Chicken and the Extreme cold

[SW31]

We don’t get as cold weather as many of you get. Last winter, at night, I wrapped up a couple of hot water bottles in an old towel and put it on the other side of the coop, opposite where they roosted and where they could not come into direct contact with the heat. It just took the chill off.
We have an Omlet cube so the coop is off the floor but we were concerned there was no insulation at floor level plus there are drainage holes which would let cold air in. There is other ventilation but I did not want to block those for their safety. I put their old nesting material, which still smelt fresh, at the bottom of their roosting area and covered it with lots of ‘promo’ magazines we get each week to keep their feet warmer and improve insulation. Every couple of days I changed the promo papers to keep the coop clean and gave the roosting bars a quick hose over.

 

[123RedBeard]

Lived in Vermont for many years, while keeping chickens in an uninsulated, unheated coop ... tried the "paint a glass jar black, filled with water set in the window" trick ... broken in the morning!

During the very cold spells, they would not spend much time outside, or they would stand on one foot, as their feet got cold ... much prefered the deep layer of shavings in the coop! 25 black sex-links in a 8'X16' coop ...

Chickens don't need heater's ... give them a tad bit of corn to warm them up, and keep their water liquid (atleast a few times a day)

 

[aart]

A warning: make sure that's not all you use as a test. Last year I only did that for a while [tossed food] instead of watching them and I missed a cockerel that was doing poorly. Found him fallen off the roost the next day, nearly dead and with frozen solid comb/wattles and toes. Poor bugger.

Yes, it's not the only observation I make, but it's a good first indicator, not just if they move but how they move...shows the ones to watch more closely.
You're the one who got me to bring in for a 'reset'.

 

[arrowti]

I live in Maine. I don't do a heat lamp for our birds either. We actually used to have a rescued bird who was the only survivor after an accident caused a heat lamp to burn down someone's coop overnight (she was the only survivor, they gave her to us).

These are simply observations I've had over the years. Someone may have had other experiences or better ways, and definitely take this as information to help rather than the sure way to do things.

Insulation and ventilation is key. It was around 20 degrees inside the coop when it was -10 and windy outside. Not great, but they seemed content. Frequently add fresh bedding to the coop, leaving the old bedding to compost and keep the coop warmer. The only cold-related issue I've had is a rooster getting injured somehow overnight, and drenched in blood. He wasn't perching in the morning and when we found him his legs and feet had frozen through.

Large combs are more at risk. I don't typically do anything for frostbite unless it's a large area, because it usually handles itself over time. Chickens will keep themselves inside during the coldest of days, although a few of the rambunctious ones will actually go outside in the cold. Mine don't love snow but I used to have some who did.

During last winter's extreme cold (when we lost the rooster to frozen extremities) - two windows were cracked for ventilation.

- door was closed (on some of the warmer days it was open but no one came out)

- water changed frequently (you can also opt for a heated waterer if you have electricity in the coop, they're pretty safe)

- always ensure their food is full. Offer high calorie treats like cracked corn (or regular corn) to keep them warm. Did you know you actually warm up when you eat, due to your body working on digesting nutrients and calories?

- chickens will get testy during prolonged periods of cold and may fight each other. If a chicken is bleeding, make sure you treat it as soon as possible. Liquid + cold leads to frostbite VERY quickly. On top of that they could get picked on viciously because of the blood.

- in emergencies, if a chicken is showing signs of hypothermia, is bleeding actively from a wound and at risk for dangerous frostbite, or acting sick and you need to warm them, warm them SLOWLY so they do not go into shock. I learned this lesson hard. Placed an egg bound hen directly in a warm bath from outdoors. She died that night - my big beautiful EE.

- have at least a couple inches of soft, fresh bedding. Frozen bedding is dangerous to their feet. If a bird is bullied off the perch and forced to stand they could get frostbite on their feet or even freeze them.

- remove any broken eggs

- try to offer warm treats, like scrambled egg or something heated during the worst of the days. It's just helpful!

- remove (separate) bullies. They will peck. They will draw blood. They can cause a serious injury just from drawing 'enough' blood to cause frostbite to the skin of another bird.

