Preparing Free-range Flock for Major Wind Chill

[centrarchid]

One "missing" pullets that has been roosting underdog kennel. She is out of wind, in full sun, and standing on dry grass.

Game hen that flew down from barn. After filling crop she got up on board in sunny location protected from wind.

These two birds in pen have fewer options so they cuddle. otherwise they are in very good condition.

More cuddlers.

Birds on top in sun, although I bet they move as standing on pen wire must be cold.

Brown-headed Cowbirds doing same thing as chickens, in location protected from wind and in full sun.

The black converts sunlight into heat quickly.

 

[3KillerBs]

One of the reasons I didn't worry about my birds getting out today (they bolted when DH replaced the waterer is that I figured they'd find a nice, sunny spot to hang out in.

I don't normally free-range, but there are various kinds of risk and I didn't want to deny them a warm spot in the sun on a rare all-day-below-freezing day.

 

[centrarchid]

One of the reasons I didn't worry about my birds getting out today (they bolted when DH replaced the waterer is that I figured they'd find a nice, sunny spot to hang out in.

I don't normally free-range, but there are various kinds of risk and I didn't want to deny them a warm spot in the sun on a rare all-day-below-freezing day.

This may not qualify as free range when birds move only enough to get out of dog’s shadow. See roosters clustered behind Peanut?

 

[centrarchid]

This component was not used when temperature was extremely low.

The hen and moments before the rooster where in the box on the hay. Box blocks wind and faces sun. Black color converts sunlight into heat and straw insulates feet from direct contact with frozen ground. I’m going to see if plexiglass like @MrsK used can be used for a greenhouse effect.

 

[Mrs. K]

It will be noticeably warmer. I have one similar wind block set up with shower doors repurposed as my first one. When you put your hand under there, it is noticeably warmer. And they hang out there.