Avoid Winter Blues in late winter

Grant Brereton says some forethought and routine will reduce many of the challenges brought on by the cold, dark months

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Well, it comes around every year without fail, but are we ever truly prepared for it? Beginning with autumn - and what I now refer to as ‘hurricane season,’ which seems to roll straight into winter.

We can go months without any real weather to speak of, so when the storms finally hit, they feel like a shock to the system (and always at weekends, or so it appears, just to make them even more unwelcome). This summer had been especially enjoyable: mild conditions, plenty of grass, and the freedom to move pens and coops without tearing the garden to pieces making our winter changes even more of a shock. But I was reminded recently how quickly everything can change. A smooth routine of shifting coops every couple of days so the grass can recover soon becomes impossible when the rain sets in. Just a day or two of heavy showers can turn everything into a quagmire. It looks dreadful, and it’s terrible for the birds. Mud harbours parasites, and even the cleanest hens end up trampling muck into the nest boxes, dirtying any eggs laid. Many of us in the hobby get what we jokingly call ‘the winter blues.’ The pleasant months disappear, the workload doesn’t, and suddenly the weather doubles the effort needed for basic tasks. Last year it hit me particularly hard - I came close to giving up the hobby entirely. I nearly sold everything just to escape the constant grind. But after a few months with very few birds around, the enthusiasm slowly returned.

LETTING OFF SOME OF THE PRESSURE