Extreme Cold - Eating and Drinking

[vantain]

Going to just start a new thread here, as this relates now to more food and drink.

Outside temperatures are up to -21F, and my chickens are all just sitting around doing nothing. I'm concerned that they are not eating. I did give them a warm mash this morning, which had their regular layer feed in it, plus oats and some grains. They gobbled that up, then just sat on roosts, staying warm I'm guessing.

Of the four, one is just hanging out in the coop by herself, but also just sitting on the roost quietly. Their water is not froze, and available to them, but no one has used it yet this morning. Is this normal behavior in the extreme cold? Just curious really.

I have seen a few jump down from the outdoor roost and scratch a bit, then go back to the roost.

Maybe, because the food was a wet mash, they got enough fluids from that this morning? I don't know. This is my first year, and first winter with chickens, so I'm still learning what is normal and not. Thanks.

 

[centrarchid]

Mine hunker down when it gets really cold. They have to invest a lot of energy in staying warm, regardless as to whether fed or not. When it gets really cold they must divert energy from growth / egg production to staying warm which negatively impacts both of those processes. Prior to that extreme, the birds begin to engage in behaviors that reduce need for heat production. That means fluffing up feathers and getting into locations that sap less body heat from the birds. They loose heat from exposed skin and eyes, especially the latter with evaporation. Feet also loose heat that is conducted away by cold surfaces they are standing on. They can also move to locations with less wind but more sun.

 

[vantain]

Ok..that makes me feel better. They are all behaving similarly really, just the one who decided to stay in the coop. Maybe the cold is bothering her a little more, and she's the only sensible one who understands that the coop is actually warmer than the run. She is the fighter....

I did get two eggs today, which surprised me. These birds are troopers. One more cold night...just one more.....

 

[vantain]

...and..right after posting, one of the others came in and has now joined her on the indoor roost....

 

[centrarchid]

They may have to do a little trial and error to find warm spots. Sometimes out in full sun is not the warmest location. I had to rotate out with wife owing to school closing to care for kids. Penned hens were released early and they promptly went about find warm locations. Most drifted a short distance into south side of bamboo patch where they are protected from wind, yet in sun and over dry vegetation. Several opted to lay down.

 

[aart]

Mine eat and drink less when it's really cold too.
They also are much less active.

I've started soaking rolled oats in a Sav-A-Chick electrolyte/vitamin solution.
Gives them a boost and gets them hydrated.
1/8 teaspoon to 1 cup of warm water, mix until dissolved.
Add solution to 1 cup of rolled oats, stir well on occasion until all liquid is absorbed, might need to add more oats. Takes an hour or two, then give it to the birds.

Have done this every other day during this last polar vortex, and I believe it's really helped them, they all stayed mobile. Gives me a good chance to assess mobility, any bird that doesn't go for the oats gets watched very carefully and may be brought to a warmer place for a couple hours to 'reset'.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Mine eat and drink less when it's really cold too.
They also are much less active.

I've started soaking rolled oats in a Sav-A-Chick electrolyte/vitamin solution.
Gives them a boost and gets them hydrated.
1/8 teaspoon to 1 cup of warm water, mix until dissolved.
Add solution to 1 cup of rolled oats, stir well on occasion until all liquid is absorbed, might need to add more oats. Takes an hour or two, then give it to the birds.

Have done this every other day during this last polar vortex, and I believe it's really helped them, they all stayed mobile. Gives me a good chance to assess mobility, any bird that doesn't go for the oats gets watched very carefully and may be brought to a warmer place for a couple hours to 'reset'.