Extreme temp drop. Am i prepared?

[Lilion]

I know its been asked a thousand times, but i want to make sure I've done what I can. It's going to drop into single digits and negatives for a couple days at the end of this week. Right now it's from the 20s to 30s. I had a roof leak in the coop, which I think we've fixed. The litter is damp at the floor, but dry on top. I simply don't have time to shovel it out before the weekend. I plan to add a lot of hay and pine shavings on top tomorrow. I'm getting some type of heated waterer. I'm adding hay in the run too, since right now it's basically dirt. The window doesn't close, but the roosts are off to the side and not in front.

The coop itself is part of a big, uninsulated, metal shed. I'm good with ventilation. I can't really do anything for heat. I'm going to have to run 150 feet of extension cord for the water, or just run some out several times a day.

They'll be okay with this prep, right? And should I let them go out into the run?

 

[Raptor Chicken]

Your hens look young, that would maybe be my only concern. They look well feathered.

Chickens are hearty and can handle brutal cold well so long as they have a enclosure to stay where there is no breeze or draft, and adequately ventilated.

Our hens are more mature but are getting a taste of their first winter, which is usually fairly mild in VA. They've been dealing with teens at night and its possible we could see single digits within the next week.

But thats really not that cold for chickens. We have members that have had their flock do just fine in -40 with no supplemental heat.

 

[DickMidnight]

seems like you’re doing about all you can.

i’m confused though. if you can go out and add more bedding to the coop and the run and put a heated waterer out there before the weekend, why don’t you have time to shovel out the damp bedding?

id get anything damp out before it freezes, then put a ton of dry bedding in

id also stuff some furnace filter material in that window to block any winds that might come through, but still allow airflow to get out.

 

[gimmie birdies]

We are going to have a high of 3 tomorrow I think. I have snow covering the coop, and out door areas, are sheltered. I button up the coop at night.

 

[Ridgeback825]

My spoiled bunch is getting adjusted to their first 30s here in Florida.

 

[Lilion]

i’m confused though. if you can go out and add more bedding to the coop and the run and put a heated waterer out there before the weekend, why don’t you have time to shovel out the damp bedding?

It takes about 15 minutes to dump and spread bedding. It's a 7' x 7' coop...I would have to shovel out several inches of dry and damp into a wheel barrow, which I'd then have to take out and dump. Itll take several trips. Then put in all fresh bedding. It's going to take a couple hours for sure. I have a full time job, appointments, and other things to do.

Honestly...if you folks were telling me they'd die without it, I guess I'd do it at night or take vacation... but it's going to be back in The 50s in the next 10 days and I'm on vacation then, so I have all day.

 

[jreardon1918]

It takes about 15 minutes to dump and spread bedding. It's a 7' x 7' coop...I would have to shovel out several inches of dry and damp into a wheel barrow, which I'd then have to take out and dump. Itll take several trips. Then put in all fresh bedding. It's going to take a couple hours for sure. I have a full time job, appointments, and other things to do.

Honestly...if you folks were telling me they'd die without it, I guess I'd do it at night or take vacation... but it's going to be back in The 50s in the next 10 days and I'm on vacation then, so I have all day.

You have already addressed the leak. Keep an eye on the now repaired leak. When you get a chance, maybe on one of those 50 degree days, do a clean out. That will get rid of the wet bedding underneath. The newly added bedding should absorb the moisture and allow your coop to keep the humidity levels equal to the outdoors. The cold without humidity should not be a problem. We keep our windows and pop door open year round. If wind can blow on the girls. If that is the case in your coop, diverting the wind with furnace filters or even cardboard, is also something to consider. I would not "Button up" the coop.

 

[Lilion]

You have already addressed the leak. Keep an eye on the now repaired leak. When you get a chance, maybe on one of those 50 degree days, do a clean out. That will get rid of the wet bedding underneath. The newly added bedding should absorb the moisture and allow your coop to keep the humidity levels equal to the outdoors. The cold without humidity should not be a problem. We keep our windows and pop door open year round. If wind can blow on the girls. If that is the case in your coop, diverting the wind with furnace filters or even cardboard, is also something to consider. I would not "Button up" the coop.

While the top roost is at window height, it's in the back corner. I don't think wind can really get there unless it swirls around. I might block the bottom half to be sure. I usually open the walk-in shed door for more light and air, but I'll keep it closed since a breeze thru there would reach the roosts.

 

[DickMidnight]

It's going to take a couple hours for sure.

man, that must be some REALLY heavy bedding.

it takes about 3 minutes to shovel all of my coop bedding out into the run.

 

[Lilion]

man, that must be some REALLY heavy bedding.

it takes about 3 minutes to shovel all of my coop bedding out into the run.

I suspect you're in way better shape than me.

Plus, I literally have to shovel it from the coop into the wheelbarrow. Then take it one wheelbarrow load at a time to the compost pile on the other side of the shed. You can't get directly from the coop to run unless you're a chicken. I've never done it before, but I don't see this being a quick job.