Opinions of cold climate chicken keepers needed

[path.otto]

its going to be -30 to -45 tonight

Oh, good, you go first and tell us how your chickens did! I'm not getting those temps until tomorrow night.

 

[ejtrout31]

Oh, good, you go first and tell us how your chickens did! I'm not getting those temps until tomorrow night.

will do no school around here for the next 2 days

 

[WNYgardener]

FWIW, my birds all survived -33F last night with zero supplemental heat. And I have both Large Fowl and young Bantams.

Hi, is that -33F true temperature or with wind chill? How cold do you think it got inside the coop?

 

[Cyprus]

Hi, is that -33F true temperature or with wind chill? How cold do you think it got inside the coop?

True temp. Idk about the coop, but probably at least -10F.

 

[citykitty]

I'm reposting from the Ohio thread, I want to get everyone's opinions. We're supposed to have -25 or more runs chill tonight. my birds have been hardened against the cold, and they have been fine so far in the cold temperatures. I don't have a heat source in the coop, and won't put one in there. I'm struggling with adding more bedding and keeping them in their coop, versus trying to bring them in the garage and stress them as well. Will they be actually warmer in their smaller coop with extra bedding, or do I put them into the garage with a heater? I feel like they have a better chance of staying warm if they're in a smaller space versus the garage. I have no way of bringing the whole coop inside. Half of the run is wrapped in a tarp, and the coop is pretty sturdy although not insulated. They are good about going inside when it's very cold, so I'm not worried about that. I always leave the chicken door open for a little bit of extra ventilation, and they like to come and go. I'm just afraid that bringing them into the garage might be more stressful and not actually better for them.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

-60 degrees? MINUS 60??? Holy popsickles Batman!! My birds would all be in bedroom at that point. Please you guys be careful. That is weather conditions not to be taken lightly. Hope it does not stick around.

The chickens won't be feeling -60F. That's windchill. Actual temp will be around -30F. Still that's super cold. That would probably kill my bamboo.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Everybody likes to post the wind chill. It's bragging rights of what we endure. Unless you are outside in the wind that number means nothing. Absolutely nothing as it's wind factor and if you are not exposed to the wind it's null and void.

People talk about the weather and we can do something about it. Build a coop for your birds. Ensure it's well ventilated without holes in side that cause drafts (wind) on birds. Best venting is via a slant roof with vents bottom and top soffit. Fresh air enters top of coop, as it moves along slope of roof it mixes with the ammonia and moist air of coop pushing it out the top eave vents. A dry coop is a well ventilated coop. Well ventilated is healthy birds.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

So my 6x12 coop was venting through the tops of a window but it was getting drafty in extremely cold and windy days. Expecting temps and windchill below 0 this week and figured it was safer to get the cold handled vs the vent. Thoughts?

I have already determined that i need to install a better vent system but it won’t happen right away.

Into coop is the back half of a 12x12 shed. It is raised up on cement block to avoid flooding which is extremely common in my areA. But when the weather gets cold it really makes it cold in there. I keep it pretty clean but the bedding keeps getting frozen solid! I break it up with a twisting garden claw and throw more bedding. Is that enough or will i have to address the floor freezing?

Please post some pics. What kind of bedding are you using?? And where in Ohio are you located?

 

[path.otto]

Everybody likes to post the wind chill. It's bragging rights of what we endure. Unless you are outside in the wind that number means nothing. Absolutely nothing as it's wind factor and if you are not exposed to the wind it's null and void.

People talk about the weather and we can do something about it. Build a coop for your birds. Ensure it's well ventilated without holes in side that cause drafts (wind) on birds. Best venting is via a slant roof with vents bottom and top soffit. Fresh air enters top of coop, as it moves along slope of roof it mixes with the ammonia and moist air of coop pushing it out the top eave vents. A dry coop is a well ventilated coop. Well ventilated is healthy birds.

Wind chill is what we should be worrying about when we run back and forth all day to the coop checking on our birds and gathering eggs! Bundle up everyone and cover up your face!

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Everybody likes to post the wind chill. It's bragging rights of what we endure. Unless you are outside in the wind that number means nothing. Absolutely nothing as it's wind factor and if you are not exposed to the wind it's null and void.

People talk about the weather and we can do something about it. Build a coop for your birds. Ensure it's well ventilated without holes in side that cause drafts (wind) on birds. Best venting is via a slant roof with vents bottom and top soffit. Fresh air enters top of coop, as it moves along slope of roof it mixes with the ammonia and moist air of coop pushing it out the top eave vents. A dry coop is a well ventilated coop. Well ventilated is healthy birds.

So heartily agree. My coop is a converted 8' x 10' shed with vents on each side facing east and west at top sides. Ventilation is good. I put cardboard up as insulation on the rafters to (1) keep chickens from roosting on 8 ft high beam and 2) to prevent drafts on chickens. I left several spots open to allow air flow. The pop door stays open all day so there is plenty of ventilation. I stir their litter every other day and add more shavings to coop and run. They've done well this winter. It has been a much colder winter for sure. I tried to schedule a wood pellet delivery yesterday and found out that the distributers had run out of stock. I was lucky and found 30 bags available and grabbed them up. Hopefully the groundhog will be kind this year. LOL!