- Apr 2, 2010
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Those are beautifully colored !!
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My LF survive in the climate here without added heat or even a coop designed to stay above outside temperatures, but they don't truly thrive and certainly don't enjoy themselves in temperature extremes. They are not going to wander far from their shelters when the temperature gets much below freezing or there is snow cover unless they have to, and do need some extra care under those conditions compared to some other breeds. [My juveniles do have a heat lamp and 1/2 of their pen is covered in clear plastic to keep it slightly above outside temperatures] There are some heritage breeds better suited for the temperature extremes we have here [occasional short periods from +100F with high humidity to others at -20F], but I prefer Cornish and they can adapt with a little effort on my part to help them through. I'm sure you're correct in that they need a little more pampering during your winters up there just to survive.To heat or not to heat?...that is the question.
We get temperatures below -30 Celsius. At that temperature when you breathe in through your nose, the hairs in your nostrils freeze together. Single combed birds have their combs completely frozen, turn black and fall off. If you do not provide heated water or the birds stand on metal, their feet freeze as solid as an icicle. When they thaw the feet turn black and fall off. When the chickens breathe, frost from the moisture in their breath condenses and freezes on their feathers around their faces. They look like they have frozen beards. I go into the barn with my blow drier and thaw and dry the silkie and Houdan poofs. They have frozen spikes from dipping them in water. Outside the barn their feet freeze to the ground if they are wet.
I don't provide light until I need eggs. Today they sun came up around 8:00 and went down around 5:00. Egg production and breeding is almost at a standstill. However, I do give a heat lamp to birds so they can warm themselves when needed.
You'll find LOTS of threads about cornish cross meat birds here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/21/meat-birds-etcCan't seem to find the Cornish Cross thread, and was thinking about getting some cheap from Schlect's hatchery. The only way I could have them is if the free ranged with limited access to feed.