Preparing for a winter storm in CT w/ wicked wind gusts.

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Hello, CT weather has wicked winds and super low temps headed. I will keep the girls in the hen house and am worried about the water situation. Please offer your advice/expertise.
The temp will be 9 degrees with a wind chill of -5 and wind gusts up to 45mph. What can i do to prepare for this?? Thank you!

 

[Callender Girl]

I find it as hard to prepare myself mentally as to prepare the girls physically. I have to keep reminding myself that as long as they have well-ventilated shelter, access to fresh water (I end up changing mine about three times a day. I bring the frozen ones in to thaw and replace with thawed out ones), and plenty of food -- because cold weather burns more calories -- they will likely be fine.

I say that as we are still under wind chill advisory, and the temp is minus 10 right now. Experience has taught me that for all of my worrying, they will all be okay. Sending warm thoughts to you and your girls!

 

[saysfaa]

How many chickens do you have and what kind of water system?

Wind chill doesn't matter if the chickens and water are out of drafts.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

How many chickens do you have and what kind of water system?

Wind chill doesn't matter if the chickens and water are out of drafts.

I have 6 hens. The water i use now is a hanging style that plugs in kept in the run.

 

[saysfaa]

Here, the temperatures have been mostly in the teens for over a month with some days in the 20s and some in the single digits. If I were you with that coop and run, I would leave the coop door open and put a two- or three- sided box around the waterer as a windblock. Some heated water setups will be fine without the windblock, some will need the windblock, and some won't be at that temperature even with the windblock. Since you don't know which yours is, check it a little more often than usual. It probably won't need more than some hot water added to the tank to help the heater out.

Can you check it every couple of hours? At least in the daytime - they won't drink at night anyway, so you can empty it or bring it in for the night if you think it might freeze. If you can't check it, there are other things that can be done but start with the simple way.

 

[GRB73]

I can sympathize. I'm in SE PA, and the same nasty noreaster is headed our way. Can you wrap the side of the run where the prevailing wind will be? I use greenhouse plastic that I raise and lower throughout the winter. I leave gaps at the top for ventilation. We use a heated dog bowl for water, and it works down to 0 degrees. I still make a point of checking it a few times a day to ensure it doesn't malfunction and freeze. If your ladies have access to feed and unfrozen water, are out of the wind, and are kept dry, they will be ok.

I admit I still get nervous when these big storms roll through. I won't sleep very well tonight.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

I can sympathize. I'm in SE PA, and the same nasty noreaster is headed our way. Can you wrap the side of the run where the prevailing wind will be? I use greenhouse plastic that I raise and lower throughout the winter. I leave gaps at the top for ventilation. We use a heated dog bowl for water, and it works down to 0 degrees. I still make a point of checking it a few times a day to ensure it doesn't malfunction and freeze. If your ladies have access to feed and unfrozen water, are out of the wind, and are kept dry, they will be ok.

I admit I still get nervous when these big storms roll through. I won't sleep very well tonight.

Hello GRB, thanks for the response. I have the entire coop minus the top top portion wrapped in tarp. See pics. I did only 50% covered in tarp on the south side. I guess i assume they would have to be locked in the henhouse, or, leave it open and let them figure it out? I was already wracking my brain trying to find a way to keep food and water in hen house and lock them in. Do you think i should cover that other 50% on the south side??

 

[Folly's place]

Ventilation is still important. Wrap the run, leaving the top foot or so open on the leeward side. Where there's a roof overhang, very little snow will blow in if there's abit of an opening along that roof line.
Will you have power (generator?). If not, store extra water now, for you and your critters.
9F will be fine, depending on your breeds (Silkies, Seramas, and frizzles are problems in cold). Plenty of food, and unfrozen water, and blocking that wind all matter.
All the best!
Mary

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

Ventilation is still important. Wrap the run, leaving the top foot or so open on the leeward side. Where there's a roof overhang, very little snow will blow in if there's abit of an opening along that roof line.
Will you have power (generator?). If not, store extra water now, for you and your critters.
9F will be fine, depending on your breeds (Silkies, Seramas, and frizzles are problems in cold). Plenty of food, and unfrozen water, and blocking that wind all matter.
All the best!
Mary

Thanks for taking your time to offer your advice Mary. I have 6 hardy GLW’s. I do have a heated waterer. I’m more worried about the wind gusts Saturday evening. I wrapped the run entirely. After voicing my concerns here on BYC’s, i feel much more comfortable about everything. I tarped the entire 50% in December and the past 2 weeks have been adding the blue portions. Thanks again everyone. I learned as long as i prevent wetness and drafts, water and food available at all times, we’ll be good