arctic cold front--special precautions for texas hens?

[silkiechicken]

My chick grow up outside starting early march. I took their light away at 6 weeks old.... they dealt with 30F and snow at 8 weeks all on their own. Don't worry about adult birds. My big uns choose to sleep in the run on their outdoor roost when it was a week of 10-20F weather. No frost bite, nothing. They'll be fine.

 

[PremierSilkies]

Just some thoughts or ideas from someone with exhibition stock that I do not want to lose one bird because I failed them.
I have silkies, and cochins in bantam & standard.
Lived in Minnesota and now am in Hurley, WI where it snows everday, lol
Things I have done to help my birds, hair tape up the crests, I keep even a low level of light on 24/7 to find the food & water as they need it, for thats one of the things that helps them get through a cold night. Bed deep in shavings, I do love heated dog bowls, used them for years.
Currently use two $20 elec. blower heaters (metal w/fan) hanging from eye hooks in ceiling for an area of 40 x12, have a heatlamp in the silkie youngstock pen on top of that. I have used oil heaters last year in a small area and it worked really well.
Do suggest if you use the heaters, to unplug them and clean out the dust every few weeks. I shop vac the coop.
I do a custom feed mix that helps them with keeping up there weight, corn is high on my list, and they love those sunflower chips.
C

 

[lavacaw]

"Darn right we Texans are tough! By the way, when does spring begin again?

EastTxChick: Most of these people don't understand that our seasons consist of "Almost Summer, Summer, Still Summer and Deer Season". I think spring is scheduled to occur March 4th this year but that is never written in concrete. I have seen it as early as February and as late as May. LOL

In all seriousness, I think our chickens will be fine. Mine have been huddling together for warmth at night on cold nights and running around in the cold rain during the day. I did turn the heat lamp back on in the pen with the younger ones just to be safe.

 

[mcurren527]

What is DE? I just went out to check on my chickens and they're doing fine. It's 11 here. I dumped some more wood shavings on the floor in a pile so they could either burrow into it or have fun scratching in it. There is a south-facing window with sun streaming in so they can enjoy that for awhile, too.

Michelle

 

[elmo]

DE = Diatomaceous Earth

 

[elmo]

So far, so good where we are in Dallas. Our garage is staying in the 40's, and with the sun today and a 100 watt lightbulb, our winter coop is up in the 40's (right under the lightbulb, anyway). Our bantams are out in their wind protected run next to the winter coop, able to go in as they wish.

I'm crossing my fingers about tonight, and tomorrow, though. I really don't want to have to bring our birds indoors to get through this cold snap.

 

[Minniechickmama]

You can read my post on this link, then stop worrying about frostbite, folks. As long as they have a place to go inside out of the elements, they probably enjoy the cold weather more than that exteme hot you get in the summer.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=3429427#p3429427

 

[OhioEggs]

lol sounds like our entire winter minus a few days!

heat your water. keep it without drafts and use vaseline. You;ll be fine.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Okay, Texas, I understand better that some of you don't have coops that are enclosed. Here is a trick to help, I hope...
If you have hay or straw bales, build a little house for them to get you through the cold spell. You shouldn't need a heat lamp anyway if it is still above zero. Make their new house two bales high if you can and put something in it they can roost up off the ground one, even if it is only a 2X4. Put that ginormous plywood on top for a roof. If your birds are DRY and it is not too drafty, they can get through with that as far as shelter goes. Like someone else suggested, make sure they have water. Up her on the lower tundra we use water heaters that you set your waterer on and it keeps it thawed, but since you probably wouldn't get much use out of it, you may be able to come up with something else that will work. I have heard of people putting a light (single incandescent type) inside of a terra cotta pot turned upside down and then setting water pan on that. Sounds kind of tricky and I wouldn't do it in a strawbale house. You will see your birds probably look fatter, they will fluff themselves up to better insulate their heat (something I wish I could do). I would think that unless you have those breeds with huge combs and wattles, you shouldn't need to worry over frostbite or putting on vaseline. You won't have that long of a spell, will you?
I don't mean to sound like a smarty pants, but sitting in an old 3-story farmhouse that isn't exactly buttoned up real tight for the -15 wind chill that is screaming outside, it is making me chuckle a little. Some days in July it does get up to 98˚ here and you would laugh at me if I were complaining about the heat, right? I say this, without A/C in this place at those times, you can only take off so many clothes before you start scaring people, so I might complain a little.

I hope your temps get back to normal soon. good luck y'all.

 

[Jonathanq1]

Ain't that the truth!!!

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