Hen is too cold...

[shelleyd2008]

And I can't bring her inside. My son and I live with my dad right now, and he would flip. She has been pretty fluffy for the past few days, and just not acting 'herself'.

I was wondering if I could put her inside the brooder with the younger chicks I have? It is outside, all the chicks are at least 6 weeks old. It is not too warm in there either, their water had some ice on it this morning, but wasn't frozen solid.

It is supposed to warm up again starting tomorrow, but I just don't know what to do with her? She is a very sweet hen, and an unbelievable mama, I would hate to lose her. She is a bantam EE if that helps. Most my chickens are bantams, but she is the only one that the weather seems to be affecting this badly.

 

[Laskaland]

Hi honey
I would try it. If the breeder isn't too small that she would end up smashing the babies... Sorry you have such chilly temps. It's cold here, but heck we're supposed to have th cold- not you folks!!
christina

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Can you put in an extra light in the coop?

 

[Riparian]

what kind of temperatures are we talking about? where does she live?

 

[shelleyd2008]

I live in southern KY, and the past few days has been in the 20's for daytime and single digits for night. Add in the windchill factor and it is pretty darn cold!!

I forgot to mention that I don't exactly have a 'coop', they all free range, and as of now they roost in the barn. There is no where really to put her, unless I toss her in the silkies' tractor. There is a light in there to take the chill out, since they share the tractor with some 3 or 4 month olds. It's either that or with the babies. The 'brooder' the chicks are in is at least 3' x 4', with only 5 BR, 2 millies, 1 jap, and one OEGB chick, so I doubt there would be any squishing.

It is not much warmer in the brooder, but it is somewhat heated, and at least covered so there is no wind. I was just worried about her picking on the babies. I don't think that she would, but I don't know. I know the silkies would pick on her if I put her in there, they can be butts when they want to be, plus they don't seem to like 'other' chickens.

 

[Riparian]

Chickens can survive in those temperatures but they must have a sheltered place out of the wind.

My chickens live in a barn too. Its not insulated, nor 100% draft free. But there are no major drafts blowing directly on their roosts, And i have two 250w infrared heat lamps over their roosts. They do alright, but they definitly are cold during these -20 degree cold snaps.

Its hard to tell what state your chicken is in. There is a fine line between cold, and too cold. From what you describe my chickens act the same during these cold temps, and seem to be fine.

I think the solution to your problem is you must find a sheltered space for them if your barn is too drafty. Try and seal off any drafts and set up a heat lamp for here where ever it is she sleeps. There is no other way of getting around this.

Good luck!

 

[shelleyd2008]

I was thinking maybe because it was a sudden change, and that's what has thrown her off. We were in the 40's-60's less than a week ago, and then this cold front came through. Ever since it has gotten real cold, she is always fluffed up. She is the only one that is doing this. I'll see if there is anyway to put a heat light in where she sleeps at. I'm sure the bunnies would love that, as she sleeps on top of their cages.

 

[Omran]

Quote:
Hello Shelly, I live also in KY, in small town called Bagdad, we had -3 tempratures this morning and the highst temp afternoon was 15 Fehrenhites. now it back in singel digits, I have 26 birds in two diffrent coops and both coops has no heat, but as you heard from others, they need an area where is no wind blowing, otherwise it will be real hard on them, try to put her with the young ones and watch if there any fight will happen or not, man I wish I could do something to help you.
Omran

 

[WalkingWolf]

If you have 2 cardboard boxes put one inside the other, but make sure there are air holes in both. Then place the box in as much a draft free spot as you can. Homeless people survive in cold by doing this it might work for chickens. Not sure about the brooder I lost 2 6 week BRs tonight not directly from the cold but to keep warm they all piled on top of each other. The 2 on the bottom suffocated apparently. They were packing peanuts from a Ideal order but it still ticks me off at myself I did not check them earlier. I brought them in after that and put them in a cardboard box maybe if you put her in a box your father would let you bring her in.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Hello Shelly, I live also in KY, in small town called Bagdad, we had -3 tempratures this morning and the highst temp afternoon was 15 Fehrenhites. now it back in singel digits, I have 26 birds in two diffrent coops and both coops has no heat, but as you heard from others, they need an area where is no wind blowing, otherwise it will be real hard on them, try to put her with the young ones and watch if there any fight will happen or not, man I wish I could do something to help you.
Omran

You could come help me build some coops

But seriously, I know what you're saying. Normally at the most I need to take warm water in the morning to thaw out bunny bottles and such. I had to bring them inside this afternoon to thaw them back out. It never did get above freezing today. I think the warmest it got was 25.