Heads up Texas!!!

[BWchicken]

I live in East TX (piney woods region) and we're forecasted for the teens tonight too and I am so worried about my flock (11 bantams) and 2 of them are molting. They are loved pets. I know it gets much colder in the north, but our southern birds are NOT USED to this kind of cold snap. It was 70 degrees a few days ago and I worry they haven't had time to acclimate. My coop is enclosed, no drafts, somewhat ventilated, it's 6x8 but it's 6 feet tall, not a small area, so doesn't hold in the heat around the 11 bantams well. I used a red heat lamp last year but my little roo got frostbite at 30 degrees, probably from the moisture caused by the lamp and they squabbled with each other since it wasn't dark in the coop.

I've been reading how well northern birds do in below 0 temps and decided not to use the heat lamp this year. I really wanted to go natural this winter, no heat. We've been down around 25 degrees so far and they've done okay, but at 15 degrees I am so worried they are going to literally freeze to death on the roost. They're bantams so that makes me worry more. I just don't know what to do. If I use the lamp, they'll squabble and peck each other all night, plus the moisture could cause frostbite. But I don't want to end up regretting my decision to go the natural route just because it works for northern birds, then have mine freeze to death. What's the right thing to do?


UPDATE: Well it's now chicken bed time so I don't have time to think about it anymore. We're not going to add heat tonight. They do seem cold, puffing their feathers out to keep warm. Man, I hope I'm doing the right thing. They'll be okay, right?

 

[mistymeadowchicks]

OK! It should be AM by now (or will be soon), Everybody make it through last night ok?? javascript:insert_text('

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Heritagehens, ouch, sorry for your prior mishap. It was very only recently that waterlines in garages had to be insulated (the walls are usually not.) I learned, through first- hand experience unfortunately, that NOTHING--vehicles, people, animals nor chickens goes safely on ice! Stay off the blamed stuff--walk in the grass/snow because shoes & socks will dry out much faster than bodies heal! Depending on the age of the house, as you said, there are cut-offs, probably even under the commode tanks. There may even be a whole house water shut-off (besides at the meter), should be close to where the water line comes into the house & will probably look like a lever. You're also right about the super-duper secret agent pipe repair (& I don't recall the name either). It does work--my plumber is hoping it doesn't become too well-known. javascript:insert_text('

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If anything froze, don't force it, especially not handles. If you can find where the pipe froze, (often where it goes through a wall, especially basement) a few minutes w/ a hair dryer usually starts it thawing. The good news is--if you've got PEX (the newer platic-y looking pipe, usually white or red), it has enough 'give' that, even if it freezes, it usually doesn't burst. PVC, the brittle hard plastic unfortunately is less tolerant. FYI, if your "frost-free" yard hydrant is frozen, don't just give it a good pull, like I did. I ended up w/ the handle in my hand, a geiser of water spewing from the hydrant, & me hiking the 1/2 mile down the drive to the main shut off. javascript:insert_text('

', ''); Good luck & don't get slack tonight!javascript:insert_text('

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[BWchicken]

Everybody was okay this morning, I was so relieved! They were cold and puffed up but they happily came out of the coop into their run. It was below freezing most of the day and they huddled together some when they weren't scratching around. One more night of teens and then it's supposed to warm a bit. I'm sure being cold isn't comfortable for them and I feel bad about that, but I've learned the heat lamp can do more harm than good. My roo has NO frostbite from the teens last night with no heat lamp. But last year he lost a comb tip to frostbite at 30 degrees with a heat lamp because the heat lamp caused moisture. A dry, draft-free coop was all they needed, just like everyone on BYC says.

How are all of your Texas chickens doing through this cold snap?

 

[txcarl1258]

I know I am dreading it! I am already freezing to death. The girls don't seem to mind at all some of them are still trying to sleep in the trees! Take care everyone I don't think we'll die!

 

[texascowboy1979]

Thankfully, my Tortoise are in there barn, and spent all day today moving Parrots into the side barn. Our lows hit 35 degrees. How are your animals doing?

P.S. Im in South Texas, Im talking Harlingen Texas,

 

[easttxchick]

I'm in East Texas as well(edge of the Big Thicket).
The cold is bothering me WAY more than the birds. They don't seem to mind it too much. I have upped the corn in their feed the last couple of weeks in the hopes that it is helping them stay warmer at night.
The ducks came bailing out, ran straight to their pools and proceeded to fall right through the ice. Is it wrong that I laughed at them?
At least we had sunshine today.

 

[texascowboy1979]

P.S. I put my Sultan male in with the Araucans... To get him out of the cold. Dont know if he will breed any hens... but Lets see what happens.. It was a last min choise to keep him out of the cold, I found him hidden behind a tree... Poor thing.. so I moved him inside.

Quote:
I dont know whats up with my ducks and geese, they live in the water... LOL

 

[vebyrd36]

Okay we got down to 14 last night, tonight is going to get down to 18. Our highs have stayed in mid 30's. I want it to snow so it will warm up. Heat lamps on in the dog houses. No heat lamp in the chicken coop. The coop is sealed really well

 

[easttxchick]

Quote:
I dont know whats up with my ducks and geese, they live in the water... LOL

BELIEVE ME, if I didn't force them in at night, I'd find them frozen into those pools in the mornings.
They could care less about this cold.
If they weren't my little tiny Calls, I probably wouldn't be so neurotic about them-they aren't as tough as they think they are.

 

[Mrs. K]

-25 degrees this morning! Mine are not laying, but doing fine!