworms.

[@scarlettrubyrose]

Random fact feeding meal worms to chickens in the uk is illegal lol

[@jennyolovsson7254]

@@scarlettrubyrose why?

[@scarlettrubyrose]

@@jennyolovsson7254 It was mentioned on another video by a uk youtuber. "In 2014 Defra announced a ban on the feeding of mealworms to chickens. The ban is still not widely known by many poultry keepers. ... To put it simply most mealworms are imported and may have come into contact with, or been fed, animal protein which could then potentially pass on disease." If you want to read more visit Defra. Defra describes specific legislation, regulations and guidance for poultry keepers in the Uk

[@Iz0pen]

scarlettrubyrose yeah the EU is trying to cull the human population with UN agenda 21 with regulations

[@tamimtimimi2347]

Scarlett, do you like some one taken you from home and feeding you too tigers, Know la me till you the true religious facts about mealwarms it goes like that, 1 meal worms has very important benefit on the environment, and gad created them just like animals have soul, There for we should not kill them, killing them how ever by feeding them too chicken such as, count as toucher, and spirtuly das have side effect sometimes on humen,

[@virginiamccann3890]

Becky, what part of Florida do you live in? I'm in Jacksonville, 13 miles from Jacks Beach. I'd be interested in some land out in the area of Fort White it's more farm land out there. I have learned so much over the past years watching you on homesteading, animal care etc. You have showed that we women can be successful in this. thank you. Ginny from Jacksonville Florida.

[@ULoverUK]

I don't live up north anymore but I'm not sure I would caulk all the cracks and spaces. When winter is over and the summer humidity arrives, their hen house will roast them. I would think some sort of temporary barrier like a tarp or bales of hay stacked up like a wall. But be sure to leave some sort of ventilation up at the top? I like that you give them options of the type of surface they want to roost on. Some like a flatter surface, others like to wrap their toes around a round roost

[@BeckysHomestead]

In the summer open the doors, and if the coop in under a big shade tree with dark shade it will be fine☀️❤️☀️

[@CountrySing]

chickens in general are very hardy and been bred many years to help them in that....My game birds roost in trees over barn and never lost one.

[@BeckysHomestead]

Chicken poo builds up under the roosting tree and can kill the tree. I have had it happen more than once. ☀️❤️☀️

[@CountrySing]

@@BeckysHomestead Who said you just let it build? lol My birds naturally move to different trees also often,so to avoid detection,but I should had noted I have english game/barnyard banty crosses. :) Some Heavy breeds made by man are poor flyers and would need a hen house ideally. Some of all this depends on breeds I guess. :)

[@KaltrinaDemiri]

I can’t even stand next to my rooster without him trying to kill me lol

[@dontputmeinabox7250]

I'd boot that boy across the damn yard.

[@dixierose5628]

I don’t put up with roosters that go after humans. My Australorps are great, they’ll defend their hens but aren’t aggressive to me or my family.

[@Lee-xs4dj]

@@dixierose5628 If you run they'll chase you. My roosters only chased people that ran away. If you faced them and gave them a kick they wouldn't try it again.

[@dixierose5628]

@@Lee-xs4dj I raised all mine from eggs in my incubators dont know if that matters but mine will eat out of my hands.. they’ve never given me any grief thry eat out of dog bowls with my heeler even..👍🏻🐔. The only thing they’ll go after is hawks when they come close to my hens🤣

[@shaggydog563]

I had one like that. He ended up in the stew pot. Good eating.

[@a.8774]

Becky I love your teachings😍

[@angelayoung6616]

Thank you so much telling me about chicken I have crack corn. And one of my chicken making egg a lot in the winter.

[@BeckysHomestead]

Whole corn is better but don't waste what you have, use it up then try the whole corn next time☀️❤️☀️

[@angelayoung6616]

I got them real corn but now they are so much price

[@bushveldkid7640]

Farmfeed stores just outside of the city is the best place to buy food. I could not believe how much cheaper. I paid $12.11 for 50 pounds of non gmo barley. I am using it to sprout and they love that.

[@-insertfunnyandoriginaljok5815]

i dont even own chickens but this is entertaining af

[@lindakrause8793]

Me too! I have been watching KZbin chicken videos for a few months now. I just can't get enough! 😊

[@flyingcheff]

Can I be one of your hens? :)))) So loved and well cared for! Thank you Becky!

[@BeckysHomestead]

Hahahaha☀️❤️☀️

[@felix64able]

Thank you,very good information, im new with chickens and still learning!!

[@krickette5569]

Tuna is a HUGE attractant for Skunks, if you have them in your area so be careful with leaving it sitting around or over feeding with it, if you use it at all. You can use meal worms to give them winter time protein too.

