My girls are doing OK in the forties and nites in thirties.
They'd better, coop is not heated nor will it be.
This morning I got up and let them out about 8:15,
yeah, they are up earlier than I am.
Checked and found a little egg in the nest area.
Nest area is lined with newsprint which I top with a
handfull of straw, and it was getting poopy so I changed
the paper and put in the straw, came back inside and
had my coffee, etc. Probably due for a change in the coop area too,
been more than half a week. The Cube is like a birdcage,
with sliding trays underneath that I also line with newsprint.
Dig a hole, drop in the poopy papers, cover, reline trays.
One of the girls is by a water bucket, acting thirsty but not really drinking.
Aha! Ice floating on top. I bring the bucket in and refill with warmer water
and they all crowd around for a drink.
My Yokohamas are the only two I'm concerned about. They are not considered
"cold hardy." But we don't really get cold here on Long Island. Our temps
might get to zero but not for an extended time, typical winter spread is
teens to 30's and 40's and I have a south facing sheltered yard that is
typically 10-15 degrees warmer in the daytime than the north side of the house.
My first little flock and my first winter. Meanwhile on youtube I saw a video
of three hens roosting on a branch while driving snow seemingly threatened to
blow them sideways off the branch. I think mine will be OK.
