Connecticut!

[Diadado]

My roosters haven been fighting the cold this winter - they are cream leg bars with larger combs. I didn't think of that when I bought them locally. The breeds I bought originally have small combs and have been fine.

Susan

 

[wantedman66]

I've had a few cracked eggs this year too been trying to collect them more often,luckily my 4 roosters haven't been affected by the cold they seem to be holing up pretty good considering that they all are big combed.

 

[Apdeb]

I would def vaseline or bag balm them every 3 days if 32 or below better safe than sorry
Frostbite no joke many birds got it in mass
I dodged a bullet his comb was slightly purple it had just started luckily i brought him in basement and it cleared up he has been back out in coop w bag balm so far so good dont forget waddles even the chicken chick here in ct's roo had frostbite!!! And she has an immaculate setup!!! My buckeyes and brahmas rosecombs no issues

 

[wantedman66]

I would def vaseline or bag balm them every 3 days if 32 or below better safe than sorry
Frostbite no joke many birds got it in mass
I dodged a bullet his comb was slightly purple it had just started luckily i brought him in basement and it cleared up he has been back out in coop w bag balm so far so good dont forget waddles even the chicken chick here in ct's roo had frostbite!!! And she has an immaculate setup!!! My buckeyes and brahmas rosecombs no issues

You are right I probably should put some on mine especially after what there predicting for this week below zero temps and winds 20-30mph not too mention latest snow accumilations of 10-14".

 

[Apdeb]

Update on the bag balm it is working

 

[nab58]

It broke down and put a heat lamp in my coop after reading the post about frostbite resulting in chickens feet falling off (Manitoba, -40f).

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/842760/frost-bitten-feet#post_12573555

 

[Diadado]

It broke down and put a heat lamp in my coop after reading the post about frostbite resulting in chickens feet falling off (Manitoba, -40f).

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/842760/frost-bitten-feet#post_12573555

There was also a recent story in CT about a coop going up in flames because of a heater :-(

I'd never use a clamp-on light in a coop - have had the chickens knock the lights securely attached to the ceiling (the outer covering has come off). Not sure what you are using. I was watching an Alaska "homesteading" show the other night and they had chickens on farms with no electricity so we should be able to survive here in CT.

Susan

 

[SunAndDirt]

So, this is either a horrible idea or a great one, I can't tell yet.
My coop is a slant-roof design with an eave of sorts (somewhat of a wind/weather buffer) hanging about a foot past a coop-long, hardware clothed air vent. I am worried about the gusting winds and negative temps we are supposed to be getting tonight, so I came up with an idea. I loosely stuffed the leg of a panty hose with hay and tied it up in front of the hardware cloth, under the eave, over the portion of the coop near the roost. About 1/3-1/2 of the vent is covered.
The thought process was that air can still be exchanged, but it will add some extra buffer from the winds.

Then I smeared some goo on their heads, gave the poop board a sift and wished them all a good night!
Here's the unfocused iPhone photo for your amusement.

I sure did look odd running into Stop and Shop at 5pm to buy panty hose and a Starbucks tonight, with lines to both ends of the store of people trying to buy storm provisions!

 

[Diadado]

So on the topic of frostbite - what options are there if they get frostbite on their combs? I read if it turns black it needs to be surgically removed since it's gangrene. I don't know if any vets in CT do that?

 

[wantedman66]

There was also a recent story in CT about a coop going up in flames because of a heater :-(    

I'd never use a clamp-on light in a coop - have had the chickens knock the lights securely attached to the ceiling (the outer covering has come off).  Not sure what you are using.  I was watching an Alaska "homesteading" show the other night and they had chickens on farms with no electricity so we should be able to survive here in CT. 

Susan

Agree 100% we are in ct not Alaska or Canada if chickens survive there they will be fine here with the proper precautions.