Extreme Cold Warning

[BunnyChickenMomma]

If you have a small flock, get a nylon puppy pen and bring them inside. Put a tarp under the pen and used pine shavings in the pen. Larger flocks may do well in such extreme weather because the bodies do produce heat, and the flock can huddle together to keep warm. Keep extra water in the house (I use gallon jugs) to carry water to your flock. Remember to maintain ventilation as it is necessary to keep the air moving to prevent condensation from building up in the coop. Keep your chickens well fed and some Rooster Booster in the feed will provide extra calories needed to maintain body temp.

Thank you! I am worried about reacclimating them to the cold if I bring them inside. The warmest it will get this next week is 15F. Will the shock of the cold after being inside be dangerous?

 

[Doris29]

Thank you! I am worried about reacclimating them to the cold if I bring them inside. The warmest it will get this next week is 15F. Will the shock of the cold after being inside be dangerous?

Exactly my thinking, but it’s so tempting.
I put mine in the coop already. The wind is brutal but the house is blocking the wind at least. I covered the walls that have gaps and they have a good 6 inches of bedding. It’s as cozy as it can be without heat. I kind of feel like they’re more cozy in the coop than they’d be in the garage. They’re pretty cramped… I’m not sure how the coop is supposed to hold 6-8 lol. But they’d be cramped in the garage too. hopefully that means they’ll stay warmer.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Same situation. The forecast is -35 ambient temp and wind chills -50. I have a floating roof on the winter coop- lots of ventilation.
The run is deep litter, southern exposure. I tossed in 1/2 bale of fresh straw- they’ll get moving and kick it around to generate body heat for themselves.
Just today one girl broke a pin feather and had to get a bath and blow dry. I hate taking her in but I’m keeping her inside- she bled a fair amount- doesn’t need cold stress and bullying on top of a volume loss state. The others have radiant heater in the coop and look to be packed tight on the roosts. Guess they can tolerate each other when it’s this cold.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Our weather is not that cold, but I was brooding halloween chicks in the coop, where the other hens could not get to the lamp or the other chicks (fixed lamp.) But, the chicks grew up and are in the big section with the adult hens the lamp is still in a separate area.

 

[theoldchick]

Thank you! I am worried about reacclimating them to the cold if I bring them inside. The warmest it will get this next week is 15F. Will the shock of the cold after being inside be dangerous?

I'd leave them in until the temps are warmer.

 

[BunnyChickenMomma]

Well, I'm happy to say they all made it through the night just fine in the coop! Not only that: this morning they went out into their covered run when the automatic door opened. I went outside to close the door and keep them in the coop, but they beat me. They are all in the run on roosts. We have it enclosed with tarps so it blocks most of the wind, but the run is not draft free (like the coop). I figure if they want to be outside, just let them? We're going to keep a close eye on them today, but I guess these girls are tougher than I thought! Thank goodness!!! How are everyone else's chickens?

 

[Doris29]

Well, I'm happy to say they all made it through the night just fine in the coop! Not only that: this morning they went out into their covered run when the automatic door opened. I went outside to close the door and keep them in the coop, but they beat me. They are all in the run on roosts. We have it enclosed with tarps so it blocks most of the wind, but the run is not draft free (like the coop). I figure if they want to be outside, just let them? We're going to keep a close eye on them today, but I guess these girls are tougher than I thought! Thank goodness!!! How are everyone else's chickens?

Yay!!! Such a relief!!

Totally fine! I don’t have an automatic door, yet, so they’re still in the coop. The One side of the run that’s against the fence isn’t covered in plastic and of course the wind is blowing from that direction now and that would blow straight into the coop if it were open. The Fence helps a lot but it enough this morning!

 

[RoyalChick]

Well, I'm happy to say they all made it through the night just fine in the coop! Not only that: this morning they went out into their covered run when the automatic door opened. I went outside to close the door and keep them in the coop, but they beat me. They are all in the run on roosts. We have it enclosed with tarps so it blocks most of the wind, but the run is not draft free (like the coop). I figure if they want to be outside, just let them? We're going to keep a close eye on them today, but I guess these girls are tougher than I thought! Thank goodness!!! How are everyone else's chickens?

Glad to hear! How cold did it get?

 

[BunnyChickenMomma]

Glad to hear! How cold did it get?

Just about -40 with the wind chill. Ambient temperature was around -18.