How to handle EXTREME -40 cold?

[GroovyFarmer]

My area has been under some extreme cold warnings lately. It's so cold that I've had at least two chickens with frozen feet (they can't bend their toes at all) so far, and I'm worried that more will suffer the same. I've locked my chickens in their coop, which has insulation, and I've been giving them hot water to try and warm them up. The chickens with the frozen feet are inside my house but I don't have enough room for my entire flock in here. Is there anything else I can do to help my chickens?

 

[Welshies]

First off, don't give your chickens anything that will steam. Use vaseline on combs and wattles to prevent frostbite. Cover windows with blankets and leave ventilation open.
For those birds give their feet a soak twice a day in warm water with Epsom salts.

 

[centrarchid]

Show pictures of two things. Where they spend the night and where they are during the day.

Then feel hurt birds for weight and compare to those not hurt.

When all my birds have similar conditions and only some are frost bitten, then in most instances frost bitten are under weight. Some otherwise the frost bitten birds have improper roosting situation or are not able to stay in protected location during the day. Protected I mean dry and on surfaces that do not conduct heat as much. I like my birds protected from wind an on something like dry wood, straw or hay hen it gets really cold.

 

[Mrs. K]

negative 4O is cold, and interestingly enough, -40 C = -40 F.

Dryness is of paramount importance, and good feed. If that temperature is for many days, I would expect that you could expect some losses or damage. It is a fact, that temperature that extreme will tend to cull the weaker birds. In the short term, you may lose some birds. Long term planning, some breeds may do better in your region than others.

Hope you get a weather break soon.

Mrs K