[@desprado3663]

Chickens don't require a lot of meat protein.... I freeze a ball of hamburger meat about 4 inches dia depends how many chickens how many balls and they get them frozen they only get a tiny amount at a time peck and chace = exercise 1 ball about 8 to 10 birds once every 2 wks

[@teperikaetr]

Huahu. You look Great. I have being following your videos, and notice that your loosing weight. JeKeepep the good work. I love your videos.

[@widowswatch6610]

Good video going through cold weather now and freaking out over my chickens thanks I will get meat also other foods today

[@scarlettrubyrose]

My chickens love tuna too!

[@Favored11]

Thanks So Much for the AWESOME VIDEOS and DETAILED INFORMATION 🎯💝🎉

[@darkbubblepenguin9865]

Becky your awesome with chickens

[@hughmcclanahan2048]

Becky my uncle was one of the first in Florida to custom bake hay in the central area. This happened eighty or ninety years ago.

[@yaserbanoth]

Is fresh sardines good for chicken or packed sardines? Which one is better?

[@sharonblumrick516]

u seem like u r such a sweet person would love to meet u but I no that won't happen .just wanted to say that to u and thanks for your time u put in your videos ,so people can learn .God bless u and your family.

[@BeckysHomestead]

Thank you so much☀️❤️☀️

[@mpdacor]

You are Good!!!!!!!!! I don't have any but your video just came up and I watched it all. So awesome!!! I bought land and building a house I want some chickens. It looks like a lot of work but I will do it. I live in Houston Texas so it gets a little cold now then the days warm up. Love you channel and sub you too...

[@BeckysHomestead]

Welcome❤️

[@anthonyjack98]

Hello how are you doing today hope you're having a blessed day

[@lindakrause8793]

Hi neighbor! I live in deep east TX, on Sam Rayburn Lake, in a country setting without too much land. I am just beside myself wanting to get some chickens!!! I have cancer and am bedridden so there is no way that I can! I am not sure I am going to make it but if I do, I am definitely going to get two chickens and have so much fun!!! And yes, I know there is also a lot of work involved. 😊

[@Craig_Cole]

FYI, don't take winter tips from someone in Florida. My birds in WV do just fine. Don't caulk and don't seal up your coop. They need fresh air ventilation and a dry roof. Use the deep litter method and voila no issues

[@cindystevenson9669]

Great info as always Becky thanks!

[@suzannerogers5623]

I love chicken for tick control

[@iloveschicken6527]

I buy the no sodium tuna and they LOVE shrimp!

[@terry_679]

Not sure where you get your information from, but a hen house should not be air tight. They need a certain amount of ventilation to stay healthy, even in the coldest of states. We've raised chickens for decades in single digit temperatures with freezing cracked eggs being the worst that happened. High heat and humidity is far more dangerous and will can kill or make them sick.

[@bwghall1]

warm coop, red mite,

[@lindajustice2000]

My chickens won’t eat whole corn. They just leave it on the ground They will eat cracked corn though.

[@melissag8270]

I’m in Northern California in the valley and it gets so hot here we don’t even have a true winter so fortunately winter isn’t too hard...but summer 😩😩😩 I’ve lost two chickens to heat and they had water and shade

[@kylieacker9000]

I love your videos❤️❤️❤️

[@redbirdSmith-jz6fj]

love your chicken tips

[@MoonPhaze5]

Becky, we lost a chicken to it eating long strands of dry alphalpha. It built up in her crop and wound up in a large wad that eventually caused her death. I don't know if it was a freak thing, or if it is something that is a common result of chickens eating long dry strands of hay. If anyone has any input on this topic, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks all.

[@beverlymichael5830]

MoonPhaze5 any kind of long grasses can cause a impacted crop. Any cut grasses or hay I make sure it’s chopped up in short pieces. No long strands. Growing grasses they can pick but cut grasses or hay needs to chopped up small.

[@BeckysHomestead]

Yes freak things happen. Always make sure they have clean water at all times and crushed oyster shells. How do you know what was in her crop? Did you cut it open?☀️❤️☀️

[@beverlymichael5830]

If a crop is impacted you will feel a hard ball and it will probably look overly large just by looking. Feeling down the neck to the chest you will feel the crop. At end of day after they have been feeding it will feel full but by morning it’s all digested. So if the crop is large and feels hard in the morning before eating food is not leaving the crop. You can try to empty. Give some warm water by a syringe and massage the crop gently then gently turn chicken upside down holding head down and see if you can get it to come back up. Try 5 cc’s of warm water then repeat. Success is not guaranteed.

