I have just got 10 ex laying hens and would like advice on what others do in the winter. They are a bit baldy at the moment, but does anyone heat their coop over the winter or do the hens take care of themselves. My girls are in quite a large converted dog kennels. One more thing, I have only had them 4 days but some of them have very runny poo - is that normal? Thanks.

No i dont think you need to do that i have nesting boxs for mine and i make sure on the floor there is plenty of sawdust and in there boxes i jam it with straw so they cuddle upo in there.

Sorry forgot the poo bit i would not worry 2 much mine poo and sometimes its really runny as lok as they look ok and there comb is up they should be fine, what are you feeding them.

Plenty of bedding usually will do.Some times there pooh can be a bit on the sloppy side.

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Thanks everyone for your advice. Out of my 10 girls I am now getting 6 eggs - it's great. I would never have realised that keeping hens can be so enjoyable and easy. I feed the pellets but give them mash in the morning and a treat of sweetcorn or mashed vegetables in the afternoon. I do have to watch because they are so easy to spoil.

I give my girls just layers mash ( it's what they're used to!) and i give them mixed corn in the afternoon, when i know they have had plenty of the mash! Normal chicken poo is brown and white.