Cold hen!

[shannon84]

One of my new Hampshire red hens stays chilly (I only have two hens red Hampshire) it's been in the low to mid teens lately but my buff Orpington roo and the other hen don't act cold as she does? So what the deal? She is more petite then the other hen... Drafts are blocked and they have pine and straw shavings. Plus they get scratch grain and black oil sunflower seeds before bed and in the morning! Thanks guys!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some chickens are affected more by colder weather. They will hunch up and look cold for a week or two before they get used to the new temperatures and acclimate. Every temperature drop will cause them to act cold again. All get used to it unless there's something wrong with them. I would expect her to be feeling better in the next week or so unless your temperatures continue to drop like ours are doing. Eventually they will be acting normal again.

 

[shannon84]

Some chickens are affected more by colder weather. They will hunch up and look cold for a week or two before they get used to the new temperatures and acclimate. Every temperature drop will cause them to act cold again. All get used to it unless there's something wrong with them. I would expect her to be feeling better in the next week or so unless your temperatures continue to drop like ours are doing. Eventually they will be acting normal again.

okay that's good to know! Well here in Indiana the weather has been in the teens and twenties and Saturday it's going to be 64 degrees then back way down. I just felt do bad for her holding one foot up and shaking it

she's a heathy hen, so I'm sure she'll hopefully get used to it. The weather is being difficult right now

thank you so much!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We have recently dropped into the single digit temperatures with below zero wind chills. A bunch of my girls are still getting used to it too. Shivering provides heat and holding up legs warms them. I always feel guilty in my warm house too, but nature provides them with a thick down coat that thickens based on exterior temperatures similar to me adding more clothes as it gets colder. They might even get too warm when it warms up for you. I would enjoy being in the 60's again.

 

[chickens really]

What do you feed....Healthy Birds do not get sick.......



Cheers!

 

[shannon84]

What do you feed....Healthy Birds do not get sick.......Oh she's not sick she was cold, it finally got above freezing here and now she's happy and singing lol. I just didn't understand why she was colder acting then the other birds. I'm still new at this chicken thing. Right now I'm feeding them meat bird food. I honestly don't know why I chose that, but next time I will get all flock maybe? It used to be laying feed then I found out that's not good for the roosters kidneys. So I'm still up for suggestions on the feed. They do get alot of treats like scratch grains, black oil sunflower seeds and happy hen treat blocks.



Cheers!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have fed meat bird to my chickens. So use it up than choose an All Flock ration if you can find one. Glad to hear she's feeling better.

 

[chickens really]

Quote: This is how I feed........50/50 grower and layer.....grit and oyster shell........

My Rooster is fine with that mix......Once a week a treat......Snacks/treats/scraps ruin the balance of the nutrition Chickens need to live and thrive.......1 tablespoon a week.......per Bird....


Cheers!

 

[shannon84]

This is how I feed........50/50 grower and layer.....grit and oyster shell........

My Rooster is fine with that mix......Once a week a treat......Snacks/treats/scraps ruin the balance of the nutrition Chickens need to live and thrive.......1 tablespoon a week.......per Bird....


Cheers!

oh crap well I definitely been giving them way too much then

oh OK I did half and half one time and I got freaked out, I just love that rooster so much , he is the reason I got chickens because he was a stray that showed up

thank you so much for the info!!!

 

[shannon84]

I have fed meat bird to my chickens. So use it up than choose an All Flock ration if you can find one. Glad to hear she's feeling better.

thanks!! I'm so glad she is too, she's my good layer and my sweetest hen

I'm glad to know my thinking on the feed part was okay then