Frost Bite on tips of comb

[Wyorp Rock]

That looks good.

I've have seen these designs, I'm just curious about this - do you notice any frost or does the tarp drip moisture during the day?

 

[Engine823]

That looks good.

I've have seen these designs, I'm just curious about this - do you notice any frost or does the tarp drip moisture during the day?

I've never seen moisture on the inside of the tarp. Some moisture where snow as blown in the vents on the ground but not the underneath of the tarp or plastic

 

[Engine823]

I've never seen moisture on the inside of the tarp. Some moisture where snow as blown in the vents on the ground but not the underneath of the tarp or plastic

With exception of directly under the vents were rain or snow can blow in the ground in the coop stays very dry and even somewhat dusty

 

[Wyorp Rock]

That's good to know! I have a fairly large wood coop, but am always looking at options for expansion - IF I can talk the Hubs into it.

That's down the road, but it doesn't hurt to plot, err, I mean plan for the future

 

[Engine823]

That's good to know! I have a fairly large wood coop, but am always looking at options for expansion - IF I can talk the Hubs into it.

That's down the road, but it doesn't hurt to plot, err, I mean plan for the future

If you are meaning you may consider a hoop coop it is super easy to build. I built it in a day.
Knowing our weather and seeing the actual coop do you believe they will be okay in it at 0 degrees?
I will get pics of my hens comb tomorrow

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If you are meaning you may consider a hoop coop it is super easy to build. I built it in a day.
Knowing our weather and seeing the actual coop do you believe they will be okay in it at 0 degrees?
I will get pics of my hens comb tomorrow

I honestly can't say. I do know that a lot of people use dome style housing living further north, but they do have to deal with some frostbite.

 

[Engine823]

I honestly can't say. I do know that a lot of people use dome style housing living further north, but they do have to deal with some frostbite.

I love my hens and worry about them. I may have to totally revamp my coop in the spring. I pray they will be okay!

 

[debandchicks]

Okay we have had multiple days were temps have ran around 0 degrees. I have put vasoline on my hens combs but I have one who has some tips on her comb black and swollen. I continue to put vasoline on it. I clean their coop daily and remove manure. It is well ventilated at the top on the front and back. Even still I have some frost bite issues. The one that is the worst obviously has a fairly large comb.
It is supposed to drop below 0 tonight and I was going to add a heat lamp to help. ( I know they say this isn't needed and normally I wouldn't but I feel this is extreme and don't want the frost bite to worsen ). As soon as I plugged the heat lamp in the bulb blew. It was an old light and had not been used in years. I have no other bulb.
Now what? Would a regular bulb surfice and would the bright lite bother them if I were to use a 100 watt bulb?
Its supposed to start warming up some after tomorrow. What do you all think??
These are my pets not farm animals

 

[debandchicks]

This is probably one of my favorite topics. Stop with the hazardous heat lamps! There are two excellent and not too pricey items you can give your poor chickens in these very cold conditions: One is a heat panel plugged into a cube and thermostatically controlled between 35 and 45, and the other is the chicken therm-o-pads sold all over the internet (40-watt) for wall mount or floor. Both are ultra safe, and the later will even keep your bowl of water from freezing if you want to keep it inside the coop. I have 6 coops. I have the panels and the pads in all of them. LOVE THEM. So do my pet chickens/ducks. For those of you who think your chickens do not prefer warmth, I have proven they do prefer warmth over and over again. I've heard people say, "what if the electric goes out, or what if they get used to it and then do not have it". What if...what if. So get a back up generator. I did. There is always something you can do. If your birds are pets, then treat them as such. My ducks will stay outside in their windproof chain-link pens, and swim in their pools that I wouldn't think of putting my toe in, but when the temps go down in the teens, they march right up the ramp and into their coop, because they love the warmth of the coop.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

How is a person going to address ventilation or other coop issues when it's dark out?

Well I couldn't stand it. I found a 75 watt bulb, which was a challenge on my mostly off grid mini farm. I couldn't find anything stronger. I put it about two feet above them in the heat lamp reflector. I can feel some heat from it with my hand down at their level so they surely can feel it.
They seem awake now that I put a light over them but they are staying under it.
0 degrees and still dropping. Hope they will fall back asleep soon even with the light

It doesn't hurt to err on the side of caution. That's what I would have done.