please stop your chickens from freezing to death

[featherz]

we've been double digit negative for weeks now, down to -26 and my chickens are all fine in an unheated, uninsulated coop. I do have a heated bowl, but no heat lamps at all. Even my leghorns are fine, just with a bit of mild frostbite on the comb tips. My bantams don't even seem to notice the cold. I am getting eggs from all of them, even some newbie pullet layers..

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Totally agree ..... I'd guess there were other issues going on that either the owners are unaware of or don't share. We were -18 yesterday and we had over 14" of snow the day before......other than some of them not wanting to venture out into the deep snow it hasn't even bothered them....not even my bantam SLWs. I don't think I've ever lost a chicken to the cold in all the years I've been keeping them....the summer heat on the other hand is another story. The heat is a much bigger threat to them than the cold.

 

[chicknmania]

We are afraid to use any heat source, especially at night. But, when it's really cold I like to throw out a pile of fresh straw. The chooks and peas like to snuggle in it, and it's rewarding to see a pile of them huddling together in the straw, obviously enjoying the extra warmth. My DS always gives them slightly warm water to drink in the morning and they seem to like that too. But it's true, they will huddle together and stay warm. When I walk in the barn in the morning after a cold night, I'm always surprised how warm it is in there from all those bodies... The major problem we've had with the brutal cold in frostbite on the roos, and I don't think there's much we can do about that...

 

[HorizonSon]

I don't get it! People lose chickens left and right do to heat and dehydration, during the Summer months. Yet the handful lost, worldwide, in the Winter months creates ridiculous hysteria.

 

[babyrnlc]

When do you (that are not afraid of the cold), let the chicks go outside without a light? We have 6 week old pullets that I have in a brooder in the shed with a light. They are fully feathered, when is it safe to wean them off the lamp?

I am feeling like it is time, but I do not want to hurt them either, but I am thinking if a hen was brooding them, they would not fit under her, so they would be keeping themselves warm at this point? Am I off?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
You could always put a lower watt bulb in there to wean them down slowly.

 

[ejb3810]

If you have chickens that are stressed for some reason other than cold ( for instance old age, wet conditions or parasites ) then the low temps can lead to their demise. If the birds are in good condition and have the ability to get out of wind and snow or rain them you should not have to worry. Ability to get water is a necessity, but heated water containers can be a breeding ground for bacteria and a conduit to pass virus. They must be kept clean!

 

[SouthDakotaLiving]

In most of the threads you are reading I guarantee there are underlying issues. The keepers won't admit or don't know it, but there is. Chickens don't freeze to death in even frigid, well below zero temperatures unless there are extenuating circumstances. Unfortunately, those threads where people claim their "perfectly healthy, perfectly well taken care of" chickens "froze to death" create panic in those that don't know better and spur posts like these that further create a 'chickens-can't-handle-cold-temperatures' hysteria.

You've got some good advice here -- pay attention to your chickens, know their individual needs and provide for them. Absolutely, but don't misunderstand -- most chickens are more than capable of withstanding incredibly low temperatures with only very basic accommodations.

zi realize this was written many years ago, but it still makes me angry to just assume the owner made a mistake and to not understand that local climates/conditions vary considerably. this is not helpful at all for a new chicken owner. "the owners won't admit or don't know it" and such phrases. Just sick to death of this!!!! These are tropical birds that have been domesticated. Really infuriated by these posts.

 

[nuthatched]

zi realize this was written many years ago, but it still makes me angry to just assume the owner made a mistake and to not understand that local climates/conditions vary considerably. this is not helpful at all for a new chicken owner. "the owners won't admit or don't know it" and such phrases. Just sick to death of this!!!! These are tropical birds that have been domesticated. Really infuriated by these posts.

11 years old....good grief, to be mad at a conversation 11 years ago is downright silly, especially since you weren't involved with it. Most chickens descend from land race breeds, generally from Europe (Europe gets cold) have zero issues in cold weather. Even india and and south east asia where we believe these birds originally came from does get cold.
If you have concerns with your own birds, please start a new thread so your questions can be addressed. :]

 

[SouthDakotaLiving]

11 years old....good grief, to be mad at a conversation 11 years ago is downright silly, especially since you weren't involved with it. Most chickens descend from land race breeds, generally from Europe (Europe gets cold) have zero issues in cold weather. Even india and and south east asia where we believe these birds originally came from does get cold.
If you have concerns with your own birds, please start a new thread so your questions can be addressed. :]

sorry. new owner here and very anxious with very severe weather, searching all threads for help. apologize.