Anxious newbie

Date sort Score sort
MemeA

MemeA

Chirping
Feb 13, 2016
20
17
69
Hi, everyone. I'm new to the site. This is my first winter with chickens and, based on what locals have told me, my 3 girls have an unheated coop. But we will get to -22 tonight--our coldest night this year--and now I'm worried that they will be too cold. The two windward sides have hay bales below them and are wrapped in plastic, so there are no drafts. There is 6" of pine shavings on the floor and they have heated water. So my fingers are crossed that I'll still have a reason to be back on the site tomorrow.
 
Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. As long as you have cold hardy breeds and a draft free, dry, and well ventilated coop to prevent moisture from building up inside it, your chickens will be fine. Feathers are a wonderful insulator and moisture is a much greater danger than cold. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Cheers.
 
Chickens are tougher than they look.

Like Micheal said, as long as they stay dry and out of
wind, they'll hunker down okay.

Spook
 
Thanks to you both. I did need the reassurance. I'll check in tomorrow morning.
 
Hello!
400

Welcome to BYC and the coop! There's a lot of great peeps here! Feel free to ask lots of questions. But most of all, make yourself at home. I'm so glad you decided to join the BYC family. I look forward to seeing you around BYC.
 
Hi and
welcome-byc.gif
- based on comments from some of our very experienced members they'll be fine and you WILL have a reason to post tomorrow (which is today here in Kenya
smile.png
).

all the best
CT
 
We have had colder temperatures than that and my large breeds are in an uninsulated shed. Except for some frostbite on roosters combs everyone makes it through, year after year, Wisconsin winters are brutal. Your birds will look cold, throw out some scratch to get them moving, maybe a warm mash made from their ration and water, warm water to drink and stuff to do, they will be fine.
 
I'm ecstatic to be back--with 3 live chickens. Thanks to all of you for the support. After a night that dropped to -22 (before the wind chill!) I bundled up and carried a bowl of warm oatmeal, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and cranberries out to the coop. And the girls were there to greet me--a little subdued but alive. There's a little bit of frost on a few feathers, but their tiny combs and their feet look okay and they were eating their oats. I'll bring them their worms, broccoli and scratch in an hour.

Great idea about the towel--thanks, Drumstick Diva.

Greetings from the wyandottes--Blackie, Bumpy Beak, and Other
1f413.png
1f413.png
1f413.png
 

Similar threads

Y
Mites in new store bought pine shavings?
Replies
6
Views
96
Starrponies
Starrponies
fridao
Questions on winterizing coop
2
Replies
15
Views
2K
Tahai
Tahai
Ajoy1955
Frigid weather anxiety
2
Replies
11
Views
981
tlcmurphy
tlcmurphy
R
    • Like
Coop Reno Questions
Replies
4
Views
456
SandyRiverChick
SandyRiverChick
Z
    • Like
Central FL - Is 4 weeks safe to go outside?
Replies
3
Views
617
U_Stormcrow
U_Stormcrow

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom