Feeding chickens in the winter in the UK requires a bit of extra planning to help them stay warm, healthy, and active during the colder months. Winter presents several challenges, including reduced foraging opportunities, lower natural daylight, and the need for extra energy to maintain body heat. Here are some essential tips on how to support your chickens through a British winter.
### 1. Adjust Their Diet for Extra Energy
Chickens need more calories in winter to stay warm, so increasing the energy content of their diet can be beneficial. You can achieve this by:
- **Adding More Carbohydrates**: Carbohydrate-rich foods provide chickens with the fuel they need to generate heat. Scratch grains like corn, oats, and wheat are excellent sources of energy. Offering a handful in the late afternoon can help them maintain body heat through the night.
- **Supplementing with High-Quality Pellets**: A good layer pellet is essential all year round, but in winter, it’s even more important as it ensures that chickens get the balanced nutrients they need, even if their foraging is limited.
- **Offering Warm Treats**: Warm treats can be comforting and provide an energy boost. Consider making a warm mash from their regular feed by mixing it with hot (not boiling) water. The chickens enjoy it, and the warm food can help them regulate their body temperature.
### 2. Increase Protein Intake
Chickens naturally molt in autumn and early winter, and their feathers are essential for insulation. Increasing their protein intake can help with feather regrowth, keeping them warm. Good sources include:
- **Protein-Rich Treats**: Add treats like sunflower seeds, mealworms, or even a bit of scrambled egg (if they don’t seem to mind the source!). Be careful not to overdo it; a little goes a long way.
- **High-Protein Pellets**: Some people switch to a higher protein pellet (around 18-20%) during the winter months, which can help bolster their diet during colder times.
### 3. Keep Feed and Water Accessible
In the UK, temperatures don’t often plunge severely, but there can be occasional frosts that make water supply challenging. To ensure chickens stay hydrated and well-fed:
- **Use Heated Water Bowls or Check Regularly**: Water bowls or containers can freeze overnight in sub-zero temperatures, so it’s important to either use heated bowls or check and replace the water as needed. Adding a rubber bowl can help as it's easier to knock out ice if it freezes.
- **Feed Early and Top Up**: Chickens should be fed in the morning to give them a good start, but you may also want to check feed levels in the afternoon, especially if they’re eating more to stay warm. Placing feed inside the coop can also encourage them to eat even if they’re reluctant to go outside.
### 4. Supplement with Grit and Calcium
Chickens need grit to digest food, and if they aren’t free-ranging as much, they’ll need a reliable indoor source of grit and calcium:
- **Provide Grit Regularly**: Chickens use grit to grind food in their gizzards, so ensure they have access to insoluble grit, especially if their access to natural sources is reduced.
- **Offer Oyster Shell for Calcium**: Hens still laying in winter need extra calcium to maintain shell quality. Keeping a separate container of oyster shell allows them to consume calcium as needed.
### 5. Avoid Over-Treating
While it’s tempting to offer extra treats, try not to overfeed fatty treats like mealworms or kitchen scraps, as this can dilute their nutrient intake from pellets. Balance is key in winter, where energy needs are higher but can’t come at the expense of their main nutritional needs.
### 6. Create a Comfortable Feeding Environment
If your chickens are hesitant to leave the coop due to wind or rain, provide some shelter around the feeding area. A covered feeding area protects them from wet or windy weather and encourages them to eat more freely.
### 7. Consider Light Supplementation for Layers
The natural light in winter can be quite limited, which may reduce laying. If you want to maintain egg production, consider adding artificial lighting in the coop to mimic daylight. However, be mindful that this can place stress on hens, so avoid lighting 24/7 and allow them a period of natural darkness to rest.
### Final Thoughts
Feeding chickens in winter requires some attention to detail, but with a few adjustments, your flock can remain healthy and resilient even in the coldest months. By ensuring they have a diet high in energy, easy access to unfrozen water, and an enriched environment, your chickens will be able to handle the winter chill and keep clucking through to spring.
**Calving Season in the UK: A Guide to Best Practices for Healthy Calves and Productive Cows**
Calving season is a significant time for dairy and beef farmers across the UK. It represents both an opportunity for herd growth and a period requiring careful management to ensure the health of both the cow and calf. From planning and preparation to care during and after calving, understanding best practices is essential for a successful season. This post covers essential tips and considerations for UK farmers during the calving period, with a focus on optimizing calf health, maximizing productivity, and improving overall herd wellbeing.
