Lost three to the cold, what to do?

[Patricia Jane]

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x2

 

[ejb3810]

A chicken (LF or bantam) should not die from cold at 30 degrees above zero. If they are compromised due to health issues or are wet then they may succumb at that temp. Even a bird in heavy molt, if healthy, should not be stressed that severely at that temp. On a rare occasion I have had a bantam stay out alone over night at -25 degrees and seem none the less for it in the morning. Something else would seem to be the real cause for the deaths.

 

[HEChicken]

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x2. Last year we had temps in the single digits for several days in a row and the chooks did just fine. They certainly appreciated me bringing them a warm mash several times a day on those days, but if I hadn't they still would have been fine. I provide NO supplemental heat. When it gets back up to 30, they act like its the middle of summer.....

 

[VelvettFog]

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Which is an incredibly old and un-true wives tale

 

[Beekissed]

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Which is an incredibly old and un-true wives tale

Actually, as a nurse, I can tell you it has a basis in fact. Less circulation to muscles can result in less O2 there as well and can result in cramping from ischemia. Yes, more blood is diverted to the digestive tract during digestion, which is why so many people get a little drowsy after meals, school kids are less alert right after breakfast and lunch, etc.

Many old wives tales have a basis in fact...they just didn't know the mechanics of it all, I imagine.

My grandmother always gave dishwater to her chickens and hogs because it was known to rid them of worms. Now we have evidence that the soap dissolves the oily coating on the skins of intestinal parasites and causes them to be vulnerable to the acid in the digestive juices and it does kill them.

Not everything old wives say is a tale....

 

[7L Farm]

Its been 23 here & I have a three sided coop. I have 16 pullets in there & on the cold nights they cuddle together. But the wind is totally blocked. I know when its gonna be cold because they all try to get on the same roost. They do fine in the cold. I hate the heat.

 

[aoxa]

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Silkies do just fine in temps to -16 here. Even one as young as 3 months old, no supplemental heat.

Silkies would not be so common in my areas if not cold hardy. Keep them dry and they are good in cold temps.

 

[Tanichca]

Well, it was very damp in the coop too (been raining for three days straight) so maybe that had something to do with this?

 

[welasharon]

When you say the coop is open to the weather, what do you mean? Does it have a top? Does it leak? Is the coop closed up or open on the sides? Is the rain getting in the coop?
sharon

 

[Minniechickmama]

That would make sense of your losses then. They got wet AND cold and it was too much, not just the cold. It has already been down to 2-degrees here and nobody has a heater on and the 4-foot by 5-foot windows are open. I have 3 bantam Frizzles in rabbit cages outside with a tarp over the top and around all but the south facing side, and they are probably the most comfortable birds out here. So, no, cold alone is not going to harm your birds to a point of death.
Sorry for you losses though. I would cage them and get then out of that wet because that will bring you nothing but trouble.
Good luck with the rest.