please stop your chickens from freezing to death

[Chickeeaholic]

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.

I get irritated by it too. There are so many factors to consider. People are also always saying in the old days, etc. people didn’t hear. Chickens were rotated to the dinner table often back then too. I know many story’s from farms around me of chickens staying in the cold and being okay and others where their eyes froze out and feet froze off. No one can know exactly what is happening with another persons flock through words on a screen.

 

[SouthDakotaLiving]

I get irritated by it too. There are so many factors to consider. People are also always saying in the old days, etc. people didn’t hear. Chickens were rotated to the dinner table often back then too. I know many story’s from farms around me of chickens staying in the cold and being okay and others where their eyes froze out and feet froze off. No one can know exactly what is happening with another persons flock through words on a screen.

Thank you for the validation. I'm very concerned here with temps that vary by as much as 60 degrees in a day or a week, and temps getting down below -35 F. These are tropical birds that have been domesticated by us. Does not mean they will survive any temps by simply somehow keeping them dry and giving proper ventilation. I'm also not Ok with my chickens losing combs or feet over frostbite.

 

[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. :]

Just so you know, I have been searching all cold weather threads for help for a number of weeks. You are not the social media police. I'm entitled to my opinion.

 

[Chickeeaholic]

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

Thank you for the validation. I'm very concerned here with temps that vary by as much as 60 degrees in a day or a week, and temps getting down below -35 F. These are tropical birds that have been domesticated by us. Does not mean they will survive any temps by simply somehow keeping them dry and giving proper ventilation. I'm also not Ok with my chickens losing combs or feet over frostbite.

That is my thoughts exactly. They are tropical but bred for traits like cold tolerance. People in the south probably have birds for warm weather and I worry for them. This will be hard on them. Your breed determines a lot. Your coop, ventilation also how is the coop facing? Etc?

This storm makes me nervous too because it’s a sudden change. Everyone who says a sudden loss of heat if birds are use to supplemental heat should understand a sudden drop like this is not something chickens are prepared for even if they have been in the cold without heat all along. It’s good you are doing your research. There is a lot of good advice on here despite the others.

 

[KimsNest]

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.

So true! Thanks!

 

[Dinosaur Village Keeper]

Just so you know, I have been searching all cold weather threads for help for a number of weeks. You are not the social media police. I'm entitled to my opinion.

I have heaters on for my girls tonight (northeast PA) because this temp change is so drastic. Last year I finally found a supplemental heat that I am thrilled with and is supposed to be very safe. They are carbon fiber heaters. I purchased 2 of the 600 watt ones and they keep the barn 15-20 degrees warmer than outside. It’s not a lot, which is good because I want them to be tough in case of power outages, but it’s enough to ease my worry and hopefully make them more comfortable. I still have a hen that is half naked from molting! I adore my chickens and will do anything to spoil them. Like you, it’s not just about them freezing to death… I don’t want ANYTHING to happen to them! I don’t even want the innocent little creatures to feel terrible cold. Anyways, I got the heaters at Premier1supplies if you want to look into them for later. They also sell much safer heat lamps, but I haven’t tried those. Hope your flock does well these next couple of cold days!

 

[centrarchid]

At some point heated roost poles would be nice to test. The feet are a potential site for heat uptake without messing up insulation value of feathers.

 

[Ponyiqandhens2]

I am in south Louisiana after a week of rain we went from 70 to 50 in 12 hours then to 17 4 hours with wind chill of 7. My two flocks of 8 free range always, they roost on my concrete back porch. I do have a coop there, I do have 6 nesting boxes and 2 heat lamps for the barn cats ..I have a broody with 9 eggs out there.i thought about bringing her in, but she's an oeg bantam and normally my pet, but she wants nothing to do,attacks people, cats,her flock if they get close..so we deep bedded the area around her box have a heat lamp aimed at the edge ( they are chained up and on a breaker plug) the older flock huddled together on the normal roost and was out free ranging by 530 am, an hour later than normal..the young flock was out eating by 430.. they had a well protected area but chose a different place a 6 inch tall space blocked on 3 1/2 sides
I kept plenty of water..I watched them break ice in the ruts to my pasture little weirdos

 

[SouthDakotaLiving]

I am in south Louisiana after a week of rain we went from 70 to 50 in 12 hours then to 17 4 hours with wind chill of 7. My two flocks of 8 free range always, they roost on my concrete back porch. I do have a coop there, I do have 6 nesting boxes and 2 heat lamps for the barn cats ..I have a broody with 9 eggs out there.i thought about bringing her in, but she's an oeg bantam and normally my pet, but she wants nothing to do,attacks people, cats,her flock if they get close..so we deep bedded the area around her box have a heat lamp aimed at the edge ( they are chained up and on a breaker plug) the older flock huddled together on the normal roost and was out free ranging by 530 am, an hour later than normal..the young flock was out eating by 430.. they had a well protected area but chose a different place a 6 inch tall space blocked on 3 1/2 sides
I kept plenty of water..I watched them break ice in the ruts to my pasture little weirdos

Such drastic changes in temp are indeed a concern! I will have to look into the breaker plug--I'd not heard of that before.

 

[SouthDakotaLiving]

I have heaters on for my girls tonight (northeast PA) because this temp change is so drastic. Last year I finally found a supplemental heat that I am thrilled with and is supposed to be very safe. They are carbon fiber heaters. I purchased 2 of the 600 watt ones and they keep the barn 15-20 degrees warmer than outside. It’s not a lot, which is good because I want them to be tough in case of power outages, but it’s enough to ease my worry and hopefully make them more comfortable. I still have a hen that is half naked from molting! I adore my chickens and will do anything to spoil them. Like you, it’s not just about them freezing to death… I don’t want ANYTHING to happen to them! I don’t even want the innocent little creatures to feel terrible cold. Anyways, I got the heaters at Premier1supplies if you want to look into them for later. They also sell much safer heat lamps, but I haven’t tried those. Hope your flock does well these next couple of cold days!

Wow these heaters look like they might be a really good option, assuming one has a secure way to hang these up high enough. Here's a link for them: https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/...hMIj6iAoKWS_AIVggKtBh1s1gmaEAAYASAAEgJVqPD_Bw

Please update us as to how they work and how you feel about them.