[@MoonPhaze5]

@@BeckysHomestead It was only a few days after we put the hay in the run with the chickens. We found Raven acting strangely. She kept trying to get down what she could feel was stuck in her crop. She looked like she was gagging. I picked her up and felt her crop was a solid, hard wad. If I squeezed firmly, I could feel it slightly change form. I tried withholding food and giving her A.C.V. and water, and olive oil; massaging it, but nothing was working and she was hungry. By the third day I was pleading with vets to see her. They wouldn't agree to it. I was totally P.O.ed,!!!!..., because other than the impaction, she was perfectly healthy. No vet clinics would help us with her. We ended up having to put her down. It was the worst experience I have ever had with one of my chicky babies. /:'(( SO SAD!!! We raked up all the hay and got it out of there immediately. I thank God none of our other girls got impacted. /:(

[@lindakrause8793]

I'm so sorry that happened! Poor chick.

[@angelatereba5421]

I put in my coop is suet.they love it.

[@anthonyjack98]

Hello how are you doing?

[@GLAMMAKEUPBYJAZMIN]

I’m always looking forward your videos 🥰

[@BeckysHomestead]

Thanks, I'm glad you like them☀️❤️☀️

[@travisotey7192]

Chickens are jungle and forest dwellers by nature. They actually are healthier not sealed up in a coop. Just like people think that chickens are only grain eaters. They’re carnivores.

[@lindahilger8488]

Everything you mentioned in your video is right in target. You are spook right!!! And although we do live down here in Florida Be my iv e realized we too have some very cold nights. So I'm going put with a calling gun to fill in the drafty cracks today and maybe put extra pine shavings down cuz my thermometer was reading34 degrees this morning.....sunday...also Becky I went Rural king and saw a chicken coop heater . It looks like a flat screen tv. And it like heats up but there's no like red hot element that has to get super hot to heat the area..and there is just no chance of fire as there is with heat lamp bulbs or a regular little space heater....its a very nice and safe way to warm your coop.....Maybe you should check it out and do a video on this type of coop warming so everyone can see and learn about them. Their Awesome!!!!! Thanks for all your vids I love watching!!! LINDA IN FLORIDA

[@caroldorsett8170]

Linda Hilger it is a sweeter Heater found on Amazon I have one in each of my coops. It is cold here in Colorado often below zero these heaters are safe and take the chill off the coop even in very very cold weather, and can’t burn the chickens.

[@BeckysHomestead]

I personally don't heat my coop even if it drops down to the teens on occasion here in FL. My chickens grow in big fluffy winter "coats" If I lived in a place where it stayed cold for days on end Imight try one. They sound great. ☀️❤️☀️

[@russellgentile4719]

Becky great video as always. You ever deal with chickens getting ascites and if so what do you do? Thank you

[@yawarabid]

u can keep chickens,ducks,geese,turkeys,guinea fowls together but some things must be assured

[@veddylicious01]

Very informative. Thank you so much 😊

[@BeckysHomestead]

Your welcome☀️❤️☀️

[@magicsupamoggie]

Here in the UK we are not allowed to feed meat to our hens

[@thelast1900]

Excellent video!

[@mariacanizales2266]

I love your video thank you so much 💓

[@archangelsastrology]

Love your videos thank you 🙏🏼

[@nomansland8507]

But they also need ventilation or moisture builds up and u shouldnt keep them locked up in the coop, but rather open the coop door and let them pick whether they want to go outside or in

[@melissaburke8338]

Love your videos!

[@leteishaarrigo8586]

Hi Becky, you look great. What are your thoughts on Cinnamon Queens? Temperament and ease of raising? Thank you.

[@maruskaoficial4426]

Hi dear! 👏👏👏 love! Merry Chistrimas!! 🎅

[@garygreen226]

With the tuna do you get the one that’s in oil ,for extra fat or the tuna in brine ?

[@Screamingpinesfarm]

You are right must be dry as a bone . yet with sealing up the coop as tite as you say moisture builds up and the birds get wet.I use a fresh air poultry houses look them up. one more thing when you live in Fl dont tell people in the northern parts how to house there birds. Thous that live in the north should not tell people in the south how to house there birds. I have been one of your first 200 sub and have followed you since. Im not trolling just state be careful of what you recommend.

[@BeckysHomestead]

You can and should open the henhouse door every day and that lets any moisture out. Don't assume I have lived in the south my whole life because actually I grew up in the north and know full well all about the weather. That's why I moved south☀️❤️☀️

[@theurbanthirdhomestead]

They need to have airflow towards the top to let the moisture out, though. One of mine got frostbite after I caulked the coop too much. 😔

[@crazyfarmer9704]

Merry Christmas to you!

[@dadca9705]

They winter well in much of the country

[@peterp7449]

i just love your videos

[@howing13]

This was really good

[@KeyAnah]

I have 2 chicken that choke in the grass bale. Thy eat the dried grass an it clump together in their stomach and then they die. Don't use bale that is made of grass.

[@kendralemb.2428]

What about crushed eggshells??

[@JeffGeraldFishing]

Great info and tips. Merry Christmas