Arctic Freeze

[Istareatsquirrels]

Here in central Texas were being hit with an Arctic freeze. I have a heat lamp, cayenne in the water, and lots of food for my chickens but at what temperature should I consider bringing them inside? I have 6 hens(3 buff orphingtons, 3 black sexlinks). I’ve read they’re cold hardy but we’re supposed to get well into the teens and even 0 degrees f.

 

[CraftyHen]

They will be fine, I promise. It is -3 F right now where I'm at and the chickens are a-ok. They don't seem too bothered until we get the -25 or lower then they are ok but seem angry. Just make sure they are protected from wind and are dry.

 

[LizzzyJo]

They will be 100% fine. I would even remove the heater. Mine have gone -35f real temp (not even considering wind chill) and they were fine. They've got down coats on

 

[Cinnamon Roll]

I have roosters and last night (-9F) they did get frostbite damage on their big combs. The hens did not. I feel awful about the frostbite so I put a radiant heater in the coop to keep it closer to 32F. It all depends on how cold it will get and what kind (breed, sex) of chickens you have. Yes they will be “fine” as in not-dead but there is a risk of frostbite in very cold temperatures.

A radiant heater would be a lot safer than a heat lamp, if you choose to heat your coop.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Yes! They will be fine. Do not but a heater or a heat lamp in the coop. Fire hazard for sure. You aren’t in Alaska or Canada even though it feels like it to us Southern chicks. I feel you. I’m in MS gearing up for it to and freezing my tail feathers off too right now already just doing chores. We are definitely not used to this for sure. It has been the winter from hell already for us in the South. Cold all winter from November up until now. My girls have been fine. I have three Black Orpingtons and three Swedish Flower hens, and three Cream Legbars. They have laid eggs like crazy because they are just under a year old and fat and fluffy. Just be sure your roost is dry and that your coop has plenty of stray nice and thick if they choose to want to get down in it if worst comes to worse. They still need some ventilation even if it’s blowing out and especially if your poop boards are full. I prefer to keep mine empty and then that enables me to keep the windows closed almost to the top. I have to window per say like openings which are screens on both side which are predator proof for sure and then I board them up almost all the way in this type of weather. I have vents in the very top portions of the ten foot ceilings in the coop as well so it’s aired out really well. That’s the best advice I can give you. I have the same heat basically that you deal with almost in the summers except that I may have more humidity and you get some more index. Good luck with your chicks and this bitter cold. My fingers are frozen now cause I am outside like an idiot still on this phone!

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Oh hey! I just wanted to add that my girls like nothing better to warm them up in the morning when it’s really cold or to also put them to bed at night for a calorie boost that also warms them up as well as boosts their spirits. They love some slurpy warm oatmeal. I make them all nine about two and 1/2 to three cups of the quick one minute Quaker Oats and spread them out thin in some glass casserole dishes so that it cools off the needed amount to be safe for them rather quick for me so I can go about my day and also so that they can see what they are eating up against the ground etc. they can’t get enough of them. And it’s a healthy cheap treat for them.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Going to be -17 here tomorrow night. The high today was 3 and that lasted only a few minutes.

I have no worries about my flocks handling the temps.

Dry coops, thawed water, full feeders and plenty of ventilation are really the keys to getting them through unscathed.

If you have an ill bird or ones in poor feather those may need more.

It is hard on them to go from the cold into a heated human house so a garage may be a better choice if bringing them in.

A sealed oil heater has far less fire danger than a heat lamp.

 

[Mark Whatley]

I'm also in Texas--DFW area--and like everyone else south of the Canadian border we're in for sustained bitter cold and blizzard conditions. My Buffs are about 8 months old and seem to be doing great. The advice to keep them in a good coop with no supplemental heat and adequate ventilation (no drafts!), water and plenty of food seems very sound. I had considered building a temporary coop in the garage where the temps are holding around 40, but I'm not leaning that direction based on everything I've read, especially about the cold-hardiness of Buffs. My girls are also getting plenty of treats

 

[ccoscina]

I'm also in Texas--DFW area--and like everyone else south of the Canadian border we're in for sustained bitter cold and blizzard conditions. My Buffs are about 8 months old and seem to be doing great. The advice to keep them in a good coop with no supplemental heat and adequate ventilation (no drafts!), water and plenty of food seems very sound. I had considered building a temporary coop in the garage where the temps are holding around 40, but I'm not leaning that direction based on everything I've read, especially about the cold-hardiness of Buffs. My girls are also getting plenty of treats

Here in central Texas were being hit with an Arctic freeze. I have a heat lamp, cayenne in the water, and lots of food for my chickens but at what temperature should I consider bringing them inside? I have 6 hens(3 buff orphingtons, 3 black sexlinks). I’ve read they’re cold hardy but we’re supposed to get well into the teens and even 0 degrees f.

Cayenne in the water? I never heard of that. I would expect them to avoid drinking it.

 

[ccoscina]

I'm also in Texas--DFW area--and like everyone else south of the Canadian border we're in for sustained bitter cold and blizzard conditions. My Buffs are about 8 months old and seem to be doing great. The advice to keep them in a good coop with no supplemental heat and adequate ventilation (no drafts!), water and plenty of food seems very sound. I had considered building a temporary coop in the garage where the temps are holding around 40, but I'm not leaning that direction based on everything I've read, especially about the cold-hardiness of Buffs. My girls are also getting plenty of treats

Lol, they don't need it to be 40 degrees. My chickens don't even get annoyed until it goes down to single digits. The teens don't even bother them much. Below zero worries me although it will be short lived and they have a heating pad so they'll be fine. If I had no heat I'd be worried about below zero. Like another person in this thread had mentioned - it isn't just about whether they survive but also about frost bite. But they don't need the temp to be 40 degrees to avoid frostbite. As long as you keep the coop very dry I would be surprised if they ever got frostbite in 20 degrees or over.