Preparing Free-range Flock for Major Wind Chill

[centrarchid]

Messed up world here is not limited to chickens. Driving into town to meet with a date I actually drove past a male bobwhite quail sitting in the middle of the road. This was after dark.

 

[centrarchid]

This morning in full sunlight I was able to find two more American Dominic pullets in location that we walked by several times last night. They were under the base of the kids slide. Still not have found America Dominic Cockrell, although I’m sure he’s still around.

None of the free-range birds came off the roost this morning. Only birds that were penned did so and they only came down briefly to eat and then promptly returned to the roost.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think mine eat snow and ice. It is a little irritating to bring nice warm water, only to have them eat the ice chips out of the black rubber bowl that I just stomped out. I too think that they do not drink a lot of water this time of year. Mine are out of production, so I like that point.

We are -22 this morning and deep snow and drifts. But the sun is shinning. I have been shutting the pop up door the last two nights, as a the wind was suppose to howl, but has not.

We are over the worst and suppose to be 40 degrees ABOVE zero Sunday.

 

[centrarchid]

I think mine eat snow and ice. It is a little irritating to bring nice warm water, only to have them eat the ice chips out of the black rubber bowl that I just stomped out. I too think that they do not drink a lot of water this time of year. Mine are out of production, so I like that point.

We are -22 this morning and deep snow and drifts. But the sun is shinning. I have been shutting the pop up door the last two nights, as a the wind was suppose to howl, but has not.

We are over the worst and suppose to be 40 degrees ABOVE zero Sunday.

Mine definitely consuming snow and ice. When snow on ground the penned chickens show little interest in water. When no snow cover, I have to stay on top of water bowl filling.

 

[Mrs. K]

Well mine have a sufficient supply of snow and ice for a while anyway! haha

 

[centrarchid]

Some birds this morning.

First image of an American Game pair (Cos and Brownie). They come down only to roost. Cos (foreground) suffering frostbite on comb which is not at all unusual. He is scheduled for dubbing anyway. They came down briefly for eats then promptly returned to roost. Odds are they will not come off roost until just before dark when they quickly feed up again.

These are birds I policed up last night. None came off the roost this morning.

Peanut very close to where she slept last night. She did not use the dog house. Honey also slept on straw although she relocated to a sunnier place just before photograph taken.

My Aseels not shown are not handling cold nearly as well. The Aseels do not huddle well and just now got smart enough to use overturned bucket as cover from wind. They have to rely much more upon heat production to stay warm while everyone else can also improve heat conservation even when exposed to weather.

Overall, these chickens are out in the open as not confined to actual coops. This comes at cost of little or no egg production, higher feed costs, and my inability to raise younger chickens unless more confinement is used.

My son's juvenile Aseels are in the garage (gets below freezing) or literally free-range in the house. The Aseel juveniles are not as tough as American Games and Dominiques when it comes to cold. It is a painful lesson for son that has to clean up after the random pooping machines.

 

[centrarchid]

I think for next year a proper weather shed with south-eastern orientation will be acquired for the free-range chickens. A lot of hay / straw can be kept on ground in shed that feces can ultimately be mixed with for composting. We produce far more feces per bird during winter because of higher food consumption owing to cold, larger average size of birds, and longer portion of dial cycle where birds are on the roost.

 

[3KillerBs]

This is a very interesting thread to follow. Thanks for posting.

 

[Mrs. K]

As always interesting.

 

[centrarchid]

Birds coming off roost this morning although at least an hour late. One hen from barn flew about 50 yards from barn although she turned around. They are avoiding contact with snow.