-40 wind chill forecasted for Friday

[Doris29]

Where do you live?

Wisconsin

 

[Doris29]

I’ve got their little coop as cozy as it can be without heat. I can’t get the plugs to reach safely to the outlet. But they are blocked from the wind by the house. I wrapped the side that has small cracks in the walls with blankets and put a little rechargeable nightlight in there. Already put the girls in. I actually think they’re more comfortable crammed in there than being outside. It’s not near the cold it’s going to be but my fingers were already feeling numb after just getting them set up.
Now my only worry is them staying warm enough through the night and
Getting enough water. I plan on taking some out to them before they go to bed and every so often tomorrow, but they seem
To drink a ton when
It’s cold out.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

I’m also prepping too for tomorrow, temps are forcase to be close to -35c with a ‘feels like’ temp of closer to -40. I just have two hens currently so i’m considering hanging a wool blanket to create a smaller coop inside their coop for the night so they don’t have too much cold air around them (of course keeping ventilation open above their roost). Going to see if I can find a wool blanket at the salvation army thrift tomorrow.

 

[Doris29]

I’m also prepping too for tomorrow, temps are forcase to be close to -35c with a ‘feels like’ temp of closer to -40. I just have two hens currently so i’m considering hanging a wool blanket to create a smaller coop inside their coop for the night so they don’t have too much cold air around them (of course keeping ventilation open above their roost). Going to see if I can find a wool blanket at the salvation army thrift tomorrow.

That’s a really good idea. My 2 have extra room on the roost now that it’s just them. Ugh. I just want to bring them inside but worry about acclimating them
To the weather again. It’s not going to be warm out anytime soon.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

That’s a really good idea. My 2 have extra room on the roost now that it’s just them. Ugh. I just want to bring them inside but worry about acclimating them
To the weather again. It’s not going to be warm out anytime soon.

same. I only could put them in the basement but it’s closer to the furnace so it would be pretty warm (and a LOT warmer than outdoors) I was actually thinking I will also try to wrap the roost in wool so it’s warm on their feet but also grippable. I will update!

 

[Doris29]

same. I only could put them in the basement but it’s closer to the furnace so it would be pretty warm (and a LOT warmer than outdoors) I was actually thinking I will also try to wrap the roost in wool so it’s warm on their feet but also grippable. I will update!

Chat gpt seems certain they’ll be ok . It said they’ll probably be stiff and have pale combs in the morning but should perk up after eating. Man, I hope it’s right lol.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

Chat gpt seems certain they’ll be ok . It said they’ll probably be stiff and have pale combs in the morning but should perk up after eating. Man, I hope it’s right lol.

Ahh... I find CGPT tends to summarize bad/wrong info, especially for animal and plant information. So I’m glad you’re also on this forum!

From experience- my chickens generally have paler combs that are slightly shrunken all winter, after their moult, as we have very cold, long and snowy months. I do notice that their combs start to redden and swell when they’re about to start laying eggs again, though not always (one of my girls started laying again this week but she’s still pale as it’s very cold!). When it dips really cold you’ll see that they puff up a lot to get that air trapped in their feathers and keep them warm, and they’ll probably tuck in to roost in the run in the sun if they can in the day, and hopefully snuggle in the evening. I have a second lower roost as an option in my coop and i notice that on the very cold days they tend to roost closer to the bedding, maybe it’s reflecting their heat a bit more?

I am going to try something new tonight as those extreme cold temps are here for several days, and that is to pop a couple hand warmers on their roost (wrapped in wool) before bed to help their feet stay cozy. We’ll see, maybe it’s not worth or they’ll not touch them it but i’ll try and report back

 

[Doris29]

Ahh... I find CGPT tends to summarize bad/wrong info, especially for animal and plant information. So I’m glad you’re also on this forum!

From experience- my chickens generally have paler combs that are slightly shrunken all winter, after their moult, as we have very cold, long and snowy months. I do notice that their combs start to redden and swell when they’re about to start laying eggs again, though not always (one of my girls started laying again this week but she’s still pale as it’s very cold!). When it dips really cold you’ll see that they puff up a lot to get that air trapped in their feathers and keep them warm, and they’ll probably tuck in to roost in the run in the sun if they can in the day, and hopefully snuggle in the evening. I have a second lower roost as an option in my coop and i notice that on the very cold days they tend to roost closer to the bedding, maybe it’s reflecting their heat a bit more?

I am going to try something new tonight as those extreme cold temps are here for several days, and that is to pop a couple hand warmers on their roost (wrapped in wool) before bed to help their feet stay cozy. We’ll see, maybe it’s not worth or they’ll not touch them it but i’ll try and report back

Thank you!! Yeah chat got tends to tell you what you want to hear j feel like. And if you open a new browser and ask the same question I get a different answer than the app lol.

They were just fine this morning. Hopped right down when I gave them some warm water/oats/blueberries mixed all up.
Still in their coop because the wind is blowing into the open side of the run that’s against the fence. The fence helps a lot but not enough in this. I’m going to head out and try to cover it enough so they can get out and stretch. They’re used to roaming the yard, but better cooped up for a day or two than having frozen chicken, I suppose.

This is their first winter so they’re still laying and I haven’t had to deal with a molt yet, but I feel like I’ve noticed the Warner they are the redder their combs seem to be, or maybe it’s my imagination.

 

[Doris29]

I just let them out to try to get some sun in their run But it’s freeeeeszing out there. Hopefully they’ll be ok. It’s not as bitter in there as it is outside but it’s still bitter. I’d hope if they get cold enough they’d go back in but im
Not sure they are that smart lol.
. The one can be stubborn when it comes to going in for the night.

 

[Doris29]

Nevermind. They both went in to lay so I locked them back up. If it were just a few degrees warmer I’d be ok letting them out.