No heat in the coop and dead bird

[happyfrenchman]

I totally agree Ashley McD.... They are chickens... they are not penguins. They are pretty tough, but you want to do what is smart and humane. I think alot of this comes down to your facilities, which alot of times comes to your experience and perhaps your finances. People that are more experienced and better financed, build coops that are able to be cold weather maximized. If I don't want them in my house, then I better build a pretty good coop. That is not always an option for everyone though so I sympathize.

 

[nightowl223]

@nightowl223 Where I am located, the winter winds come from the south and west, so I guess it does happen in the US. I did not know this, until I researched it. I didn't research the why though. Probably some weird vortex.

Your winter winds come from the south in Indiana? Or is your bio wrong? Anyway, no place I've ever been in the US (though never north of Kansas City) has ever gotten their cold winter winds from the south, just the north, and nearly all US storms travel from W to E.
Color me confused.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Your winter winds come from the south in Indiana? Or is your bio wrong? Anyway, no place I've ever been in the US (though never north of Kansas City) has ever gotten their cold winter winds from the south, just the north, and nearly all US storms travel from W to E.
Color me confused.

This is what I found when I looked into it before wrapping the chicken run for winter.
I could be wrong as I don't study the weather. I have been keeping an eye on the weather vane so far since I got the chickens and it generally points west and southwest.

http://www.weather.gov/iwx/climatology_fortwayne_climate

HIGH WINDS: High winds exceed 50 mph once or twice a year. The winds are usually associated with strong low pressure systems moving across the Great Lakes or up the Ohio River Valley. Prevailing wind for the year is 9.9mph from the southwest.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

This as well from NOAA (it's a odd not sure how to link it.
Maybe "prevailing winds" is the key not just "winter winds" persay.

Prevailing winds average near 10 mph and travel generally from the southwest during most of
the year. Wind speeds in excess of 100 mph have been measured in Indiana near severe storms
and tornadoes. During winter months winds prevail from a northerly direction and are more
persistent. The land and lake breeze effect is prominent in the summer and the cooling lake
breeze tends to reduce daytime maximum temperatures along the Lake Michigan shore and for
up to a mile inland.

 

[chonsey]

Well, I put a 100 watt utility light bulb in with the roosters, they're in a horse stall. My hens are in their own coop and I don't have anywhere to hang a light. Have to put some thought into it.

 

[KHoward]

Altfrizzle,

I am in Southern MA, so I understand what you are going through right now - and we have a N'oreaster coming this week. 4x8 is a good size, how many birds do you have in there now? If you only have a few, then you may need to put some heat in there, or add more chickens. Conversely, if you have too many chickens in there, that could be a problem too.

You can give them some cracked corn in late afternoon to help increase the body temp. I have heard from many sources that adding certain spices to their food or water can help warm them as well: black pepper, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, garlic, etc. (Ask Mr. Google).

Good luck!

 

[Ashley McDaniel]

I

Altfrizzle,

I am in Southern MA, so I understand what you are going through right now - and we have a N'oreaster coming this week. 4x8 is a good size, how many birds do you have in there now? If you only have a few, then you may need to put some heat in there, or add more chickens. Conversely, if you have too many chickens in there, that could be a problem too.

You can give them some cracked corn in late afternoon to help increase the body temp. I have heard from many sources that adding certain spices to their food or water can help warm them as well: black pepper, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, garlic, etc. (Ask Mr. Google).

Good luck!

Find this to be quite true. I give my birds cracked corn mixed with a little pepper and garlic before bedtime.

 

[Altfrizzle]

According to my calculations I have 8 sf per bird. They all fit on the roost in a line without much room between them. I have 2 roosts and 2 of them go on the lower one. They could fit in the upper one.

They all get scratch before bedtime.

 

[Ashley McDaniel]

According to my calculations I have 8 sf per bird. They all fit on the roost in a line without much room between them. I have 2 roosts and 2 of them go on the lower one. They could fit in the upper one.

They all get scratch before bedtime.

that's funny because I also have two roosts, and they could all fut on one if they wanted, but there are two hens who sleep alone on the other roosts, and then my 2 Silkies sleep on the ladder that's leading up to the highest roost.

 

[Ashley McDaniel]

Fit*

that's funny because I also have two roosts, and they could all fut on one if they wanted, but there are two hens who sleep alone on the other roosts, and then my 2 Silkies sleep on the ladder that's leading up to the highest roost.