Hi everyone,
This is my first winter with Chickens.. I have 7; (5) 6MONTH Orpingtons who haven't started laying, (1) 1.5YR Jersey Jiant and (1) 2YRWhite Leghorn. We have a 20 x 12 run and a raised 4l x 3w x 3.5h coop equiped with 2 nest boxes, a roost running diagonally (which they all fit comfortably on) and a 200W light for both light & heat, which stays on about 20-hrs per day.
I live in Northern Alberta, so we get snow, sleet, and very cold temps thru the winter... it's supposed to be -20C (-4F) tonight. The coop is a nice temperature with the light on, and I often keep the straw about 6-8" deep for them to bed down in if they so wish. I normally feed them outside (Layer Mash mixed with a bit of warm water or ACV), until last week when we had a cold snap (-15C) and I came home late one evening, around 10PM, to find my littlest Orp, Booger, had her leg stuck in the Mash which had frozen, and two other Orps took it upon themselves to lay on top of her to keep her warm until I could rescue her. Once freed, her and 1 other ran for the coop to get warm. I noticed the third, my favourite of all 7, just sat there.. so I picked her up, and put her in the coop. Since then she hasn't been the same.. she rarely moves, has a very, very poopy bum and if she leaves the coop, she will just sit there with her feathers fluffed up; alone or with the others. If I put her in the coop, she will stay there (but she comes out on her own in the AM when I feed them).
I did notice that since the really cold night when her buddy got stuck, there is a small black spot on one bump of her comb... frostbite?
When it's mild, like it has been the past few days, I do feed them outside still and I have switched them back to Pullet Grower as none of my Orps have layed yet, and my Jersey hasn't laid since late August, and my leghorn hasn't laid since late September. They will all leave the coop to eat just fine, but then often retreat back to the warmth of their coop. I went out today to find Frankenstein (my favourite) perched on the heated water dish by herself.. I picked her up, cuddled her for 5 minutes (she loves to be held and pet - she goes right to sleep) and then put her in the coop. Even in the midst re-bedding, she just sat exactly where I put her.. I decided to change out their breakfast for some Pullet Grower, Wheat, picked some Wild Oats, and warm Milk. I left it in the coop so they don't have to go outside and eat it as the sun's now starting to go down, temperatures are plummeting and coyote's are coming out.. I don't think she weighs more than 3-4 pounds at this point.
Likely on Monday when I have the full day off, I am going to bring her into the house in the AM and bath her, then let her dry thoroughly inside before putting her back out with the others.. I was told to do the pumpkin de-worming (and I did), but I'd much prefer to rule worms out so I am going to pick the proper stuff tomorrow morning and see how that goes..
But that aside, what are your suggestions for additional feed, or things to try to encourage and maintain weight through this harsh climate?
(I should mention, she IS eating and drinking, and no one is picking on her)
This is my first winter with Chickens.. I have 7; (5) 6MONTH Orpingtons who haven't started laying, (1) 1.5YR Jersey Jiant and (1) 2YRWhite Leghorn. We have a 20 x 12 run and a raised 4l x 3w x 3.5h coop equiped with 2 nest boxes, a roost running diagonally (which they all fit comfortably on) and a 200W light for both light & heat, which stays on about 20-hrs per day.
I live in Northern Alberta, so we get snow, sleet, and very cold temps thru the winter... it's supposed to be -20C (-4F) tonight. The coop is a nice temperature with the light on, and I often keep the straw about 6-8" deep for them to bed down in if they so wish. I normally feed them outside (Layer Mash mixed with a bit of warm water or ACV), until last week when we had a cold snap (-15C) and I came home late one evening, around 10PM, to find my littlest Orp, Booger, had her leg stuck in the Mash which had frozen, and two other Orps took it upon themselves to lay on top of her to keep her warm until I could rescue her. Once freed, her and 1 other ran for the coop to get warm. I noticed the third, my favourite of all 7, just sat there.. so I picked her up, and put her in the coop. Since then she hasn't been the same.. she rarely moves, has a very, very poopy bum and if she leaves the coop, she will just sit there with her feathers fluffed up; alone or with the others. If I put her in the coop, she will stay there (but she comes out on her own in the AM when I feed them).
I did notice that since the really cold night when her buddy got stuck, there is a small black spot on one bump of her comb... frostbite?
When it's mild, like it has been the past few days, I do feed them outside still and I have switched them back to Pullet Grower as none of my Orps have layed yet, and my Jersey hasn't laid since late August, and my leghorn hasn't laid since late September. They will all leave the coop to eat just fine, but then often retreat back to the warmth of their coop. I went out today to find Frankenstein (my favourite) perched on the heated water dish by herself.. I picked her up, cuddled her for 5 minutes (she loves to be held and pet - she goes right to sleep) and then put her in the coop. Even in the midst re-bedding, she just sat exactly where I put her.. I decided to change out their breakfast for some Pullet Grower, Wheat, picked some Wild Oats, and warm Milk. I left it in the coop so they don't have to go outside and eat it as the sun's now starting to go down, temperatures are plummeting and coyote's are coming out.. I don't think she weighs more than 3-4 pounds at this point.
Likely on Monday when I have the full day off, I am going to bring her into the house in the AM and bath her, then let her dry thoroughly inside before putting her back out with the others.. I was told to do the pumpkin de-worming (and I did), but I'd much prefer to rule worms out so I am going to pick the proper stuff tomorrow morning and see how that goes..
But that aside, what are your suggestions for additional feed, or things to try to encourage and maintain weight through this harsh climate?
(I should mention, she IS eating and drinking, and no one is picking on her)
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