Chickens Arctic Conditions Prolonged Period

[Trefoil]

This is a great thread. I can't imagine living where it gets that cold and I'm in Michigan.

 

[aoxa]

I got 6 more Golden Comet hens today for $1.% a piece. I put the 18 month old birds in with my old flock tonight on the roost when it was dark. It should be interesting in the morning to see what takes place.

Are these the new hens? They look so young! Great deal!

 

[Hokum Coco]

Blizzard warning in effect.
Today
Snow at times heavy and blowing snow. Amount 8 inches Wind northeast 40 km/h gusting to 60 increasing to 60 gusting to 90 this morning. High 18F. Cold wind chill -15F this morning.
Tonight
Snow and blowing snow. Amount 2 to 4 inches. Wind northeast 60 km/h gusting to 90 becoming north 40 gusting to 70 overnight. Low 21F.

Watered and checked on birds. It was 23F inside the coop 19F outside. I got five eggs today one did not make it to the house. The new birds seem to be relegated to the roost to date. It will probably take a few days for the pecking order to sort out. One of the eggs was on the floor (that would be a new bird I am quite sure). The rooster should keep everything in line I am hoping.

 

[Hokum Coco]

Just got my driveway cleaned and walk out to the loft and the coop. Everything is hunky doorey out there. I only got one egg from my 12 Golden Comets (the new girls are a bit stressed with their new surrounding I am thinking). I had to wade snow to my waist in two locations but the good news is both doors to the buildings were drifted clean (no shoveling there Yah!). It is about 15F outside and about 18F inside the coop. I have a spring at the back of my property and I cleaned that out as well (handy for watering especially in the summer). Will be going out again around 1500hrs.

 

[Hokum Coco]

You look at Blizzards differently when you gone through this World Record DOOZEY Blizzard of 1992

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/ne...stormfile=look_back_at_a_wicked_winter_300112

 

[3forfree]

This is a great thread. I can't imagine living where it gets that cold and I'm in Michigan.

where in michigan, we've had single digit temps this year, in fact it was 7 when I woke up this morning. It don't matter if it's single digit + or - it's still cold.

 

[aoxa]

You look at Blizzards differently when you gone through this World Record DOOZEY Blizzard of 1992

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/ne...stormfile=look_back_at_a_wicked_winter_300112

I was too young to remember this one! I do remember a really bad one when I was about 5 (which puts that around 1992!) where my dad backed into the ditch.

This storm was the worst this year I think.. The wind made it drift in the worst places. Your door was clear, but mine was half way up the door In places it was past my hips. I had a lot of eggs yesterday and today.

 

[refamat]

All birds suffer the same problem, if their feet freeze in or on something, you can pretty much start fixing dinner. Chicken combs can be protected with gels, do a search here on that, I have read it before, but since we don't get terrible winters, haven't had to use anything yet. Thick mulch on the floor of a coop, even elevated coops, will provide a composting media to increase warmth in the coop and insulation for the raised ones. Using the reflective house insulation foils to wrap around the waterer can help also, there is a youtube showing someone doing this somewhere, google for how to keep coop water from freezing and see what you find. A lot of people use a light fixture inside a concrete block and put the waterer above it if you have electric out there.

 

[Hokum Coco]

February 11, 2013:

Things are thawing and I opened up the vents and cleaned off the poop boards today (I kind of neglected that durring the cold and blizzard conditions).

I only got one egg today from 12 hens. However tomorrow is another day and the new hens are still fitting in. I noticed blood on my water dish today but could not see which hen suffered an injury.

Those are all really good tips Refamat and I would like to thank you for the reminders. I have employed some of those methods you pointed out.

For me (where is is just a small flock) if I change their water daily I know the water is fresh and I use the size waterer to match the season. Also I come to know when and when not to open my vents during the winter time in my coop and loft with its built in air leaks and the like (not all buildings vent the same even on the same property).

I found when I had my large heated water bucket with nipples and heater tape on the outside I was more likely to neglect changing their water daily. That is when you start putting your flock's health in danger from my experience.

I have to go out daily any ways to the coop so carrying out the water is just what I do now with the rubber pails. Chicken really do not require food and water 24/7 I have come to realize. I am out to the coop 2 times sometimes 3 during the winter. During the summer at least 1 and most times more.

 

[Hokum Coco]

February 13, 2013. It is Spring like conditions today so I will be opening all my vents and letting my hens out to free range a bit today. They have become a bit shack happy in their 4x8 foot print coop in the last few days.