MA is crazy cold tonight. How are you coping?

[NNYchick]

4 degrees in my coop this morning everyone going about their business and no one seems stressed. Brought them out crumble mash warmed with hot water and mixed with scrambled eggs and herbs. I was most worried about the 5 week old chicks with the broody and a tiny 4 month old Silkie pullet that seemed to stop growing at 2 months old she is barely the size of a soda can. But they are doing well.

 

[PollyGirl21]

I'm worried about my cream-puffs. They are in our barn, so out of the elements, but it gets frigid in the barn, too. Now I wouldn't be worried of these were big, healthy chickens. But our chicken breeds are notoriously non cold-hardy. And on top of that, most of them are very old and frail. Will they be alright?

 

[NNYchick]

I only have Silkies. They seem to be doing good and no signs of stress. My coop isn’t much warmer than outside minus the wind chill(-1 degree out with windchill and about 8 degrees in the coop). I just threw them a couple handfuls of scratch to keep them moving. I brought in the mash and egg mixture because what they didn’t eat is frozen. I’m most worried about the water staying thawed as the heated dog bowl isn’t doing a great job, I’ve had to remove thick ice off the top.

 

[jreardon1918]

They hardly notice. It was about 10f this morning. Out and about. Just keep the water liquid. They will be fine.
Just think, up in the great white north there is plenty of snow and much lower temps.

 

[LisaMarie81]

-4 Western Mass. My 8 girls are 6 months old. 3 Tiny bantams too. Was really concerned. Bought hay that was separated into "chips" at tractor supply last night and have lined the coop walls with the straw chips for extra insulation. Also bungied a tarp around the outside of the coop hoping for a little extra against the wind. The vents up top are all still open.
Added a crap ton of straw under a portion of the coop and made sure that was covered by the tarp as well to help with the wind. We have plastic wrap, but no staples for our staple gun so this will need to do for now.
Water has been the big battle. We don't have electricity out near the coop so I have been battling blocks of ice multiple times a day and am concerned about their lack of water.

 

[tigger19687]

Mine are fine but the wind on the covered run made noise and they must not be used to . They were in the coop when I went out with Flock Block bits and threw it in the run. They will be fine just make sure they have Water and wind is off them.

 

[tigger19687]

..

 

[GC-Raptor]

I have 31 month old Golden Comets, and 14 week old Barred Rocks. Each have their own coop.
It was 9 Fahrenheit at 5am when I opened the coops and turn the lights on.
The thermometer in the Barred Rocks coop read 16 F. All seven were fine and hopped down from the roost straight to the feeder and heated waterer in the coop.
I gave them a treat of Scratch Grains at 9:30 scattered in their pen and they anxiously ate it up. Then as I was leaving the pen, they made their way back into the coop. It was breezy at the time too.
It's 17 F, breezy and sunny now at noon. it's supposed to be colder tonight. GC

 

[Backyard Bruce]

They’re tummies are full and have a ton of air flow still. I’m a nervous mom. I’d sleep with them in my room if I didn’t think it’d kill them. My neighbor moved his 20 chickens last winter and half died from overheating I’m the truck.

That right there should tell you everything you need to know...It does to me.

 

[RonP]

Extreme cold temperatures will rarely reach below 0 Fahrenheit in my coop.
Coldest I've recorded was -9F, about the same as -23 Celsius.

My coop is well ventilated and draft free.
My birds are cold hardy and healthy.

That said, I have never added additional heat to the coop,

only to the nest boxes:
Heat the nesting boxes to stop eggs from freezing

and to the water supply:
Forever Water Heater one that lasts.

I long ago stopped worrying about my birds during the cold winter days.