-20 below, what do I do for my flock??

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

I have an un insulated metal shed/coop.
I brought them all into the house. They were huddled on top of each other the other day and it wasnt even THAT cold yet. The heat lamp I have doesnt warm it more than a few measly degrees. And now the freakin extension cord is buried under snow and ice. Grrr. I hate winter

 

[Akane]

Yep I just spent the past 20mins carefully chipping away the ice with a shovel to replace 2 of my extension cords with a better one so I can run a bigger space heater. I sliced one of the cords.

Luckily it was the old cheap one that was just suppose to be temporary until I got a longer higher gauge cord.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

Okay, who's idea was this oatmeal thing? My hens now look plastered. The horses each got a scoop too. They enjoyed it. Goat left hers in her bucket along with the few pellets that touched it.

I just added a 2nd heat lamp. I aimed it at the roosts. My barn is pretty open and drafty. I'll worry all night long that either they're cold or the barn is burning down. It's 5 degrees right now, was -4 this morning. I think tomorrow I'll take the emergency heat blankets , ya know those aluminum foil looking things, out of our vehicles and make a tent over the heat lamps. (Then I'll replace the ones in the vehicles). just a thought. I wonder if they're flammable.

 

[Superior Chicks]

-4.................!!! Are you serious??? That's a mid July like reading here!

I don't really get too concerned until we get below -20 or -25 or so.

I am one of those that is more concerned with what happens if they get used to extra heat (however provided) and then you lose power.

Hens up here in the frozen North are really tough old gals.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

The minus 20 temps are predicted here, too. I'm just eat of lake Ontario in the Tugg hill region. We're used to cold and snow, but my girls have never been through a winter. My barn never got finished, so we're making due with what we have. If we lose power, we crank up the generator and they'll have their heat. Next year, when they have their "proper" coop, there should be no need for extra heat. Just in case though, we're putting in an outdoor wood boiler which will heat the house, garage and barn as needed.

 

[ZooMummzy]

I am sending good, warm thoughts to everyone...and their animals...in the deep freeze areas. I just can't even imagine temps like that. We got down into the teens here a month ago and that was too cold. Be safe and warm

 

[whudson]

We just put a couple Silkies out with our Orpingtons tonight (took a few days for them to get used to each other).

Now that they are content with being together, How will the Silkies do when it's getting down to 10F at night?

They stay together, and don't associate with the Orps, so it's just the two of them keeping each other warm.

 

[Superior Chicks]

So..........................I lied.

I'm always concerned about my hens! And when the temps get like this for a prolonged period of time, like this WHOLE week...............I'm cranky and tired from lack of sleep! I worry about them all night long...get up to check the coop temp (from a remote I keep by my bed..

). Anyone else do this?

Well, the heat light is on tonight. It raises the temp by +20 so they should be just fine. But another sleepless night in Superior..........

Brahampooter I envy you your outdoor wood boiler!! How fabulous. They are simply fantastic. Lucky hens! Yes, you know cold and snow too!

Warm thoughts to everyone.

Ma

 

[ams3651]

Quote:
oh yeah, guess I should have warned to step back when serving oatmeal

I make it real thick so theres less mess. Theres alot of people on here using it to warm them before bed. My grandfather used to feed the horse and pony oatmeal with molasses in the winter to warm them.

 

[spook]

They should be fine as long as there are no drafts. Making sure they have a small amount of ventilation, but ours do not get any special lights for heat. We do have a heated waterer and one bowl in the hutch. As long as there toes are covered on the roost and they can roost together, they should be fine.
I feed a "fat and finish" pellets, higher protein and fat (you can add any fat including suet and meat chunks) to their layer feed, for me, 5 hens=1 1/2 cup feed and pouring hot water over that to get them a warm food with extra cals, fat and water.
When you can keep them hydrated, that will go along ways in keeping them warm too.
Good luck! Toss scratch on the floor, allow them to work for it, entertains them and when anyone is moving, they stay warmer. Here is

for all of us in this cold snap.