-40 with windchill What do I do?!

[mimipeaches]

Next week we are supposed to have -40 degrees fahrenheit with windchill what do I do?! I don’t want them to die!!!! This is their current setup is there anything else I can do?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We will have that weather tonight. We get it every year. Healthy chickens will do fine. Your rooster may get frostbite on his comb and wattles.

 

[mimipeaches]

We will have that weather tonight. We get it every year. Healthy chickens will do fine. Your rooster may get frostbite on his comb and wattles.

Thank you!! Is there anything you do to make sure that they/ their feet don’t freeze?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Deep dry bedding. Feet shouldn't freeze unless they get wet. Generally chickens will sit down on their feet to warm them or go up on the roosts. I have a few that have lost toes. They do okay and most I barely notice until the toes are gone.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Wide roosts help too to keep feet warm.

 

[NNYchick]

Remember wind chill doesn't factor when you have them in an area that is protected from wind. We were -39F at my house Tuesday morning by my coop registered -10F, my silkies and seramas did fine. I make sure they have liquid water to drink and give scratch at night just before they go to roost to be sure they have a full crop. I'm not an expert but all the tarps and sheets of insulation around the roost area in you picture may cause more harm as it is preventing ventilation and fresh air in that area and will can catch the moisture from them breathing and poop. Remember a dry coop is a comfortable coop in the world of chickens. If that coop is inside another building I would remove the tarps and stuff as long as the other structures protects from the wind.

 

[centrarchid]

First double check your local weather predictions.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

You could run extension cords in there and power up a space heater or two?

 

[aart]

Blocking all the ventilation is not a good idea.
Make sure they cannot access that foam board they will destroy it and eat it which might destroy them.

Are you in Northern or Southern or Central Illinois?

 

[BY Bob]

We will have that weather tonight. We get it every year. Healthy chickens will do fine. Your rooster may get frostbite on his comb and wattles.

Vaseline applied to the comb and wattles of my leghorns seems to have prevented frostbite in these situations.