Keeping chickens warm

[Poultryrgreat]

@Alaskan could help you, and anyone in northern Canada.
PLEASE fix their diet!!! Malnutrition is not helpful at all. Buy an all-flock feed, and offer oyster shell in a separate feeder, making sure that the mill date on each bag of feed is within a month, if possible.
That's cold!
Mary

What exactly is all flock chicken feed cause? Cause I went to the feed store and they said they didn’t have it and didn’t even know what is was.

 

[MissE]

What exactly is all flock chicken feed cause? Cause I went to the feed store and they said they didn’t have it and didn’t even know what is was.

Ask for chick starter/grower or meat bird finisher. Both are higher protein than layer mash. We don't have anything called all flock here either.

 

[Poultryrgreat]

Ask for chick starter/grower or meat bird finisher. Both are higher protein than layer mash. We don't have anything called all flock here either.

Ok then that is what I will feed them thanks

 

[wf1992]

How do you define "having a hard time"? Pretty sure I worry about the cold more than my chickens. We get to about -25C, and our coop is insulated plus I have a heater I turn on when its double digit cold. Keeping them dry is probably more important than warm tho, so watch the humidity.

I believe all flock is pretty much layer, without the extra calcium. My store doesn't have all flock either. My options are 16% layer, or 16% grower (no extra calcium, but crumbles instead of pellets, which mine waste more of). I get 18% layer for winter.

 

[Poultryrgreat]

How do you define "having a hard time"? Pretty sure I worry about the cold more than my chickens. We get to about -25C, and our coop is insulated plus I have a heater I turn on when its double digit cold. Keeping them dry is probably more important than warm tho, so watch the humidity.

I believe all flock is pretty much layer, without the extra calcium. My store doesn't have all flock either. My options are 16% layer, or 16% grower (no extra calcium, but crumbles instead of pellets, which mine waste more of). I get 18% layer for winter.

Ok then I will feed them my layer stuff my buff Brahmas they are fine I think it’s just my silkie shivers

 

[wf1992]

Ah, yeah I guess silkies aren't so cold hardy, poor little things. Probably more about the difference in feathers and size than the food tho.

 

[Poultryrgreat]

Ya probably I do feel sorry for her

 

[Folly's place]

It's best to consider your weather when choosing breeds, and neither Silkies nor any of the frizzles are meant for extreme cold! Look for 'cold hardy' when selecting your chickens, and leave the Silkies out, unless you plan on separate housing and heat for them.
Here we have more feed choices, and an 18% or 20% feed is best, and any high calcium layer feed is meant for birds actively laying eggs, and nobody else.
Mary

 

[Poultryrgreat]

I am planning on getting rid of my silkie this spring cause I have buff Brahmas and they do great in cold weather yesterday in -40c I got an egg I was quite impressed

 

[Alaskan]

@Alaskan could help you, and anyone in northern Canada.
PLEASE fix their diet!!! Malnutrition is not helpful at all. Buy an all-flock feed, and offer oyster shell in a separate feeder, making sure that the mill date on each bag of feed is within a month, if possible.
That's cold!
Mary

X whatever..

High protein is very important in very cold temps.

I find 18 the minimum, and 20% is better.

Since protein is so important in super cold ( -10F and colder), treats have to really be watched since you don't want to decrease the protein level.

I find mixing healthy fats and protein with their feed is a good choice.

I usually use olive oil and freezer burnt salmon... but meal worms or canned tuna would also work.

Do remember that they NEED unlimited feed since they will eat a crazy amount to stay warm.

Also, since you are up north,make sure that they have 10 hours of light so that they have the time to eat enough.

Chickens will not eat in the dark.