Cold hen not eating + all chickens are freezing. URGENT

[Atchurch]

"Bringing her in will also cause her to not be acclimated to the outside temps."

This is what I posted up there. So, it's a choice. But, some people do it. I can't do that for various reasons...my husband, my cats, and because of that reason posted. But, be creative! I know that you can get bricks, heat them by the sun, or maybe even a hair dryer (sounds silly) and put them in their coop. Bricks and concrete release their heat slowly and consistently. There are so many viable options to help that sweet girl. But if you have other birds, she ought to huddle and she should be fine.

 

[Atchurch]

Wont that shock them?

Oh, YES! Electrolytes! I forgot that! I keep a steady supply. But usually remember them in the hot Texas heat! But absolutely a great idea!

 

[Atchurch]

Oh, YES! Electrolytes! I forgot that! I keep a steady supply. But usually remember them in the hot Texas heat! But absolutely a great idea!

Sorry...I think I captured the wrong quote. But you get the gist, probably.

 

[aart]

Wont that shock them?

Not in my experience.
They relaxed in the warmth, had a drink(EL) and feed, then were better when back outside.

 

[Themellowyellows]

Not in my experience.
They relaxed in the warmth, had a drink(EL) and feed, then were better when back outside.

Alright! Thanks!

 

[alinas2010]

Poor girl! I had a few hens that had a very rough hard molt this year and shivered even at 40f in their coop. My personal approach was to bring them some wetted down feed mixed with rinsed canned chicken and a raw egg every night when I felt that their crops were empty. I stood there and held the bowl for them while they ate; they ate every night on the roost, but would hardly eat during the day. They thought it was a treat. This helped them stay warmer throughout the night.

I know the safest is to use no heat, but I personally have no problem providing a bit of heat to my chickens during extreme cold and molts. I use an oil filled radiant heater lifted up on a stool in the coop on the lowest setting to keep the coop between 30-40f during molt. Flat radiant panel heaters and dog house heaters have also worked well for us in the past.

 

[RollinStoned]

Hi everyone!!

I have so many questions... To start off, I have a hen that molted early fall. As a molting chicken would, she lost a lot of weight and did not eat. Now, she is done with her molt, as light as a feather, and is not eating still! Im super concerned because she has no fat to keep her warm. It is lower than 15° degrees F here and gets down super low during the night. This chicken is a Buff Orpington, and is 1 year old and 9 months. She was egging before her molt but I assume she will continue after winter? Is this correct? How do I get her to eat and gain weight? As well as keeping her from freezing because when she starts ahaking and I pick her up, her feet feel like snow.


What foods can I give them to help keep them warm?

Any heater recommendations? I have 2, but they are not that good.


Thank you all so much, Merry Christmas!

I would feed her lots of scratch or if you make your own. Seeds and corn. It help with fat proteins. Also I make sure a late molting chicken has

Hi everyone!!

I have so many questions... To start off, I have a hen that molted early fall. As a molting chicken would, she lost a lot of weight and did not eat. Now, she is done with her molt, as light as a feather, and is not eating still! Im super concerned because she has no fat to keep her warm. It is lower than 15° degrees F here and gets down super low during the night. This chicken is a Buff Orpington, and is 1 year old and 9 months. She was egging before her molt but I assume she will continue after winter? Is this correct? How do I get her to eat and gain weight? As well as keeping her from freezing because when she starts ahaking and I pick her up, her feet feel like snow.


What foods can I give them to help keep them warm?

Any heater recommendations? I have 2, but they are not that good.


Thank you all so much, Merry Christmas!

Feed them scatch twice a day. Mornings and before bed. I keep 4 100w incandescent light bulbs running on a timer so.i get eggs year round but also it helps with molting chickens ( these put off enough heat to keep the coop and run 10 degrees warmer than outside. And dont draw as much as heat lamps which I nevwr recommend no matter how cold.
Stop the draft and feed fatty seeds and corn kernels to help keep them warm. Make sure you have plently of clean water for them to drink. My birds drink a tremendous amount during the winter opposed to the summer. Good luck

 

[orelsi]

Give her something more appealing. Mashed boiled egg should be irresistible. Ham or unseasoned sausage work as well. She'll appreciate the protein.

My coop is an old brick garage. It’s quite large, so no chance of body warmth heating the place up like a small coop. I use an old space heater (no exposed parts) in the winter to keep it several degrees above freezing. They often gather around the heater for warmth and after I let them out for fresh air they run straight to the heater even if it's not plugged in. I have a cable running from the garage to the house, so I plug it in from inside the house. A wireless thermometer with a sensor inside the garage lets me know when plug it in. I try to keep it between 5 to 8C/41 to 47F, so it's above freezing, but not too hot to mess with their natural temp regulation.

 

[Themellowyellows]

I would feed her lots of scratch or if you make your own. Seeds and corn. It help with fat proteins. Also I make sure a late molting chicken has

Feed them scatch twice a day. Mornings and before bed. I keep 4 100w incandescent light bulbs running on a timer so.i get eggs year round but also it helps with molting chickens ( these put off enough heat to keep the coop and run 10 degrees warmer than outside. And dont draw as much as heat lamps which I nevwr recommend no matter how cold.
Stop the draft and feed fatty seeds and corn kernels to help keep them warm. Make sure you have plently of clean water for them to drink. My birds drink a tremendous amount during the winter opposed to the summer. Good luck

Thank you!

 

[Themellowyellows]

Give her something more appealing. Mashed boiled egg should be irresistible. Ham or unseasoned sausage work as well. She'll appreciate the protein.

My coop is an old brick garage. It’s quite large, so no chance of body warmth heating the place up like a small coop. I use an old space heater (no exposed parts) in the winter to keep it several degrees above freezing. They often gather around the heater for warmth and after I let them out for fresh air they run straight to the heater even if it's not plugged in. I have a cable running from the garage to the house, so I plug it in from inside the house. A wireless thermometer with a sensor inside the garage lets me know when plug it in. I try to keep it between 5 to 8C/41 to 47F, so it's above freezing, but not too hot to mess with their natural temp regulation.

Thank you! Mine is just half of a pool house, it is insulated really well, just really hard to get warm.