Best "supplements" for chickens on really cold days?

[imthedude]

it's pretty cold here (about 5) with a really stiff north wind of about 20 mph. the birds don't want to come out of the coop, and i can't blame them. i don't want to go outside either. their water and feed are inside the coop. i gave them some BOSS and scratch earlier for a little extra "punch" to keep them warm. do you guys do anything else besides those two to give your birds a better chance at keeping warm?

 

[bjash]

Scratch is also good to give in cold weather.

 

[centrarchid]

Anything with fat. Mine pound fat strips down when cold but seem to avoid it when hot.

Can you make suiet based on peanut butter? Pricey but energy dense. Put a couple raisins in for enticement.

 

[Mrs. K]

Mine like cornbread. Gramma always said, "make them cornmeal mush" but it freezes too quick. They like the cornbread better, and a real chicken expert that raises fancy chickens told me once to make sure they are fed just before dark, so that their crops are full for the night. I usually feed in the morning, but in this weather, I go down just before dark with scratch, if I can. mk

 

[imthedude]

Mrs. K :

Mine like cornbread. Gramma always said, "make them cornmeal mush" but it freezes too quick. They like the cornbread better, and a real chicken expert that raises fancy chickens told me once to make sure they are fed just before dark, so that their crops are full for the night. I usually feed in the morning, but in this weather, I go down just before dark with scratch, if I can. mk

good to know because i just tossed in a bunch of scratch and BOSS and also broke a block of suet into 4 pieces in hopes that everyone would get a little bit before they head to the roost. nine below tonight will be the coldest these birds have seen. i hope they make it through the night OK.​

 

[conroy]

my girls are getting corn muffins tomorrow

 

[forrestacres]

I put a flock block in their coop to keep them busy on days when they don't get outside due to cold (which has only been 2 days so far this winter). We just had a 45 degree day here. Snow melted and the grass is back!

 

[ourlittleflock]

ours get scratch on the colder nights right before bed

 

[PepsNick]

Anything with corn. That helps them produce body heat.

 

[mychookschick]

Can I ask what exactly "scratch" is??

I have heard the term used a lot but don't know what it is....Is it expensive?

My chooks have been pretty cold lately and if it doesn't cost too much I might give it a try! I was also thinking about trying to make some flock blocks...