Should I keep the light on?

[TwoCrows]

They should be fine. Good luck and keep us posted tomorrow on how it went.

 

[pappy1264]

Using fleece to stuff the pockets. Should I do them all just for tonight or leave a couple open? I have the heat lamp in there, and stuffing some of the pockets already made a huge difference. I don't want to do the wrong thing, just do want them freezing to death! Hubby is taking pics so you can see what we did.

 

[TwoCrows]

I don't think you should cover all the vents. Maybe half of them. The ones closest to the roosting area. If it is windy right now, there will be enough air movement to remove moisture.

I look at heating this way....If I were raising chickens in Canada or Alaska where the average over night low was -10 or -20 in the winter, and it was going to go down to -30, that is not a huge temp jump. The chickens bodies are already adapted to very cold temps.

But, because I am raising my birds in an area with over night average lows of 10 or 15, should the temp drop to -20, that is a huge drop. 30 degree drop. And I would think this is a big change for my birds and could shock them. So I add heat when it when it gets down to -10 or more.

Until your over night temps return to the normal range or within 10 degrees of it, I would keep your vents partially closed off. At least this is how I have always done it at my place. These are just my humble opinions.

 

[pappy1264]

We covered the three closest to the roost, left the other two open (both the front and the back). I also have the heat lamp on over the roost for tonight, as well. Yes, it has been in the 20's here at night, so going down to -20, that is a huge jump! They have done good so far. We cleaned the whole coop today, too, to make sure no poop in there, so that should help too. Put down all fresh shavings, then straw on top of that, cleaned out poop table, added fresh pdz. Here are a couple of pics.

 

[TwoCrows]

Very nice flock! I think you did good. Make sure the light is directly on them, in line with them. I think they will be fine. Let us know how they get thru the night.

Oh, and good luck to you as well!

 

[pappy1264]

Thank you! It is pointing at them. They all snuggle up together every night (Ruby, the bantam actually sleeps UNDER the big girls, you can't even see her! lol) I am sure they are already much warmer. Just to get through this serious cold spell. Twenties and even teens they have been handling, but when I saw the snow inside I knew I had to do something. That should help without causing issues with humidity (esp. cleaning it out completely). I love my girls and just want them to be ok!

 

[TwoCrows]

Also, and if it is not too late tonight and the chickens are not yet roosting, you can take an old towel and staple it to the roost bar. Use industrial staples. Make sure to keep the staples on the bottom of the roost bar. I do this reguardless every winter. Keeps the feet warm. When the feet are warm, the birds are warmer.

 

[pappy1264]

Oh, will have hubby do it when he gets back, just went to the store. I actually thought of stapling some tight woven carpet on it, but then forgot. How about fleece, would that work ok? I sew and have tons of it, I can even double up.

 

[TwoCrows]

I like to use cotton. Acrylic/fleece can cause sweating since it is basically plastic. Which might make their feet colder. But if you don't have any cotton to use, then go with the fleece. The carpet would work well also. Might even work better than cotton. It sounds warmer and thicker than a towel.

 

[pappy1264]

We have tight weave carpet that doesn't loop, so won't catch toenails. Will have hubby pop some down for them to help keep their feet warmer.