Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[dheltzel]

Consider the tiny birds that flock to feeders in brutal winter conditions. There surface area to body mass ratio is much higher than your chickens, yet no winter has ever wiped them out. You conditions are much kinder than those birds endure, they have protection from strong winds, high energy food and liquid water without having to forage through miles of snow covered land.

Also, I like to think about times I've been outside in the bitter cold, but dressed appropriately and sheltered from direct winds. I'm actually pretty comfortable in those situations. The down on your birds is much more effective than any down jacket you've ever owned, since it's muscle controlled (they can fluff out the feathers to capture layers of air in their feathers).

So, if you want to help them, give them fresh water and plenty of food, and be sure they have a place to shelter against the winds. And check often for eggs, they freeze. If I have time, sometimes I take a small bowl of their regular food and add hot water to make it soft. They go nuts for that, just keep it to what they can clean up in a reasonable time, or it will freeze too. With a small flock, you could have 2 bowls for "hot porridge" and switch them, bringing the frozen one inside to thaw.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

My birds usually want out and about to free-range all day, but with the single digit temperatures and snow, they all have been fluffed up on the roost. I use deep litter and let them hang in the greenhouse in Winter, and the greenhouse is where they prefer to stay. It gets really warm in there with the light and deep litter. Water does not freeze. That is probably why they want to stay in.

It is nippy! Sounds like you have a good set up though!

I gave Oliver to a new home he was really rough with the girls 1 too many roos and not enough girls for him OMG grab them pounce and Tuxie would chase him off and then he would be back for more, worst teenager I've ever seen :cd but yes I have babies

So cute! Congrats!

Consider the tiny birds that flock to feeders in brutal winter conditions. There surface area to body mass ratio is much higher than your chickens, yet no winter has ever wiped them out. You conditions are much kinder than those birds endure, they have protection from strong winds, high energy food and liquid water without having to forage through miles of snow covered land. Also, I like to think about times I've been outside in the bitter cold, but dressed appropriately and sheltered from direct winds. I'm actually pretty comfortable in those situations. The down on your birds is much more effective than any down jacket you've ever owned, since it's muscle controlled (they can fluff out the feathers to capture layers of air in their feathers). So, if you want to help them, give them fresh water and plenty of food, and be sure they have a place to shelter against the winds. And check often for eggs, they freeze. If I have time, sometimes I take a small bowl of their regular food and add hot water to make it soft. They go nuts for that, just keep it to what they can clean up in a reasonable time, or it will freeze too. With a small flock, you could have 2 bowls for "hot porridge" and switch them, bringing the frozen one inside to thaw.

Thank you for your sound advice as always! I think I will make some porridge for the girls before I go to work. I agree, i thinkthey are built for the cold and can handle it when we provide the proper conditions.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Have any of you guys seen this? Excellent step by step on building a very nice coop. I will definitely follow something like this in this future.....

http://www.largechickencoops.com/large-chicken-coop-design-1.pdf

 

[stake]

Hi!
I am in South-central PA, Perry County to be exact. This is my first time with chickens but this Arctic blast has me worried!

Howdy from Chester Co...I too worry when the extreme cold and wind sets in...1/2 mine stayed in or around the coop where the its snow free....the other 1/2 went under the usual bush....I always give warm water when its cold and give them extra scratch(corn)....usually they are pretty tough, but last winter there were occasions when I needed to bring a bird inside to 're-coup'......

 

[SilkieSensation]

 
I have lights on a timer in my new coop. The come on at 3 or 4 in the morning and turn off at 7 AM. That seems better to me than trying to extend the evening and having it suddenly get dark when the lights go out.

that sounds good too..i am not sure if i can put these lights on a timer...will have to look things over when they get here.

Mine don't hibernate since they are in the house, but with the move, electrical issues with the rv

wow, she sure does sound like a survivor!! She has had one heck of a ride..hahaha...haven't we all though?! ...

It's a bit chilly in the cabin this morning. Pokey (bigger on left) & Spike have a skin of ice in their tank again. This is even sitting up on my dresser at the foot of my bed, closer to the woodstove than I am. Even with getting up every 2 hours to check the stove last night I had trouble keeping it burning well. It's going better now, but will take a while to get everything warmed up in here.

 

[chiques chicks]

Hi!
I am in South-central PA, Perry County to be exact. This is my first time with chickens but this Arctic blast has me worried!

Welcome from Lancaster county!

Shelter from the wind, ventilation to keep it dry, food and water. They are a lot tougher than they seem!

Interesting observation yesterday- my orpingtonss stayed mostly inside out of the snow, even though they are the larger and fluffier of my breeds. The Swedish Flower Hens, although scrawnier looking, were out in the snow running around like normal. I guess it has to do with their historical living conditions, I don't know.

 

[Grandee]

Another hi to everyone here ! For a year now I have my 4 bantams and thanks to the education I got here, they are doing wonderful in this cold blast.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

It's a bit chilly in the cabin this morning. Pokey (bigger on left) & Spike have a skin of ice in their tank again. This is even sitting up on my dresser at the foot of my bed, closer to the woodstove than I am. Even with getting up every 2 hours to check the stove last night I had trouble keeping it burning well. It's going better now, but will take a while to get everything warmed up in here.

I hope you get warm and stay warm! I'm freezing just reading this!

 

[dheltzel]

Have any of you guys seen this? Excellent step by step on building a very nice coop. I will definitely follow something like this in this future.....

http://www.largechickencoops.com/large-chicken-coop-design-1.pdf

Very nice. I suppose the term "large" depends on your perspective. If you build something like this, consider making it larger to accommodate the inevitable growth in your flock. I already wish I had made my 12x24 coop larger, I had it filled almost to capacity the day it was done.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Very nice. I suppose the term "large" depends on your perspective. If you build something like this, consider making it larger to accommodate the inevitable growth in your flock. I already wish I had made my 12x24 coop larger, I had it filled almost to capacity the day it was done.

Oh yes, after having chickens for almost a year now, I'm well aware of the rules of the game.