Cold Temps ??

[Jessezgirl96]

Hil...
I’m in Ohio - a winter storm / severe temps are coming...it’s our 1st winter with chickens // we decided to not use any form of electric heat. it’s calling for - 25 degrees possibly WITH wind chill. So far so good otherwise - my girls seem happy they are still laying- the coldest so far has been -9 with wind chill... thoughts and suggestions??
Thanks

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Grit your teeth and get through it. They will be fine. Thicken up the bedding and probably leave them inside for a few days.

 

[Mrs. K]

keep them dry, and provide the shelter from the wind. Mine have done just fine with -35 actual temperature.

BEWARE of the idea of trapping heat, by closing up the coop tight. I did that when I first started, not good. What you trap is moisture, and moisture makes for damp chickens, and damp chickens are cold chickens.

Mrs K

 

[chicksofclaridon]

Hil...
I’m in Ohio - a winter storm / severe temps are coming...it’s our 1st winter with chickens // we decided to not use any form of electric heat. it’s calling for - 25 degrees possibly WITH wind chill. So far so good otherwise - my girls seem happy they are still laying- the coldest so far has been -9 with wind chill... thoughts and suggestions??
Thanks

I am in Ohio too! Also first time chicken mom and worried about the cold. I got their coop insulated this weekend and I plan to throw down a bunch of extra straw inside and out, and tarp the rest of the run (the back and end have been tarped off but I think for this cold I am going to tarp the front, maybe leave just a little crack for some ventilation) today. I also have a little panel heater I will hang up this afternoon in the coop. Hoping that gets them through somewhat comfortably!

 

[aart]

Grit your teeth and get through it.

Indeed.
My jaws are aching, well not really, but still...and this is my 5th winter.
The first winter is the worst, fear of the unknown.

 

[fldiver97]

Remember chickens come with their own ‘down coats ‘..... my first winter with chickens in Wisconsin was nerve racking, despite reading about it here it was scary. Providing deep bedding, a draft free coop with sufficient ventilation (you don’t want to see ice crystals on the inside walls or windows) are important. I don’t like the use of heat lamps. I keep water in the run (run is fully roofed, hardware cloth is covered in clear plastic with a few inches around top open. The run stays dry and blocked from wind. The girls have been out in the run every day, most days they will go out in the yard, their choice. The next 2-3 days I will keep them confined to coop and run. If you feel you must add heat, consider a heating panel

 

[Joryem]

Super worried here in Wisconsin! First winter with 4 Golden Comets, 2 Barred Rock, and 2 Pekin ducks. Mine are in an old livestock barn that is made of cinder block. It’s on a slab and my husband repaired the roof this past summer. The coop is about a quarter of the barn. The coop itself is about 20 x 9. We put canvas tarp around about all but 5 feet of the inside walls. There is about 12 inches of pine shavings and hay. We try to keep them busy with vegetable filled suet feeders hanging from the ceiling and full run of the barn several times a day. Last time I checked at 2 this afternoon it was still 11 degrees in the barn.

My fear is my birds are going bald! I’ve had one that has always been nervous and I’m sure pecks herself AND is bottom of the pecking order. But now I’m sure boredom has taking hold of the rest of them as only one chicken is fully feathered. My ducks are bullies too. Ugh! We have been using bag balm on the bare spots. I don’t know what else to do. I know I need to give them more outside time. It’s just hard because I leave for work when the sun is barely out and come home right before they roost. I’m home for the snow and cold this week (I’m a teacher).

Praying all our birdies survive this cold spell.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Super worried here in Wisconsin! First winter with 4 Golden Comets, 2 Barred Rock, and 2 Pekin ducks. Mine are in an old livestock barn that is made of cinder block. It’s on a slab and my husband repaired the roof this past summer. The coop is about a quarter of the barn. The coop itself is about 20 x 9. We put canvas tarp around about all but 5 feet of the inside walls. There is about 12 inches of pine shavings and hay. We try to keep them busy with vegetable filled suet feeders hanging from the ceiling and full run of the barn several times a day. Last time I checked at 2 this afternoon it was still 11 degrees in the barn.

My fear is my birds are going bald! I’ve had one that has always been nervous and I’m sure pecks herself AND is bottom of the pecking order. But now I’m sure boredom has taking hold of the rest of them as only one chicken is fully feathered. My ducks are bullies too. Ugh! We have been using bag balm on the bare spots. I don’t know what else to do. I know I need to give them more outside time. It’s just hard because I leave for work when the sun is barely out and come home right before they roost. I’m home for the snow and cold this week (I’m a teacher).

Praying all our birdies survive this cold spell.

What are you feeding them? They may require more protein. A protein deficiency is another reason for feather picking. Generally the birds will consume the feathers as well.

 

[aart]

What are you feeding them? They may require more protein. A protein deficiency is another reason for feather picking. Generally the birds will consume the feathers as well.

Give 'em some animal protein...chicken are omnivores, not sure about ducks.

 

[Joryem]

Yes. They get a good handful of meal worms during the day every day. They had scrambled eggs earlier this week. And we just picked up the feather repair high protein feed a couple days ago. We’ve been giving scratch before they roost to help produce heat.

It was one thing when it was just one bird. Ugh.

Everyone is alive this morning. Fingers crossed.