I'm worried about my hens in this weather! -20

[lengel]

I was worried too until a friend in MN told me that he had chickens all of his life until just recently and that they can survive without a problem as long as they huddle together and share body heat. We're hitting -6 for a couple of nights here and I gave them extra deep bedding to help but I swear, when I open up the enclosed part of the tractors, it actually feels pretty toasty in there.

 

[Catalina]

Quote:
My Grandma says that too - but she also thinks it is normal to lose a few chickens every winter to the cold.

 

[thechickenchick]

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My Grandma says that too - but she also thinks it is normal to lose a few chickens every winter to the cold.

Thats probabally true in his case too, even though he didn't say that!
However he will tell anyone that will listen that I am weird for keeping them as pets! In his day they provided food, period. Oh well, to each his own!! Whatever that means!!

 

[Mahonri]

Talk to me in July when I'm putting ice in my waterers because its 115 outside.

 

[jvls1942]

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I was not referring to just this thread.. I check in at a half dozen different sites and that was just an observation I made.. sorry for bringing it up..

 

[KellyHM]

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I agree w/ you, but it may be b/c our coops are built for warm weather and we don't know what to do if it's cold! Mine, for instance, is completely open on one side to give enough ventilation when it's 100 outside. Everyone talks about "they'll be fine as long as it's not drafty" but mine is one big draft! So it's freaking me out that it's going to be in the 20s this week and my coop is drafty!

 

[Lunachick]

Quote:
I agree w/ you, but it may be b/c our coops are built for warm weather and we don't know what to do if it's cold! Mine, for instance, is completely open on one side to give enough ventilation when it's 100 outside. Everyone talks about "they'll be fine as long as it's not drafty" but mine is one big draft! So it's freaking me out that it's going to be in the 20s this week and my coop is drafty!

I was a little worried too, single digits for us - so, I've been going back and forth with "should I bring them in? or Should I put some heat out there?". I think I'll take one day at a time, they seem to be fine.

Kelly - do you have a tarp or an old blanket you can staple onto the open part of the coop? That should help.

 

[PortageGirl]

That's a VERY good point KellyHM!!! You're right and it makes a LOT of sense. We northerners are used to it and used to planning for it. Maybe 'hurricane' shutters? Only they'd be winterizing shutters.

 

[KellyHM]

I don't really have anything I can put over it, and I have 2 coops...the newest one doesn't even have 3 sides covered. The chickens in it do have a dog house they can get in though, so hopefully they'll be smart enough to do that.

ETA: I already had to save 1 8-wk-old Silkie from the cold...it flooded here today (literally) so everyone was wet, and he got so cold he wasn't even moving and was cold to the touch. I had to wrap him up in an electric blanket until he came back to life. He's living with the babies in the brooder in my guest room for tonight.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Talk to me in July when I'm putting ice in my waterers because its 115 outside

This is when I will be saying THANK GOD I live in WI LOL I don't envy you all who have those types of heat waves at all!

Kelly...maybe get some of those blue tarps to throw over the open areas. Yes, I can sure see why you would be freaking out 20 in FL that's just wrong!​