Anyone Else Affected by this Insane Weather

[newbie coops]

We're not doing too badly, even though the temps have gotten to -20-30 during some nights. We're using the "deep litter" method and I think that's helping to keep the coop warmer, and we have two 250-watt heat lamps over the roosts. We have 24 chickens - 23 pullets, 1 roo in a 10X12 coop and they have plenty of room but it's small enough to conserve warmth. Their unheated, galvanized waterer has only had frozen water a few times this winter. Sometimes it has some ice but it isn't frozen over. We change the water once a day. I've been putting vet rx in their water every other day or so, too. They're laying pretty well (just started laying in October/November) - yesterday we collected 22 eggs. Seem pretty healthy, considering. We don't let them out every day, though. And when we do, most of them don't want to go outside because we don't cover their run and it's snowy. They don't seem to know what to do with it.

 

[LynneP]

I'm so sorry about your losses- a bunch of us have been discussing cold weather solutions in the long thread by patandchickens..join us for ideas!

No losses so far, meanest winter in 25 years and in middle of winter storm #16...

 

[swampducks]

I lost a guinea just before Christmas, but he was kind of a runt, had a funky beak and just never thrived. He ended up with a couple frozen toes and then just gave up the ghost after I tried to warm him up in the house. The other guineas and chickens, 33 in all (still mostly pullet age) are doing fine in their 6 x 8 uninsulated coop with deep litter floor. The inner walls are frosty, they've got a 250 watt heat lamp but their toes are fine and they seem in good spirits. They even still go outside in the single digit weather to eat!

My barred rock rooster does have frostbite damage to his comb but it doesn't seem to be distressing him. That is why I'm raising buckeyes and golden laced wyandottes now, though. I think pea and rose combs are a much better idea this far north.

 

[Alleychick]

Its been getting down to -15 here. But i dont get it my girls are fine. They are in an old uninsulated coop no heat lamp, just a heated waterer. And those crazy birds are out playing in the snow. In fact ive been getting more eggs this winter than I got this summer and fall. I did notice some frostbite, so I broke out the vaseline to prevent anymore damage.

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

I moved my 5 into the basement over a week ago now.
The coop is a metal shed and is not insulated. No way to hang a heat lamp over the roost.. so in they came.
The basement gets chilly(cement) So I am not worried about the transition when I finally get them out again.
But I am very glad for cement floor. Easy to clean after they have been out playing all day down there.

Added bonus. If the dog officer happens to come by(which I think she has) There are no chickens in the back yard. And you cant hear them outside the house. I am hoping she will think they are just 'gone" and come spring some privacy fencing will do the trick

 

[Wildsky]

Our weather is really ODD. we're so warm now my tree's are sprouting little buds.

We've had hardly any snow so far, normally we have snow on a weekly basis through winter.

 

[ScrambledAcresFarm]

Thursday & Friday our high was 15 degrees. Then on Saturday it was 50!

 

[sewchick]

A few nights ago it was -30. THIS WEEK ANOTHER FOOT OF SNOW!!! Crazy weather. At least it's warmer this week. It's around 25 degrees today and sunny. Almost got out my bathing suit.

 

[SherriBaby]

Hey all... I'm a newbie, both to the group and to the chickies... we got our first flock of chicks in May 2008. We've got 22 black sexlinks in Altamont, Tennessee... Grundy County... about 1-1/2 hrs northwest of Chattanooga. Our girls have been handling the cold pretty well... we're still getting 15-20 eggs per day, got 18 today. Today was the first day they *didn't* go outside, and I think that was because its been snowing *hard* all day! They generally don't mind the cold, but I guess they don't like the snow... don't know what to do with it, I guess.

 

[birdlover]

Hey Sheri!!

Glad you're doing well with your chickies and that THEY are doing well in the winter weather!