First year chicken owner, and first winter here in Southern Minnesota. With the polar vortex driving extreme cold into the area tomorrow night into Thursday, I have serious concerns about my chickens health. I could use some reassurance.
My coop is not heated, and is not insulated. I believe it is ventilated enough, as I have not witnessed any condensation anywhere inside. I leave the south window open all the time, and the walls are ventilated at the top eaves. The coop is normally about 5 degrees warmer than the outside temperature, though at times it is equal. The attached run is wrapped in plastic right now, but even there, it is well ventilated at the eaves all of the way around, as well as a ridge vent. Pine shavings are about 6-8" deep in the coop and the run as well.
My concern is about the forecast for -30F temperatures for Tuesday and Wednesday night. The DAYTIME temperature for Wednesday is forecasted to be -20F. So far, my 4 ISA Browns seem to be doing well enough, and spend everyday out in the run doing their normal things. It has been as low as -17F just last night, and for a few days already. Some of the daytime temperatures this past week were in the single digits below zero, and single low single digits during the day.
I have read all the posts, where people have said they will do fine and survive temperatures like this ok, but I REALLY could use some assurance. I was not planning on providing any additional sources of heat, thought I have thought about getting a flat panel heater, though probably for my own comfort.
Also, one of my hens in particular has been suffering frostbite. Her comb is the largest of the bunch, and the back part is now swollen. Both of her wattles are swollen, and very crusty. If I touch them, she pulls away, so I'm guessing it is a bit painful. One other has some frostbite on her comb, and of the four, these two have he biggest combs. I have been using bag balm on them to help, but I'm not so sure it is helping much at all. Again, I'm fairly certain that I have enough ventilation, but moisture has got to be a problem when your local dew point is actually -11F in the first place! Even last night, when the temperatures were well below zero, humidity was 80% outside. How do you manage moisture when you have crazy conditions like this? And what can or should I do about the existing frostbite, especially when facing the the even more extreme temperatures over the next few days?
I'm stressing myself out over this I'm sure..but I just don't want to see my hens suffer. Any thoughts and/or reassurance?
I hate winter...says the guy who grew up in Florida!
My coop is not heated, and is not insulated. I believe it is ventilated enough, as I have not witnessed any condensation anywhere inside. I leave the south window open all the time, and the walls are ventilated at the top eaves. The coop is normally about 5 degrees warmer than the outside temperature, though at times it is equal. The attached run is wrapped in plastic right now, but even there, it is well ventilated at the eaves all of the way around, as well as a ridge vent. Pine shavings are about 6-8" deep in the coop and the run as well.
My concern is about the forecast for -30F temperatures for Tuesday and Wednesday night. The DAYTIME temperature for Wednesday is forecasted to be -20F. So far, my 4 ISA Browns seem to be doing well enough, and spend everyday out in the run doing their normal things. It has been as low as -17F just last night, and for a few days already. Some of the daytime temperatures this past week were in the single digits below zero, and single low single digits during the day.
I have read all the posts, where people have said they will do fine and survive temperatures like this ok, but I REALLY could use some assurance. I was not planning on providing any additional sources of heat, thought I have thought about getting a flat panel heater, though probably for my own comfort.
Also, one of my hens in particular has been suffering frostbite. Her comb is the largest of the bunch, and the back part is now swollen. Both of her wattles are swollen, and very crusty. If I touch them, she pulls away, so I'm guessing it is a bit painful. One other has some frostbite on her comb, and of the four, these two have he biggest combs. I have been using bag balm on them to help, but I'm not so sure it is helping much at all. Again, I'm fairly certain that I have enough ventilation, but moisture has got to be a problem when your local dew point is actually -11F in the first place! Even last night, when the temperatures were well below zero, humidity was 80% outside. How do you manage moisture when you have crazy conditions like this? And what can or should I do about the existing frostbite, especially when facing the the even more extreme temperatures over the next few days?
I'm stressing myself out over this I'm sure..but I just don't want to see my hens suffer. Any thoughts and/or reassurance?
I hate winter...says the guy who grew up in Florida!
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