Freaking out about Chicago record breaking cold

[Chickenfoundme]

My 3 yr old chickens are in a coop. It’s -25 actual temperature outside now and I have a heat lamp in the coop for my 4 chickens (Barnivelder,Orpington, and Cocomorans). The coop is decent plywood construction and dry. With the heat lamp it is holding at just 3 degrees inside. They have heated water and food and shavings on the ground. Should I put in an additional heat source(if I can find one) or should they be able to weather these extreme conditions until it breaks in another day or so?
Thanks!

 

[Melky]

They might be able to weather it out as long as above zero in the coop. I lock mine in the coop at night now due to single digits with K and H heating pad heater on wall as fireproof. The heater is on 24/7. They have access all day to it. We are sinking below zero to -1 without windchill. Mine are holding their own and active. I do a daily check for frostbite. I put food out in warmest part of am with heated waterer. I keep checking water to make sure available. Freezing temps, higher humidity, and dehydration can lead to frostbite. Keep dry, above zero if can, and hydrated. Offer food daily. Make sure eating.

 

[Melky]

My coop is also winterized. I taped plastic over closed windows. I kept top vent open only. Put curtains on inside over windows to protect against drafts. I put straw inside coop and run to keep feet off frozen ground as straw is warmer in winter. I also tarped with snow proof tarp over coop/run. I take fresh water out throughout day if notice it freezing up.

 

[Melky]

Humidity builds from breathing and manure and moisture will sit on top of chickens wattles, combs, legs, feet, and toes. When cold these are the most at risk due to decreased circulation, lack of feathering, and humidity with freezing temps. Keep everything well ventilated, clean, and dry. Can put Vaseline on birds with large combs and wattles to prevent frostbite as well.

 

[Melky]

Right now my coop is at 12 degrees and 60% humidity. That’s about right. I’m about 0-3 degrees.

 

[Chickenfoundme]

So is the concession so far that they will be fine? Coop is well ventilated, Water is heated. Food is good. but I not have another heat source. Weather breaks in 2 days!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Keep checking on them. Doing what you can to keep water available, moisture down, and food accessible.

We have had temps of -16F here in Colorado. My birds made it with only one getting frostbite. She was a leghorn so big comb.

Hang in there. It's brutal for all you folks in that deep freeze.

 

[Acre4Me]

So is the concession so far that they will be fine? Coop is well ventilated, Water is heated. Food is good. but I not have another heat source. Weather breaks in 2 days!

It sounds good. Wow! -25F!!! We are at -6F right now (wind chill -26F). Yours have food and water, and a warmer than outside coop. Maybe feeding them a “treat” to make sure they are eating and digesting too. Wet chicken feed (mash), or high protein dry cat food (wetted down to make it a bit easier to eat), canned fish, chopped boiled egg/scrambled egg, are all good protein sources, and nutritious treats. Give only what they will eat in 20-30 min, otherwise it will freeze.

Good luck and stay warm!

 

[Melky]

So is the concession so far that they will be fine? Coop is well ventilated, Water is heated. Food is good. but I not have another heat source. Weather breaks in 2 days!

One heat source should be fine! I fed and watered mine at 5-6 am here since temp higher at that time 4-6 degrees. They went back in coop on own as winds here are 19 mph. My chicks do not like the wind. I have one heat source the K and H pad. They are doing fine. I closed them in till weather warms up a bit later in the day. With windchill I'm at -18. Stay warm. Remember the vaseline trick on large combs and wattles to protect against frostbite.

 

[JDN]

How warm is it "directly" under the heat lamp as close as they can get to it? That's worth considering too.