- as soon as the weather improves, make sure the birds are going outside and stretching their legs. Encourage them to go outside by sprinkling treats on the ground. (You're just trying to improve their mood at this point. Even if they have a lot of space they probably get tired of staying in one area for days on end).

 

[Flower84]

We have temps that cold and more, with more then one or two days of -80°F wind chills and temps of -50° for days at a time here in North Dakota. I ONLY use a heat lamp when the air temps are lower the -40°F and only at night when the temps are lowest. Then I turn it off during the day so they stay used to the cold. I usually never have a problem, but the single comb breeds will get some frostbite, so I tend to avoid the lighter less cold tolerant breeds, and ones with single combs.The heavier breeds tend to lay better in the winter as well. I do have some eggs freeze when it's this cold however, so I try to pick them 2x a day. I would say you are fine keeping them with no heat, just make sure they stay dry and out of any drafts and you should be good!
Hope this helps!

 

[snow5164]

And we Canadians get teased about all our cold temperatures and windchills!!!

We don’t come near those numbers @Flower84 !! I even looked it up and your not even exaggerating

Yikes I almost live in the tropics ,I feel so much better now with -55

 

[Mrs. K]

We have hit -35, so do deal with cold, here a couple of pointers that one needs to consider I think.

What is the humidity? Although in extreme cold, the air is usually dry.
What are they drinking? I don't have heated bowls, so I put out warm water and I have given soaked grain. Even if it freezes, they can peck it apart and eat it. Frozen mush, just freezes solid, same for wet layer feed. Nothing eats it, but they do love cornbread.

Dry bedding - make it deep. Set up wind blocks outdoors. A piece of plywood, straw bales piled up, if they can get out of the wind and into the sun, mine will be outside. I have use old window, or shower doors to create a sunporch. Mini haystacks, so that after a snow, one can flip the hay on top of the snow.

I use frozen eggs for baking. When it is that cold, eggs are going to freeze, and production will fall.

I find the longer it is cold, the better they handle it. I have more tendency to frostbite, when it begins to warm back up, thaw out the poop, and then cold nights. Too damp. Since I started throwing scratch inside the coop once a week, for them to turn the bedding, that has helped big time, the coops is dryer with the poop clumps broken up and dried up.

Again, I think that dry is more important than warm. But I will admit, I think that birds that have this tough of weather, do not live for 6+ years. I think it does take it's toll on birds. I have never had one die in the cold, but I think it ages the birds.

Mrs K

 

[Flower84]

We have hit -35, so do deal with cold, here a couple of pointers that one needs to consider I think.

What is the humidity? Although in extreme cold, the air is usually dry.
What are they drinking? I don't have heated bowls, so I put out warm water and I have given soaked grain. Even if it freezes, they can peck it apart and eat it. Frozen mush, just freezes solid, same for wet layer feed. Nothing eats it, but they do love cornbread.

Dry bedding - make it deep. Set up wind blocks outdoors. A piece of plywood, straw bales piled up, if they can get out of the wind and into the sun, mine will be outside. I have use old window, or shower doors to create a sunporch. Mini haystacks, so that after a snow, one can flip the hay on top of the snow.

I use frozen eggs for baking. When it is that cold, eggs are going to freeze, and production will fall.

I find the longer it is cold, the better they handle it. I have more tendency to frostbite, when it begins to warm back up, thaw out the poop, and then cold nights. Too damp. Since I started throwing scratch inside the coop once a week, for them to turn the bedding, that has helped big time, the coops is dryer with the poop clumps broken up and dried up.

Again, I think that dry is more important than warm. But I will admit, I think that birds that have this tough of weather, do not live for 6+ years. I think it does take it's toll on birds. I have never had one die in the cold, but I think it ages the birds.

Mrs K

I love the sun porch idea! I may try this with an old patio door I have no other use for! Thanks for the great idea!

 

[Flower84]

I forgot to mention my coop has a dirt floor which helps keep them warmer too!

 

[Mrs. K]

Your birds will love it! The sun porch. There are days, that is where mine mostly stay. I angle it toward the south. It is amazing how much warmer it is under there.