Minnesota!

[Angiebubs]

Im trying to decide what to do and think I will add a brooder heat lamp over one of the roosts (zip tied to prevent it coming down at all) good luck all!

 

[Cebarmlds]

It's now -13 no wind and my chickens are out in the run, all but one side covered with plastic.
Inside the insulated coop the temp is 18.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I did break down and put a brooder light in my uninsulated coop last night. The cool still breezes in through the vents. So at -22 this AM outside I had -4 in the coop at roost level. I think -4 will still keep them "Winter Tough" relatively speaking. What do you think? First year with Chickens too, here.

I'll keep that up for the next 3 days or so for this really deadly cold stuff and then back down to a smaller 25 red light for 0-30 F and 75 black light for -10 to 0.

Tinkering and watching my birds.

I have a good friend that grew up on a farm and she said her Dad's focus was on his cattle etc. Not really on the chickens. per se. You know busy tough farmer types. She said that she, as a kid was always trying to help the chickens with the frostbit missing legs, etc. EGADS! I mean I'm sure these birds had a barn, etc, probably free ranged. Hard to say if they were left out one or two nights. But do you think it was just a shelter thing with deadly cold conditions. I guess in the back of my head I don't want to push those kinds of limits for my birds, when I have the means to prevent it. I guess I should question her more about what they had for access or lack there of for their birds.

 

[Angiebubs]

I broke down and added a heat lamp over part of the roost for last night-will turn it on again tonight as its suppossed to get really low -20 to -30. And yes-it is probably more for me than the chickens needing it. I didnt use one last year at all, but we didnt see temps like this then either. Hope everyones chicks stay nice and warm tonight!

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

I have a 250 watt red bulb in my insulated bantam coop. My call ducks are in there too. My orpingtons and mallards are in an uninsulated coop with no heat lamp. They seem to be ok. I feel bad for every living thing that's stuck out there in this cold.

 

[Triplell]

To heck with a heat lamp I had to bring in one of my hens that decided to molt right now in the house. She was shivering this evening when I went to the barn to check on everyone. She is now in my large brooder by the fireplace. I think she will stay there until she is mostly refeathered again.

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

I have 4 call ducks in my insulated garage attached to my house. Plus there is a heat lamp on them. I take no chances with my calls. They are my babies.
I'm looking for a few more hens. If anyone has any, let me know.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Oh No! my worst fears from this morning about the frozen feet....! My roo had a pale swollen toe this afternoon. I think this may have started yesterday though as they wanted to be in the Run all day. I kept them in their coop all day today and I brought him in and soaked his feet in the laundry tub with warm water about 5 minutes. Then started massaging that whole foot and toes for about 10 minutes. The color deepened thank goodness and he curled it strongly around my finger when the massage was done. I debated the dog kennel in the house tonight deal. but he looked out the sliding glass door longingly at the coop. To minimize his stress I did put him back down at the coop and set him near the brooder light on his 2x4 roost. I can't believe that this has happened. I mentioned it this morning never thinking that it would happen to me the same day. Good Gravy! More massage and deepening of litter happening tomorrow.

 

[bobbi-j]

I've had chickens on and off for over 25 years. I don't heat the coops, and I've never ever seen frostbit legs or toes. Nipped combs, yes. Right now my chickens are in 2 separate coops. They have heated water bowls, I feed them fermented and dry feed - free choice. Bogtown - I have no idea how your rooster's foot may have gotten frostbite unless it was from being outside. Mine are wimps. They won't go out in the snow. I do keep the pop doors shut, when it's this cold, though, so they don't get outside but they have plenty of room in their coops, along with fresh, deep straw. I hope your rooster's foot heals quickly.

 

[Triplell]

I've had chickens on and off for over 25 years. I don't heat the coops, and I've never ever seen frostbit legs or toes. Nipped combs, yes. Right now my chickens are in 2 separate coops. They have heated water bowls, I feed them fermented and dry feed - free choice. Bogtown - I have no idea how your rooster's foot may have gotten frostbite unless it was from being outside. Mine are wimps. They won't go out in the snow. I do keep the pop doors shut, when it's this cold, though, so they don't get outside but they have plenty of room in their coops, along with fresh, deep straw. I hope your rooster's foot heals quickly. 

I love heated dog dishes!!! I plan on getting at least 3 more come Wed. I have 4 chicken coops plus 3 goose breeder pen and 11 ducks all in my barn. So far no one has frost damage. Some of their combs are getting nipped from bordem but that is it. I dont heat the coops at all. I have over 50 chickens, 7 geese, 11 ducks,4 call ducks all within the barn, the chickens get out once a day to wonder the barn they all take turns. As I mess with one coop they can get out then back in so I can do another pen and so on. I have a trio of geese that are nesting as well as the calls. I only hope they all hatch.