BYC Café

[SkyAJK]

Good Morning All,
Having my coffee and getting ready to head out to the big wild world...just kidding, take my mom to see her chiro.

 

[DobieLover]

Good morning Cafe. Coffee is ready.

 

[Sally PB]

Good morning. I brought more coffee.

I'm a little worried about my chickens during the upcoming cold snap. Highs of 7, below zero at night, next Monday and Tuesday. We haven't had temps that cold since before I got chickens, so I have no experience with this.

They'll be shut into the coop with food and a bowl of snow. I don't keep open water in there at all. I'll check on them every hour or so.

@aart, I plan to get a packet of the Sav-A-Chick electrolytes. I was thinking of mixing it into their water on Sunday (high in the teens, so I'll have the coop open). Or would it be better to mix it into their mash snack on the first cold day?

 

[aart]

@aart, I plan to get a packet of the Sav-A-Chick electrolytes. I was thinking of mixing it into their water on Sunday (high in the teens, so I'll have the coop open). Or would it be better to mix it into their mash snack on the first cold day?

Either would probably work.

 

[RoyalChick]

Good morning. I brought more coffee.

I'm a little worried about my chickens during the upcoming cold snap. Highs of 7, below zero at night, next Monday and Tuesday. We haven't had temps that cold since before I got chickens, so I have no experience with this.

They'll be shut into the coop with food and a bowl of snow. I don't keep open water in there at all. I'll check on them every hour or so.

@aart, I plan to get a packet of the Sav-A-Chick electrolytes. I was thinking of mixing it into their water on Sunday (high in the teens, so I'll have the coop open). Or would it be better to mix it into their mash snack on the first cold day?

I was planning on the mash approach throughout the day.
They just extended our forecast cold to include Wednesday so was planning on that approach for three days unless I observe something to make me change my mind on the first day.

 

[Sally PB]

If I put the electrolytes in their water on Sunday, I can be sure they will get some. It's their only source of water. So I think I'll do that.

 

[aart]

I only give EL once every 3 days during extreme temp events.
I really like the oat approach because it's a treat and they go for it right away and clean it up quickly.

 

[RoyalChick]

I only give EL once every 3 days during extreme temp events.
I really like the oat approach because it's a treat and they go for it right away and clean it up quickly.

I might try that. I have oats in stock.

 

[Bawkbok]

Good morning, all, I brought a fresh pot of coffee as well. It's going down fast today. I think I need the jump start.
Good luck to all of you in the deep freeze.
We are going into the frigid as well same time frame. For us that means freezing temps or mid 30's - it's "drastic" cold for us, it's all relative based on where you live. So I understand correctly, you soak oats in electrolytes? You don't cook the oats first?

 

[DobieLover]

I really like the oat approach because it's a treat and they go for it right away and clean it up quickly.

My flock all practically jump in the mash bowl. We are having these temp extremes Sun-Wed. I think I'll swell some steel cut oats and add them to the broiler mash with electrolytes Sun and Wed. I already added another bag of shavings to the coop and it's rare to find a bare spot to the floor. I fluff it every night by pulling out what they scratch to the walls. So far, even Colby is doing well with his big, huge gigantic comb and wattles.