### 1. **Planning and Preparation for Calving**
Calving can happen throughout the year, but many UK farms follow seasonal patterns—typically spring calving or autumn calving. Planning around weather conditions and feed availability can make a big difference in reducing stress for cows, which directly impacts both cow and calf health.
**Health Checks and Vaccinations**: Before calving season begins, ensure cows are in good health. Routine checks and vaccinations are vital, as they prevent diseases that can affect both cow and calf. Common vaccinations include protection against Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD), Leptospirosis, and IBR (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis).
**Diet and Body Condition**: Cows should enter calving with a moderate body condition score (BCS), typically around 2.5 to 3.5, depending on the breed. Over-conditioned or under-conditioned cows can have more difficult calvings and produce weaker calves. Diet adjustments, including increased mineral and vitamin supplementation, help prepare the cow’s body for birth and milk production.
### 2. **Setting Up a Calving Environment**
Creating a clean, safe, and stress-free environment for calving is crucial.
**Calving Pens**: Calving pens should be spacious, clean, and well-bedded to reduce the risk of infections. The UK’s variable weather means keeping pens sheltered and dry is essential, especially in the colder, wetter months. Access to fresh water and quality hay in the pens supports hydration and nutrition.
**Hygiene**: Keeping the calving area clean minimizes the risk of infections like navel ill and joint ill, which are common in young calves. Regular cleaning and disinfecting of pens can make a big difference in reducing calf mortality rates.
**Monitoring and Calving Assistance**: While most cows will give birth without complications, it's essential to have someone monitor the process. Many farms use CCTV systems or employ calving alerts to know when a cow is ready to calve. However, human oversight is invaluable, as complications like malpresentation or dystocia can arise unexpectedly.
### 3. **Immediate Post-Calving Care**
The moments after birth are critical for the calf's health and the cow’s recovery.
**Calf’s First Breath and Colostrum Intake**: After the calf is born, ensure it starts breathing properly by clearing any mucous from its nose and mouth. The first feed of colostrum within two hours of birth is crucial, as it provides antibodies that protect the calf from disease. Ensure calves receive adequate colostrum either through nursing or by feeding with a bottle if needed.
**Care of the Umbilical Cord**: After birth, the calf’s navel should be disinfected to prevent infections. A common practice is to dip the umbilical cord in iodine, which helps to dry it out and prevent bacterial infections that can spread into the bloodstream.
### 4. **Cow Care Post-Calving**
Post-calving care for the cow is equally important, especially in dairy cows who face the additional demand of milk production.
**Nutritional Support**: Cows lose a significant amount of energy during birth and need high-quality feed to recover. Transition diets that focus on high-energy and nutrient-dense feeds support recovery and milk production. Special attention should be given to mineral balance, especially calcium, to avoid conditions like milk fever.
**Monitoring for Complications**: Be vigilant for signs of complications such as retained placenta, metritis (uterine infection), or milk fever, which are common in dairy breeds. Regular health checks help detect issues early, allowing for timely treatment and reducing potential losses.
### 5. **Ongoing Care for Newborn Calves**
After the initial critical hours, ongoing care will help the calf grow strong and healthy.
**Feeding Program**: For dairy calves, bottle or bucket feeding is essential to provide enough milk or milk replacer if they are separated from their mothers. Calves should be fed at regular intervals to meet their nutritional needs, with gradual introduction to solid feeds over time to encourage rumen development.
**Vaccination and Dehorning**: Early vaccinations help prevent diseases like pneumonia and clostridial infections. If dehorning is necessary, it's best to do so at a young age to reduce stress and pain. Ensure these procedures are carried out humanely and by trained personnel.
**Housing and Socialization**: Calves thrive in clean, dry, and well-ventilated housing. When kept in groups, they tend to have better social skills and growth rates due to minimized stress. Avoid overcrowding, as it can lead to the spread of disease.
### 6. **Calving Data and Record Keeping**
Tracking data on each calving can provide valuable insights for herd management. Record-keeping practices include:
- Date of birth and any calving difficulties
- Calf weight and health status
- Colostrum intake times and quantity
- Vaccination and health interventions
Analyzing data year-over-year helps identify patterns, improve future calving seasons, and make better breeding decisions to optimize the herd.
### Conclusion
For UK farmers, calving season is a pivotal time that can significantly impact the farm's productivity and profitability. By focusing on preparation, monitoring, and care, farmers can support healthier calves, faster recoveries for cows, and set the herd up for a productive future. From effective planning to post-calving care, each step contributes to the overall success of the calving season and ultimately helps secure a strong future for UK dairy and beef farms.
