No heat in the coop and dead bird

[happyfrenchman]

Fixed light sockets are something that are common enough in most coops..... they are hopefully, securely mounted and properly wired in.... this item https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MXUT5RH/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
is handy in such a situation because it does not give off any light, and it fits in a socket like a bulb. I do not use these in my coops in Georgia, (I use them in my chick brooder box).... but they would be handy in some situations. Give off a lot more heat than a light bulb if that is called for. They can also be treated as a variable heat source if you wire them to a variable rheostat switch. Do not use it with a plastic socket. (Like is found in some lamps)... you need a ceramic socket.

 

[crazychick26201]

I have been reading these posts with sorrow for all who have lost birds, and concern for my own small flock. I have five buff Orpington, three of which are approaching five years old. My coop is an open run framed in hardware cloth on the sides, which we enclosed in plastic for the winter. The entire roof is hardware cloth under ridged plastic roofing panels which rest on slanted roof beams inside this run our henhouse is an upper box which serves as a roost area. It has a large door for cleaning and a smaller pop opening. I have a flat panel heater on one wall above the nest boxes, which keeps this area about 4-8 degrees warmer than outside or run temps. We laid insulation board on the hardware cloth which is overhead, leaving a gap all the way around above their heads. We have had sub zero temps for 7 days and no relief in sight till Sunday. So far, no frostbite. But here are my questions:
1) my hens are not eating their feed. I have resorted to giving them scrambled eggs (2-3) in the morning and a pan of scratch in the evening before bed. They won’t eat oatmeal. Is this enough to keep them going?
2) I have three who are refusing to roost. They huddle down in the bedding next to the pop door. I have been going out every night at Dark and putting them on the roost. This is the first time in almost five winters I have had this problem. Any suggestions why this is happening or how to solve it?

 

[happyfrenchman]

Crazychick?
Is it possible that this is the long term effects of this prolonged cold (as you say... 7 days of sub zero temps). As they are deteriorating, they cease eating and perhaps the unwillingness to perch is also related. It might be they are warmer in the bedding. Might just leave them. It is probably considerably colder on the perches.
They are not laying I presume. (the cessation of laying will be marked by a reduction in consumption, but it sounds like you are seeing the effects of the prolonged thermal stress. I would probably put more hay or bedding in. Try to plug up any gaps that are letting out the heat. Maybe hang a blanket or two inside the coop, to insulate from the cold walls. I would take action because the next thing you will see will be lethargy and deterioration. Good luck. These temperatures are a challenge.

 

[crazychick26201]

Thanks for the advice. I will add more bedding upstairs. If it gets as cold as predicted Sat. Night I plan to bring them into the basement too.

 

[Snuggiepug]

I’ve got two chicken coops that were built to be cool in the summer and warm through the winter, but it has been so cold (dropping to single digits) I’ve had to put a heat lamp in each coop. It’s been an unusually cold winter...

 

[crazychick26201]

Where are you located, snugglepig?
I have a heat lamp rigged up with Three failsafe points but it is so high up it does little good.

 

[crazychick26201]

Is there anyone out there that is getting this vortex, West Virginia and north who has brought their chickens in? I am debating stress factors and respiratory issues that may develop from taking them from 8 degrees into a 48 degree basement and back out again to below freezing temps against leaving them out there when it is supposed to get down to -9 or lower.

 

[happyfrenchman]

What are you worrying about respiratory issues?. Your birds are already showing signs of stress (not respiratory stress). You say it is going to go to -9 degrees. You can surely take them and put them in your basement if you want to. That is brutal cold. They will probably be grateful. I would.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Is there anyone out there that is getting this vortex, West Virginia and north who has brought their chickens in? I am debating stress factors and respiratory issues that may develop from taking them from 8 degrees into a 48 degree basement and back out again to below freezing temps against leaving them out there when it is supposed to get down to -9 or lower.

The only thing I can think is that this would be worse on the birds to go from such extreme temps. Even though the cold is out of the ordinary, they have been exposed to the changes naturally. If you really think you need to, maybe add a heat mat of sorts, I know there are lots of recommendations passed around on byc.
Mine were just out in -30 with the wind chill factored in yesterday. I have provided them with a dry draft free area and they come out to the run to enjoy it during the day. Their coop is clean and dry as well with minimal drafts (I can't say that it is 100% draft free though). They also have ventilation - maybe not enough according to the recommendations, but it's working. If you have provided them with their basic needs, they will do fine as long as they are healthy birds. As my husband (who grew up as a dairy farmer) reminds me - these are farm animals.
However, if it were me and I decided to bring the chickens in to the basement, that's where they would stay - not going back and forth.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

@crazychick26201 On some extra cold mornings lately my chicks are looking a bit lethargic but dive into warm fermented feed. Have you tried fermenting? You say they don't like oatmeal but what about just warm soaked chicken feed.