It's 13 degrees outside...And I am worried

[JessRae]

Also their combs and waddles don't become cold tolerant, and frostbite will occur sometime. Especially if they are like my Leghorn Rooster, "Rudy". That comb is awesome. Like having your ears outside your hat all the time.

I have a foghorn and it reminds me of a man with a comb over haha. What do you do for your comes and waddles?

 

[Manhen]

I have a foghorn and it reminds me of a man with a comb over haha. What do you do for your comes and waddles?

Hope. Southern Illinois has its cold snaps, but my coop is well ventilated and blocked from the wind.

 

[Rothy_058]

To OP...

When I read that the temperature had fallen below 13 degrees I thought to myself 'that's not so bad - it's often that temperature early on a summer morning here in the UK' Then I realised you must mean 13 degrees Fahrenheit - which would equate to around minus 10.5 C.

Here we normally refer to temperature in degrees Celsius....which threw me off a bit.

That's pretty bloody cold. Generally here it's rare for the temp to fall much below zero degrees C for any length of time. Our girls overnight in a sturdy Log cabin 18 x 12 feet and have crates with hay-lined sleeping areas and pine shavings underfoot in the feeding areas. I've never had to provide additional heat but I do have the everything in place to do so if I ever feel it's needed, the cabin has a permanent mains supply and I have a couple of IR heat lamps ready to go.

Did you say 10 chickens? If you're really worried, and providing you have some indoor space that would suffice and a few crates to temporarily house them, I'd just hook the buggers in for a day or two until the cold snap passes...

I'm guessing that's not much use to you as you would have thought of that yourself if it was a viable option..

You'll do what you need to do to look after those chucks, I'm sure, because that's what we all do here when all said and done.

 

[aart]

When I read that the temperature had fallen below 13 degrees I thought to myself 'that's not so bad - it's often that temperature early on a summer morning here in the UK' Then I realised you must mean 13 degrees Fahrenheit - which would equate to around minus 10.5 C.

Yup...why it's good to add F or C to temp numbers....and to have locations under avatars and pay attention to them.

 

[The Meadow]

It is -20’C here tonight with a windchill of -32’C. I discovered ceramic panel heaters last year. When our temperatures go below -15’C I turn them on low. They have two temperature settings. They sit behind the hens’ night roosts. They can sit in front of them or if they wish they can back right alongside them. They seem to really like that. I like that they are free standing ( they look like tv screens ) and safe to touch. Last year a friend gave me some windows taken out of a trailer. I have those wired to the south wall of their run. They love to sit on straw bales against those windows on cold sunny days. I live in Ontario, Canada.

 

[Hidrainja4]

I do not have electricity for my coop or run...

I have put out straw and hay in the run...

I have fine pine shavings in their coop...

I go out each day and toss each to keep it fluffed and not matted...

But tonight, it has dropped to 13 degrees...I have brought out warm to hot oatmeal each dusk for them to have as energy overnight...

Each day, I bring them some sort of greens to eat as well as Grubblies...

But this is the worst frigid cold...I look every day to see if there is frostbite...none yet so far...but some of my girls are lifting their legs to tuck under their bodies...who could blame them!

I am stressed because the temps are just brutal and I do have a thermal dog dish to keep their water from freezing which I change EVERY day (I have an extension cord running 50 feet to the run to power the bowl) and have completely wrapped the run as best as I could but it is not solid and the winter winds and snow can still get in...but MY GOSH it is colder than a Husky would like it!

I have 2 of each...Ameraucanas, Barred Rocks, New Jerseys Reds, Lavender, and Buffs...each I chose because all are cold & hot tolerant but jeesh....how can I make them through double to single-digit cold...I have already had to do miracles with triple digits this past summer!

What am I do to do...I am afraid of everything...I have tried to think of everything I could and I will go out tomorrow and I am afraid to find one of my girls frozen with frostbite or dead...

Is there anything I can do?

By the way, the temp just dropped to 12 degrees...HELP!

 

[Hidrainja4]

So this is my fourth winter with chickens , no anxiety right. HA! My new this year Dr
Whiting's True Blue Chickens I have two,ARE MOULTING!!! I have half naked chickens in the middle of December!!!!!!! I am feeding them the ducks game food 37% protein because the heritage chickens are bullying them and won't let them get to the feeder and water. I bought two parrot food cups and attached them to the wire by the roost and feed them separate to make sure that they get something to eat and drink. I also stand there with a stick and poke away because the bullies would steal that if I let them. Not so bad when I can let them out and run around the yard. However I don't let them out when it is raining or snowing or under 20 degrees or the wind is to strong.This week we have had all of that. I live in North East Ohio. PS you can put a thin layer of petroleum jelly on your chickens comb, waddle, and legs and feet. It takes two people to do that but my chickens enjoy it and they close their eyes and coo when we do it. I haven't done it this winter yet my Husband been working to much to help me. The petroleum jelly prevents frostbite.Our anxiety is a good thing. It means we don't want any living thing in our care to suffer because we were ignorant or negligent. If you can keep them dry and out of the wind they rally are not bothered by how cold it gets.

 

[hayley3]

Mine are temporarily living in the garage and that floor is so cold, so I bought a horse stall mat and covered it with pine shavings. Imagine the mess, if you will. LOL
I did put a heater in there but try not to use it.
Keeping them dry, with thick bedding to keep their toesies off the cold floor and stopping any drafts, are the most important things including access to sun, which will help warm them up and gives them a break during the day from the bitter cold.
I read a farm blog and she puts down enough straw to make a 12 inch barrier between them and the ground.
Straw bales are great for wind blocks since you can stack them.

 

[Manhen]

Yup...why it's good to add F or C to temp numbers....and to have locations under avatars and pay attention to them.

You don't have to use the F or C. The default is "F", just ask anyone in the USA.

 

[Manhen]

Who can say they have the farthest north flock? And the winter temperature range where you are?

EDIT: Duh! and your chickens? I am going to guess most of mainland Europe and the USA (sans Alaska) are out. And include farthest south because I know there are some NZ folks here.