If they are huddled together and shivering, I would be worried. There isn't a draft on them is there? We are just starting winter & its only going to get worse/colder from here on for at least the next 3 months. Maybe try giving them scratch just before bedtime? The corn should help them and a full stomach (crop)l will help, just make sure they have water. So far mine are enjoying the weather, but I haven't had the snow yet,mostly just the cold.that's tragic! Lost a chicken to the cold already?
I"m worried about mine as well... I have 6 Isa browns that made it through last winter in a tiny coop, but my 4 EE's (hatched in February) haven't had to deal with winter yet, and they don't seem to be tolerating it well.
I built a new coop (much bigger than the last, with better/more ventilation), and my Isa Browns and my ducks seem to be doing JUST FINE! But my EE's are huddled together on the highest perch and shivering and/or hiding under the coop (which sits about 2" above ground level, they dug a little hole to get down there).
Should I be worried?
Have you tried the vets at Michigan State? I mean calling them, not taking an animal to them. or the ag extension in your area?
I was going to thank you last night for what you are doing. I have "something" going through some of my birds and have learned a lot from what you are sharing. Right now the chicks that are sick are on Tylan 50 and seem to be responding, 'tho I lost two and could kick myself for not staring earlier. If they did not respond, I was going to get my hands on a sulfa drug next, thanks to what you have learned. They are chickens and we need to decide to go to a vet or learn ourselves how to treat them from other's experiences. Thank you!
Go Kali! My girls did NOT want to venture into the white stuff until I threw BOSS on top of it and even then they were skeptical. Sassy, the tiny bantam decided my shoulder was her roost while the rest were pecking the ground in the run.Travis is an outdoor guy and Spartacus seems to be the couch potato, he hangs out by the nest boxes. LOLWell the birds spent most the day outside. My black Ameraucana, Kali, could care less about the snow. Opened the door. Out she came, snow up to her belly. She will do anything to get to a blade of grass! One of my EE pullets didn't care either. The rest, well, this ain't their first winter! They were a little slower at coming out (except for BUG, one of the PRs.she LOVES to come on the deck, which she made a bee line for). Once they got out, the spent the afternoon pretty much under the front deck (faces south) scratching & dust bathing & sunbathing!!
Kali leading the flock...
I need to get one of those signs for my yard. Except without the Connecticut part.
I've now lost 3 chickens to the cold/lack of water. All three of my juvenile mille fleur, which i wasnt expecting at all because they are fully feathered. But i discover there are drafts in the temp coop, the boards that make up the walls are saw milled lumber and with the cold they have shrank just enough to let the wicked winds we have had blow in. i think that is mostly what got the younger ones, lack of water maybe if the older birds were pushing them off the water dish before it froze. ive been watching to make sure everyone drinks but maybe they were not getting enough. For last night i put boards leaned up against the wind side of the coop and today hopefully we are going to get some housewrap to put around the coop to stop the breezes at chicken height. Luckily we have warmer weather for a few days.
