It's Been Chilly

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It blocks moisture. Again, COLD is not the enemy, wetness and moisture is.

Cold is the enemy when it falls below -10. My big shed is extremely well ventilated and I see frostbite in birds housed in it. My bantam coop I close up and I see no frostbite on them. Once temperatures fall low enough you aren't gonna stop it.

What works in Kentucky doesn't necessarily work in Wisconsin. No matter what I do I will see frostbite every year. So here it's best to close things off when it's bitter cold. The high winds will ventilate the coop but in a more mild way.

 

[XanderWiFi]

Temperature at night has been 5-6 degrees. When let out, they like to tuck onto the ground and turn into poof balls to keep themselves warm. Only strange behavior is our black leghorn? who we were warned is not a cold weather climate bird, sat down and stretched her neck out and brought it close to the ground-normal in all other things. Today, a polish hen without the fluffy comb (she has a small rose comb) was apparently pacing back and forth inside the coop and would not come immediately when treats were brought out. My wife apparently had to coax her out of the coop for snacks. I am hoping she just needs to lay an egg and is not stressed out.

No black spots yet!

 

[XanderWiFi]

Spotted our first signs of frostbite on one of the white leghorns waddles. Appears to be very mild. Wife has been doing some vaseline lightly. We had a little snow dusting come through this morning but the wind was strong with a very low windchill. We stapled tarps giving them complete windbreak for 90 degrees around their coop and run. I squatted down inside and was amazed myself at how well it blocked the breezes and helped with warmth. As a result, despite the 20 degree weather, snow and windchill they appeared to be quite content most of the day.

Stoopid Hooman moment. I got the bright idea to insulate our 5 gallon waterer and the cinder block heater with tin foil. Woke up later to find it strew throughout the run. Completely forgot that they like shiny things. Hope they didn't eat too much of it...