Below freezing temps

[Silkiechicken66]

How cold is too cold for my birds? It was 5~10 degrees yesterday, -1~8 degrees today, and supposed to get -16 tomorrow.
I’ve got my quail and bantams in a shed with a heater, they don’t go out at all.
My other birds(ducks chickens) are in a metal shed and aren’t being let out.
However, my golden pheasant pair are in a plastic wrapped pen with one wire side.

I’m bringing hot(to slow freezing)water to them multiple times a day and keeping a supply of food, lots of straw.

Is this cold going to kill them? I know they do well in lower temperatures, but it hasn’t gotten this cold since before I even got birds.
I just don’t know what else to do.

 

[Pequena ave]

Best you can do is let them bury themselves in the straw and that they are protected from drafts. They can fluff up feathers to keep warm, but the constant draft is what they can not tolerate.
A tip.... hot water actually freezes faster.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

What breeds do you have. We lost 2 birds related to the cold on Wednesday. A Frizzle Ayam Cemani and a cornish. The Cornish don't have much down so they can't poof and stay warm as easily and the Frizzle had backwards feathering and couldn't poof as much either

 

[Silkiechicken66]

Best you can do is let them bury themselves in the straw and that they are protected from drafts. They can fluff up feathers to keep warm, but the constant draft is what they can not tolerate.
A tip.... hot water actually freezes faster.

I didn’t know that, thanks for letting me know!

 

[Silkiechicken66]

What breeds do you have. We lost 2 birds related to the cold on Wednesday. A Frizzle Ayam Cemani and a cornish. The Cornish don't have much down so they can't poof and stay warm as easily and the Frizzle had backwards feathering and couldn't poof as much either

I have a whole mix-mash. Silkies/showgirls are the ones I’m most worried about. Two chicks(fully feathered,2mo?), and a salmon favorolle are seconds on the worry list. Rest are chunkier breeds, like mosaics and bielefelders.
My frizzles are either in a shed or one roo inside.
I’m so sorry for your losses.

 

[Lnzsmith]

We brought our girls into crates in the basement. Couldn't keep waterers unfrozen, all are on medicated water right now anyway.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Blocking all drafts will be your best protection along with providing water and food.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Best you can do is let them bury themselves in the straw and that they are protected from drafts. They can fluff up feathers to keep warm, but the constant draft is what they can not tolerate.
A tip.... hot water actually freezes faster.

Generally untrue. It CAN happen, yes, but does it happen more often than not??? NO.