No Ventilation...Help!

[Kale Chips]

They are gonna move less and eat less when it's really cold.
It's why I use treats to gauge mobility, if they won't move to eat treats they may need some special attention.

Ok, thank you for the tip! I'll keep an eye on her and make sure she still goes for the special treats

 

[kwhites634]

So it was -9* In the coop this morning so I made the raptors some warm oatmeal with red pepper for breakfast (along with the normal crumble). I also did my best to clean out the poop and added a bunch of pine shavings to help keep them insulated a bit. Are they still ok in this cold? I just struggle because my dad continually bugs me to put a heater in there...and I feel so bad for them! But I also know that they are animals built for the weather (but -9?!?!). Humidity is at 72% and outside it is 59% so while it hasn't changed in the coop, it has gotten higher outside (So I am *almost* within range).

Another question: I noticed one of my golden comets was all puffed up and sleeping yesterday (like...sick chicken style) but I wasn't sure if that is just because she was cold? She was doing it again to a lesser extent this morning, and thankfully when I offered her some food she did take some. Is she just cold?

Probably not cold; just puffed up to keep from getting that way.

 

[21hens-incharge]

We have had -16°F here and no extra heat. Hang in there temps are supposed to go up.

While your humidity is high and for the coming week keep a watch for signs of frostbite.

 

[Kale Chips]

We have had -16°F here and no extra heat. Hang in there temps are supposed to go up.

While your humidity a high and for the coming week keep a watch for signs of frostbite.

-16*F inside the coop? Or outside? I have been watching out for signs of frostbite and most of the chickens have pale combs, and one or two have dark bits on their waddles. I think this is from taking drinks of water and then the water freezing. Is there anything I can do to prevent this? I have seen that you shouldn't touch frostbitten flesh but I have also seen that you can put petroleum jelly. It seems like I would traumatize them more than help if I tried smearing it on them, but I could try...?

 

[aart]

I have seen that you shouldn't touch frostbitten flesh but I have also seen that you can put petroleum jelly. It seems like I would traumatize them more than help if I tried smearing it on them, but I could try...?

IMO hands off both before and especially after.
It's ugly and scary but sans infection it's best to leave it alone.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/frostbite-in-sw-michigan.74597/

 

[21hens-incharge]

-16*F inside the coop? Or outside? I have been watching out for signs of frostbite and most of the chickens have pale combs, and one or two have dark bits on their waddles. I think this is from taking drinks of water and then the water freezing. Is there anything I can do to prevent this? I have seen that you shouldn't touch frostbitten flesh but I have also seen that you can put petroleum jelly. It seems like I would traumatize them more than help if I tried smearing it on them, but I could try...?

Inside and outside the coop. The difference was there was no wind in the coop. The wind chill was -25 when that was going on.

I would not even attempt to touch any potentially frostbite areas. It causes far more damage than is already there.

 

[21hens-incharge]

The only thing I would be worried about would be frozen feet really.
That is luckily rare.

 

[The Lazy L]

Wednesday we had a low of -18 plus the wind chill. Coop has two windows that face south. Windows are open (tilted in) leaving a 4" air gap at the top of the windows. Floor under the roost is open wire mesh to allow the poop to fall through. Chicken door to the secured run is open 24x7 and faces the west. Coop roof peak is ventilated. Roost is in a draft free coop area. No supplemental heat is provide.

Feed and water (heated to keep from freezing) in the run.

8 Rode Island Reds. 6 eggs Tuesday, eight on Wednesday and another 8 Thursday. two frozen (cracked) eggs each day. Hens show no stress from the cold.