MA is crazy cold tonight. How are you coping?

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?
It's hard to say. My recommendations are for large fowl, cold hardy breeds. I would not own a chicken that's not cold hardy because of my climate. Adding the fact that they are old and frail, they are definitely more susceptible to having problems through the winter. No guarantees there.
 
Your birds should be fine as long as they are out of the elements. My 7-month old pullets have been in the coop with open windows at -1 a couple of already these past few weeks and are just fine. Yours will be, too. Don’t be afraid to open those vents. Moisture happens when they’re breathing as well as when they poop. Cool and dry is better than warm and too humid.
Their average body temperature is 106 F. I have a tree hugger neighbor. Sorry take no offense. She is all worried that I haven't insulated my coop. Try this: breathe on your hands get them nice a moist and then go outside without gloves. How long will you last. Chicken have a high metabolism. They breathe off a lot of moisture. You should worry about that fact. I live in Maine. Had 2 chickens up in the coop when it was bitterly cold a couple of weeks ago. I didn't have a tarp around the run either and they were fine. The first thing I check in the morning is their combs. No frostbite, actually feel quite warm. They do tuck their heads under a wing and snuggle over that feet at night. Now I have the run cover tightly with clear tarp. They will be fine. I'm not much for the wine part but the rest is good advice.
 
It's hard to say. My recommendations are for large fowl, cold hardy breeds. I would not own a chicken that's not cold hardy because of my climate. Adding the fact that they are old and frail, they are definitely more susceptible to having problems through the winter. No guarantees there.
They turned out alright. When I went into the coop they were active. It was actually warmer in the barn than outside for some reason. I thought a barn just offered shelter from the wind, but apparently it helps with the temperature as well. Not much warmer, but it definitely took the edge off. The days following Thanksgiving have been warmer as well, so the cold snap should be over. One heater is working above the roost now and is heating them at night on their roost. We are working on fixing the other heater above the roost. Hopefully they will be okay in the winter months to come!
 
I'm in Mass as well and two of my girls (with the largest, floppiest combs) ended up with frostbite on that very cold night. I'm new to chickens (first winter) and totally beside myself! Bad chicken momma! I've closed off the ventilation closest to their roosts, thinking it must have been too drafty on the side where they were.

The girls seem totally fine -- eating, laying, digging, dust bathing. I'll just beat myself up a while longer.....
 
I'm in Mass as well and two of my girls (with the largest, floppiest combs) ended up with frostbite on that very cold night. I'm new to chickens (first winter) and totally beside myself! Bad chicken momma! I've closed off the ventilation closest to their roosts, thinking it must have been too drafty on the side where they were.

The girls seem totally fine -- eating, laying, digging, dust bathing. I'll just beat myself up a while longer.....
I would not close off that ventilation if there isn't a draft blowing directly on them. Chickens with big, floppy combs are more prone to frostbite, and the more moisture in your coop, the more likely they are to get frostbit. Chickens can get frostbite in a too-humid coop when the temperatures are relatively warm. Don't beat yourself up over it, either. Lesson learned - try to have chickens with smaller combs. Your chickens will be fine, by the way. Don't mess with the combs. They will be "winter-dubbed", but should heal without any trouble.
 
I would not close off that ventilation if there isn't a draft blowing directly on them. Chickens with big, floppy combs are more prone to frostbite, and the more moisture in your coop, the more likely they are to get frostbit. Chickens can get frostbite in a too-humid coop when the temperatures are relatively warm. Don't beat yourself up over it, either. Lesson learned - try to have chickens with smaller combs. Your chickens will be fine, by the way. Don't mess with the combs. They will be "winter-dubbed", but should heal without any trouble.

Thanks for the kind words. Bedding is dry and even dusty, no water in the coop. Never any condensation on the window in the morning. Good high-up ventilation. So I don't think it was moisture. I think these girls just have rooster-like combs and don't seem to tuck their heads under their wings like the others (although maybe they can't with those floppy things).
 
Today was like a heat wave!
I have ducks, and I have a CozyCoop heater in part of their house. One of my runners seems to like it, but ducks don't seem to mind the cold that much.
 
Hello from NH, neighbor! This is my 3rd winter with chickens after a long break. I have 13 week old chickens in my unheated barn, which us predator protected but also very drafty, and all are doing just great! I did gave to add a tank de-icer to their water bucket (has horizontal nipples) as their water was beginning to freeze a couple weeks ago. Goats and ducks got heated water buckets too. Now all is fine. Even on the cold days (not in Thanksgiving) they have the option of coming out to free-range and run out with gusto! Your doing great and your chickens will be fine :thumbsup
 
I have one hen that looks like someone took tape and ripped off a long strip of feathers .... gotta love molting, not.
It seems to be taking a while for the feathers to come out of their sheath .

Anyone else having this issue? It is just this one hen, the others are molting little by little.
 

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