Hens in cold climates

grimelda

I'm from Australia originally and grew up on a farm there. We usually had some chickens and hence I have a pretty good idea of how to care for them. My problem now is that I have moved to Sweden which is a totally different environment. This has caused me many challenges (not the least of which is figuring out how to get the information I need in English!).

We have bought a couple of acres and I want to keep some chickens, but I really have no clue about what kind of housing is best and how to protect them from the extreme cold we get here (sometimes -20C). Does anyone know of any good websites, books or other resources to help me? In Australia the biggest threat we faced came from snakes, wild dogs, foxes and heat exhaustion. Aside from the foxes those aren't a problem anymore but I have a whole new set of challenges to deal with.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks very much.

the_optimist

The only chickens I can think of (and I'm new to keeping chickens) are Black Rock chickens. I found this website http://www.blackrockhens.co.uk/
This is what they say:

The pullets we rear are extremely hardy - thriving and laying well here in the Highlands of Scotland exposed to wind, rain, snow, heat, without effect. The birds have thick plumage with great waterproofing to protect them from adverse weather. They also have the brains to know when to go inside.

Any good?

grimelda

If I can figure out how to get a few to Sweden I'll be right.

I found the information about housing and electric pens quite interesting because I had been wondering about that specifically. Thanks for the link.

kethry

the only thing i can think of (as i don't keep chickens) is that you check out this blog, there may be something on there about it, they run a croft in the north of scotland so similarly cold weather, if maybe a bit warmer than where you are, i don't know.

hope that helps..

keth
xx

paddy's_mum

Stonehead (as per the link in kethry's post) is a great guy - Australian, would you believe, Grimelda. I'm absolutely sure that if you emailed him and asked (very nicely, of course) for his advice, he would offer you a lot of help.

As an alternative suggestion, why not have a bit of a look round your area to see if there are any other smallholders about. Language might be a barrier but if there's nothing wrong with your eyesight, you could observe what the natives do! Good luck.