Chickens acting strange.Wondering if they can sense the weather change.

[bucky52]

I'm in central VA.it in the 40's.But the cold is on the way.With the wind chill its suppose to be 25-below tonight.My girls are hanging out in their coops.some sitting down some just standing around.they have lots of of straw and shavings in their coops.and DH is going to pick up bales of straw to put in and around the coops.I must confess I also have small electric heaters in each coop,at roost level.we also have wrapped two of their roof runs in plastic.this will help keep the wind chill off of them so they can hang out in their runs,Tomorrow highs around 19.I have read all the do's and dont's about keeping your flock warm and safe.The eletric heaters I know is a no no.Thank goodness the cold is suppose be gone by Thursday.I am worried,we are not use to these temperatures here in VA.

 

[schnebbles]

It's -6 here now (Ohio) with awful winds! I know the windchill isn't as bad in the coop. I wonder if I should close the vents some at least on that side. I have a 250w heat bulb in there, I hope that's enough. I will worry no matter what! The cold temps are here thru tomorrow and tomorrow night, but then back up to teens and 20's and I know they are ok in that. They will not come out of the coop if there is snow right outside the door. I have the door closed - open just enough so the cord for the heated water bowl will fit. I'm mostly worried about my roosters comb. It already had frostbite from before and I keep it vaselined up but I worry.

 

[GD91]

This has been happening to me to today, but I'm in northwest England. The chickens have been in their sheds all day & the rabbits haven't even come out from under the shed. The only exceptions have been to eat the food put down in the garden.

Its been windy here to.

 

[bucky52]

I have vents at roost level.they are closed and covered.The wind is blowing very hard.and I could feel drafts when I was inside the coop this morning.I duct taped over the little cracks where I could feel wind coming in.My coops are insulated but their are a few cracks that I missed when I was putting up insulation.My doors in the bottom of the coop I will leave open.Anything at roost level will be sealed and closed.