Kimjohnson
In the Brooder
- Dec 25, 2017
- 5
- 0
- 10
what would be the best feed to feed chickens when the weather is getting to be -20 to -30 through out the night
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If your daylight hours are less than 8 hours a day (because of coop design, cloud cover, or latitude) AND temps stay below -10 F or so for extended periods. It is horrendously difficult for poultry to maintain their weight. They simply do not have enough hours in the say to eat. Eating = warmthI don't know about the whole daylight hours thing... I don't supplement light, it's a personal choice.
I was wondering why the suggestion of TEN hours, since that isn't what I usually see. Although your first post said that same thing, I guess it didn't process all the way through my brain, regarding feeding time.If your daylight hours are less than 8 hours a day (because of coop design, cloud cover, or latitude) AND temps stay below -10 F or so for extended periods. It is horrendously difficult for poultry to maintain their weight. They simply do not have enough hours in the say to eat. Eating = warmth
If you supplement light to 10 hours, you will not be stimulating them to lay, but you will be giving them enough time to eat so they have enough calories to thrive even at extended low temps.
Giving them 12 or more hours of light for them to lay. ... well... that us a different thing all together.
As to Vaseline on combs ... maybe that works at temps right close to freezing. .. or if your chickens have poor comb condition maybe (like chapped lips )
My temps don't get cold enough to try vaseline, but many people swear by it and lots of threads discuss it including some of the science (I'm the one who called crap on it too).