Gaining & Maintaining Weight in Harsh Climate

[FuzzyButtz]

I read your first post again. You are feeding a layer mash which formulated for a commercial flock under much more controlled environmental conditions. Such formulations tend to have the lowest protein levels you can get away with under ideal conditions. Your setup with respect to temperature will be well outside the "ideal" range. I strongly suggest providing some higher protein grower feed to mix as well as free-choice access to oyster shell. When pushing birds with respect to environment I always up energy and protein relative to what the get when conditions are milder. Staying warm is tough, especially if they are still trying to stay in lay. Whole corn is still OK but make certain they consume a good amount of the complete formulation as well. My rule is to keep the quality protein intake per unit weight of bird relatively constant for adults, but as feed intake increases with decreasing temperature I allow birds to make up difference with the intact grains and when its hard to keep liquid water in front of them I invoke the use of soaked oats as well.

I believe I said they were on Layer Mash. I recently switched them back to Pullet Grower, as 4 of 6 have never laid, and the two that have haven't laid in 2-4 months. I do add wheat, oats and Flax to their feed as well as occasionally Milk; but otherwise water. I bought some 3.25% Buttermilk for baking and only needed about 1/4 of it, so the rest will go to the girls over the course of a few feedings. I will also add whole Corn into their feed.. They do get Oyster Shells each day, as well.. Anything else I should add?

 

[centrarchid]

Diet looks like it should be good. Get them passed the deworming. Weight them if practical and see it weight increases. Also feel their breasts to make certain they are not bony.

 

[FuzzyButtz]

Diet looks like it should be good. Get them passed the deworming. Weight them if practical and see it weight increases. Also feel their breasts to make certain they are not bony.

Okay, I will report back!

Thanks for all your help

ETA: About once a week I try to make them a 'treat' for supper, often consisting of vegetables such as Kale, Cucumber, Alfalfa Sprouts, Bean Sprouts, etc, a bit of soaked dog food (Acana (33% protein)), Bread and so on. This just started yesterday, so we'll see how it pans out.

 

[Chic Chick]

I also live up here in Alberta ne of Edmonton so I know exactly the winter conditions you're going to experience.
First of all, I open the coop door and my chickens are outside during the day all winter except for during blizzards. I have now and have had australorps, ameraucanas, marans, silkies, seramas and leghorns so I've had a good mixture of breeds. I feed them a mixture of layer pellets and whole wheat and also give vegetable scraps, and cat or dogfood for a treat.....mine come running as soon as they hear me getting the dog food from the garage....lol . I always have the feeders full of food so they can eat any time, and never wet it down. Also have feeders in different locations both inside and outside the coop.
They get fresh water twice a day in winter and I chop up garlic and give a dash of ACV to keep them healthy. That usually prevents any illnesses, but you need to watch closely for mites and lice. If your chickens are listless it could be one of those pests sapping their strength. Worms are not a problem usually here in Alberta. Also any chickens going into their second winter could be moulting.

I use a 100w light bulb only to keep them warm and to give them the necessary light in order for them to lay in winter, only using the heat lamp when the temperature drops down past -30. If you're worried about freezing combs just slather on some vaseline.

My roosts are wide enough that they can sit on their feet and cover them completely to prevent frozen feet.

 

[centrarchid]

The flat roosts are not needed. My birds roost out under blizzard conditions where the only place to stand that is not ice are round wooden dowels. Provide your birds with a range of roost types, then sneak out after dark to see how they protect their feet while sleeping. You will be impressed. For me, the greatest risk for frostbite is during day despite the slightly warmer temperatures.

 

[FuzzyButtz]

Our Roost is 1"x1". When I went out tonight to give them some fresh food (their AM food with dewormer in it froze), they were all roosting with their feathers poofed up over their feet.

 

[centrarchid]

Feathers are puffed over feet and feet are also up against the warm breast. My birds can stay outside in blizzard conditions on such roosts, even in trees without frostbite on toes. The appropriately sized roosts enable the birds to hold on better as well. Flat surfaces promote situations where birds either fall off roost more easily of stand in their own feces. When roosting on flat surfaces birds tend to smell like poop while those roosting in better situations do not unless they walk in feces.

 

[FuzzyButtz]

I took a close look at my chickies today (examining for lice or mites, etc) and they do look really stressed.. it's currently -20C, blizzarding and gusts of wind up to 35KM so I think that's stressing them out a bit, but i'm sure it mostly has to do with that light being on so much. I feel absolutely TERRIBLE! Hubby's in town (work) and is picking up all the stuff for a separate light so they will have heat 24/7, and the regular light will be on until about 10/11PM.

I'm still trying to get more protein into them. This morning they got their regular pellets with some Kale mixed in, and a side of corn and wheat in warm buttermilk. They gobbled that up within a minute, so I will give them more this afternoon when I top up their pellets. They got de wormed yesterday, too.

 

[centrarchid]

Show pictures indicating stress.

 

[FuzzyButtz]

I'll see if I can get some. This morning they all looked like they'd drank a gallon of coffee.