Cold Weather Coming (Texas)... Precautions?

[GreyhoundGuy]

Hi all. Not sure if this is the right place to post this. I'll post something in the Texas thread as well.

We live in Texas, and our winter weather is usually pretty mild. BUT we have a string of cold days coming and wanted to check in for advice to make sure our five gals stay okay during the cold.

The low tonight will be hovering around 39 degrees, nothing terrible. But over the course of the next few days, the temps will stay colder than normal:
* Sunday: hi 41 / low 22
* Monday: hi 32 / low 21
* Tuesday: hi 34 / low 22
* Wednesday: hi 49 / low 27
* Thursday: hi 46 / low 28
* Friday: hi 49 / low 34
* Saturday and Beyond: back to normal

Our coop is pretty small, similar to the one pictured here. We don't have the ventilation window at the top, but the rest is very similar. There's no insulation, heat lamp, or anything like that. Just a basic coop and small run. (The girls free range during the day... not sure if they'll want to get out in this cold, though.)

What advice do you have to help keep our flock safe? We're new to chickens in general (since last May), and we're not quite sure what to do to protect them from the temps. Definitely willing to get a heat lamp or other items to keep them safe.

Thanks in advance for your help!

-Joel

 

[Welshies]

They will want to be out. It is -33° here. My chickens love going out even in -4°F.
Provide extra bedding, lots of feed (give them corn if you can, it can help generate body heat), and apply vaseline or coconut oil to combs and wattles. Keep ventilation open, they'll need it. If they are cold, giving them warm oatmeal in the morning gets them going.

 

[aart]

You don't need heat, but ventilation is very important.
Adding a vent high in wall up under run roof would help,
and be protected from most winds.
How many birds in there?

Steaming food in freezing weather, not a great idea,
condensation on comb and wattles....combo for frostbite.

 

[texsuze]

Attach (heavy duty staple gun) either clear plastic shower curtains, or thick clear plastic sheeting (home improvement store) all around the exterior of the run as a wind break. Leave some type of gap or opening for a bit of ventilation. Transparent will allow sunlight (remember sun?) to get through (I'm west of Fredericksburg )

Add extra bedding (shavings, hay) inside the coop.

Not a fan of oatmeal, since, even when soaked, it continues to absorb water, apparently from the chickens' intestinal tract, which isn't healthy. I don't have the actual scientific references to this, but just sayin'.

Don't install heat lamps in such a small coop-dangerous and unnecessary. Depending upon number of chickens you have, they are a combined source of body heat when roosting together.

 

[AllenK RGV]

x2 cracked corn=chicken heater, and provide a wind break, don't think you need to worry about frostbite if they can free range they will find their own windbreak. Keep the water defrosted. @texsuze what sun I haven't seen it for over a week now?

 

[GreyhoundGuy]

Thanks to all. I picked up some cracked corn for them to nibble on and generate some energy. I also put up a wind break (aka old tarp and old exercise mats) around the bottom of the run, as well as along a small run we have to a second coop. I also added a LOT of pine shavings to the nesting box area.

When they went into the coop for the night, I peeked in and saw them (four of the five) together in the nesting material. Beatrice (the biggest of the five) was enjoying her space on the roosting bar.

Thanks again to everyone for your help!

-Joel