onyx2011
Chirping
- Mar 12, 2018
- 48
- 27
- 59
Next week, it's quite possible that my hometown will be -40 with windchills. Unfortunately, my coop is not well insulated (prefab coop), and we do have blueprints for a new coop(bigger, well insulated, and easier to clean... took me forever to convince my parents!) that we'll start in the spring, however that doesn't help right now. I did hang up some tarp in an attempt to block some wind, but it only helps so much. This is only my second winter with chickens, so I'm asking for some advice.
Should I bring my birds indoors at the most intense of the cold front? This fall, I had a raccoon attack, so I only have 1 marans roo and a black sex link hen at the moment, but I was planning on getting some hens this weekend. So at most, I might have 5 birds. I know quarantining is heavily suggested, but I'm worried about them keeping warm, and it seems the extra bodies would help. If I do bring them in, I have a pole barn and my mudroom, which isn't heated but it does share 1 wall with the house and has insulated walls, so it'd be the warmer of the two. Additionally, when bringing chickens in, do they all need individual crates, or how does that work? It'd obviously be short term, and they'd be heading back outside once the record breaking cold front leaves. I know my birds are cold-hardy, but -40 in a poorly insulated coop seems inhumane!
Should I bring my birds indoors at the most intense of the cold front? This fall, I had a raccoon attack, so I only have 1 marans roo and a black sex link hen at the moment, but I was planning on getting some hens this weekend. So at most, I might have 5 birds. I know quarantining is heavily suggested, but I'm worried about them keeping warm, and it seems the extra bodies would help. If I do bring them in, I have a pole barn and my mudroom, which isn't heated but it does share 1 wall with the house and has insulated walls, so it'd be the warmer of the two. Additionally, when bringing chickens in, do they all need individual crates, or how does that work? It'd obviously be short term, and they'd be heading back outside once the record breaking cold front leaves. I know my birds are cold-hardy, but -40 in a poorly insulated coop seems inhumane!