Cold Snap -11ºF

[Hokum Coco]

Been going through a cold snap the last 3 or 4 days -11ºF. My chickens are doing fine in this metal coop. My egg production is way down 1 maybe 2 eggs a day from 10 hens. They are on their 4 trip around the sun.

No heat no light no problems. I feed extra corn.


I leave this left hand door open on days above 0 or 32ºF (inside door has hardware cloth)

 

[theoldchick]

Where's the snow? At minus eleven I expected to see snow!

What kind of chickens do you have? There are certain breeds who are cold-tolerant.

 

[Hokum Coco]

@ OLdChick You would be a good policeman as you pay attention to detail. That picture was taken in the spring (I am not sure what year). I will try and take a new one just for you OldChick.

I have Golden Comets and a Delaware rooster. I feed extra corn.



I know still no snow LOL.

 

[Hokum Coco]

Things will get a fresh coat of paint and another coat of whitewash in the spring.

 

[ten chicks]

I will be loosing one of my hens today. She is looking dopy and frail the rest of the girls are vocal and vibrant. I would have did her in awhile ago when I was checking for eggs but no hatchet was where it is supposed to be. She will not see 5 trips around the sun she will only have 4.

It has warmed up considerably 10ºF. It is overcast now and it feels like we may get snow. A few of the girls are out in the yard free ranging.

The issue with your hen,is it medical? Checked her for impacted crop,egg bound is a long shot due to her age,but still a possibility. Unfortunately hens over the age of 4 have a 50% increase in developing ovarian cancer.

 

[Hokum Coco]

No Eggs PERIOD.
Started snowing which means warmer temperatures ahead.

 

[ten chicks]

I found my hatchet in my hunting backpack (right where I had it last).
I did not have to do the hen in. She was gone on my next trip out to the coop.
She had stop laying complete for almost 4 months now I am guessing she was egg bound or ovarian cancer like Tenchicks suggested. It was not a predator and her crop look normal.

I noticed her isolating herself from the rest of the flock lately but I did not pick up on her condition. I have not been to attentive lately to the flock where it has been so cold I go out do my chores come back in a check on them at 1100hrs for eggs and call it a day chicken wise. I usually spend all morning in the coop and loft and come in for dinner..

Poor girl. My condolences.

 

[theoldchick]

My chickens have stopped laying a few days ago. They have seen three trips around the sun, and most of them are molting, so they deserve a break.

So, it snows when it gets warmer- sorry that made me chuckle. It was 22 degrees here and I was not chuckling. I have more than 50 trips around the sun and I like my sun on the warm side.

Keeping chickens in frigid weather fascinates me. Those little cluckers seem to adapt to just about any thing.

 

[Randykr]

Been going through a cold snap the last 3 or 4 days -11ºF. My chickens are doing fine in this metal coop. My egg production is way down 1 maybe 2 eggs a day from 10 hens. They are on their 4 trip around the sun.

No heat no light no problems. I feed extra corn.


I leave this left hand door open on days above 0 or 32ºF (inside door has hardware cloth)

"no problem" Really ?... chickens need light and protection from sever cold!
A 4 foot shop light with full spectrum bulbs (Grow bulbs same thing) on for 12 hrs per day, would help a lot, and not very expensive. And a couple of infared bulbs would help keep them warm. You have to consider, the colder it is, the more stress they have... the more stress, the less eggs right? If they aren't producing ANY eggs, they are being stressed to the max... no, they aren't dead, they are still eating, at this point it's called SURVIVAL MODE.... they aren't chickens!! Do you see any eggs? If you consider yourself being that cold. -11F is 40 degrees below freezing water. Its not about,, "they ain't dead yet... must be doing OK" Certain conditions need to be met to limit stress.

IF you don't see eggs there might be a P r o b l e m.

 

[ten chicks]

My chickens have stopped laying a few days ago. They have seen three trips around the sun, and most of them are molting, so they deserve a break.

So, it snows when it gets warmer- sorry that made me chuckle. It was 22 degrees here and I was not chuckling. I have more than 50 trips around the sun and I like my sun on the warm side.

Keeping chickens in frigid weather fascinates me. Those little cluckers seem to adapt to just about any thing.

I give my girls a break in winter also,decreased daylight,decrease in egg production. I have never been concerned about egg production,they are pets.