![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.carolschickens.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/the-entire-inside-of-the-chicken-run-has-snow-despite-the-roof.jpg\")
<\/a>The entire inside of the run is covered with snow<\/p><\/div>\n
The girls confined themselves to the patio area. They seemed reluctant to step out into the snow covered run and I don’t blame them. My husband and myself both agreed that it would be best to hook the chicken shed open to encourage them to use it to shelter and to scratch in.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.carolschickens.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/i-have-left-the-chicken-shed-door-hooked-open.jpg\")
<\/a>I have decided to leave the chicken shed door hooked open<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.carolschickens.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/the-girls-are-staying-in-the-chicken-shed.jpg\")
<\/a>The girls are staying in the chicken shed<\/p><\/div>\n
I put the water, the mash and the pellets just outside the chicken shed. I didn’t want to put it inside the shed as it would get filled with pine shavings. I also added some apple to keep the girls occupied.<\/p>\n
I kept returning to defrost the water. I had made the mash with the tylan water so I brought it in several times during the day and stood it in a bowl of hot water to defrost it and warm it a bit. I then put it in the shed for the girls while I supervised and once they had had a good feed I put it back outside the shed.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.carolschickens.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/having-some-warmed-mash.jpg\")
<\/a>Having some warmed mash<\/p><\/div>\n
The girls seemed to appreciate this. I have given them extra sunflower hearts and corn while the conditions are like this. The main thing is to make sure that they eat and drink and stay sheltered. The mash and apple help with extra moisture and the shed is the best place for them at the moment.<\/p>\n
When I first decided I wanted seramas I tried to come up with ways of restricting them to the patio area and chicken shed in bad weather. Nothing successfully kept them to this area. I now realise that they are smart enough to know what is good for them and they have kept to the chicken shed and the area just in front of it all day today. It has made poop picking really easy as it was all in the shed.<\/p>\n
During the afternoon Cinnamon laid her second egg of the year in the nest box closest to the chicken shed. I had thought these conditions might delay egg laying but it seems not.<\/p>\n
Tomorrow is forecast to be the same as today so I will do the same as I did today and leave the chicken shed open for the girls. There is supposed to be an improvement in the weather at the weekend. I really hope so. If the girls can get through the next few days I think they will be able to cope with anything.<\/p>\n
In the newspaper it said that today was the coldest March day since records began. I say it again, roll on spring!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At the moment each day seems to get worse than the day before despite the forecast showing that it was going to improve a little. I think this is because although the temperature today was similar to yesterday the conditions … Continue reading