Arctic Freeze

[LizzzyJo]

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.

Yep! Mine have begrudgingly handled -25f real temp for two days and no one got frostbite. I have a mixed flock ranging from lavender orps to banties. They were ok! No supplemental heat. They’ll be fine. Just annoyed.

 

[DLA]

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.

Make sure they're protected from wind and wet and they will be fine. Don't overdo it, they still need plenty of ventilation especially if you close them up in a coop or something till weather improves. Feed them normally, maybe hang a head of cabbage or something to entertain them. You can put a very light coat of vaseline on combs, wattles, legs and feet if you're worried about frostbite. Proper ventilation and no dampness greatly reduces risk of frostbite. They don't need the heat lamp and it's a fire hazard so please remove that.

 

[DLA]

Make sure they're protected from wind and wet and they will be fine. Don't overdo it, they still need plenty of ventilation especially if you close them up in a coop or something till weather improves. Feed them normally, maybe hang a head of cabbage or something to entertain them. You can put a very light coat of vaseline on combs, wattles, legs and feet if you're worried about frostbite. Proper ventilation and no dampness greatly reduces risk of frostbite. They don't need the heat lamp and it's a fire hazard so please remove that.

Oh and make sure you check the water regularly and keep it from freezing. That will be the biggest concern, not the chickens getting cold. They'll be fine.

 

[ccoscina]

Yep! Mine have begrudgingly handled -25f real temp for two days and no one got frostbite. I have a mixed flock ranging from lavender orps to banties. They were ok! No supplemental heat. They’ll be fine. Just annoyed.

You're insane lol

 

[LizzzyJo]

You're insane lol

Haha - hey, what can I say? polar vortices come and go and those of us in the north have to handle it. Without burning our coops down. I’m far from the only one who has to deal with this. Bringing in additional heat and then removing it can cause issues as well.

 

[ccoscina]

Make sure they're protected from wind and wet and they will be fine. Don't overdo it, they still need plenty of ventilation especially if you close them up in a coop or something till weather improves. Feed them normally, maybe hang a head of cabbage or something to entertain them. You can put a very light coat of vaseline on combs, wattles, legs and feet if you're worried about frostbite. Proper ventilation and no dampness greatly reduces risk of frostbite. They don't need the heat lamp and it's a fire hazard so please remove that.

DO NOT use petroleum jelly to fight frostbite. This is a myth that can sound true but it is not scientifically sound. Petroleum jelly is an occlusive moisturizer. As the jelly absorbs into the skin it forms a seal that prevents any moisture from absorbing. So then the moisture sits on the surface of the skin and will increase the chances of frostbite.

I'm aware many old timers have used petroleum jelly and say it works. But if you do your research you will find that just like many old timer myths, this one is not true and could be dangerous advice. Vaseline is great to help dry skin, so if their comb tends to get too dry you can use it because it will help lock in any moisture. But don't use it to battle frostbite.

 

[ccoscina]

Haha - hey, what can I say? polar vortices come and go and those of us in the north have to handle it. Without burning our coops down. I’m far from the only one who has to deal with this. Bringing in additional heat and then removing it can cause issues as well.

The heating pad I have only raises coop temp by about 5 to 10 degrees so it doesn't really cause a problem if I remove it. They are still well adapted to cold. If I was a breeder then maybe I would provide no heat to keep them extra hardy, but chances are these hens will never hatch any chicks. So I don't mind spoiling my ladies a bit. My friend in Minnesota says my chickens live a life of luxury because sometimes I'll feed them steaks, pork chops, or sushi. I don't wait til it's going bad either, I often cook them a fresh meal and serve it to them warm. They eat more nourishing food than most humans. Lol

 

[DLA]

DO NOT use petroleum jelly to fight frostbite. This is a myth that can sound true but it is not scientifically sound. Petroleum jelly is an occlusive moisturizer. As the jelly absorbs into the skin it forms a seal that prevents any moisture from absorbing. So then the moisture sits on the surface of the skin and will increase the chances of frostbite.

I'm aware many old timers have used petroleum jelly and say it works. But if you do your research you will find that just like many old timer myths, this one is not true and could be dangerous advice. Vaseline is great to help dry skin, so if their comb tends to get too dry you can use it because it will help lock in any moisture. But don't use it to battle frostbite.

I did not know that. Thank you for the info! I've used it and never had trouble with frostbite with the several severe cold snaps we have had so far this winter and my grandfather swore by it. But my coop is pretty well ventilated and there's very little moisture - clean the poop daily, roof doesn't leak and it's on a raised slab and the run stays pretty dry too so I imagine that is the reason and not the vaseline. No wonder they look so moisturized and pretty - LOL.

 

[ccoscina]

I did not know that. Thank you for the info! I've used it and never had trouble with frostbite with the several severe cold snaps we have had so far this winter and my grandfather swore by it. But my coop is pretty well ventilated and there's very little moisture - clean the poop daily, roof doesn't leak and it's on a raised slab and the run stays pretty dry too so I imagine that is the reason and not the vaseline. No wonder they look so moisturized and pretty - LOL.

Yes, so many old timers swear by things you should not do! This one old timer that helped me get started raising chickens has been farming his whole life and told me he feeds his chickens nothing but cracked corn. When i asked him why he said its because it's the best thing for them. I started feeding them lots of cracked corn but people here educated me and now the cracked corn is only 5 to 10 percent of their diet. Cracked corn diets are an old timer thing because a long time ago commercial pellet feed did not exist. Although in the old days they also got lots of table scraps, pasture, etc so it wasn't just cracked corn. And old school breeds didn't lay nearly as many eggs so they didn't need quite as much protein or nutrients.