South Louisiana Temps Dropping & Chicken Owners

[kuntrygirl]

People were preparing early for the freeze this week by buying up all of the hay. I was out this weekend, trying to buy hay as well. I went to 5 feed stores and they were out of hay. Can you believe that? People bought all the hay they could get their hands on in an attempt to prepare for the upcoming freeze in Louisiana. The last feed store I went to, the man felt sorry for me, he said that he had 2 bales of hay but they were apart (all over the place but still neat in one close area) but I could have it. He said that he would give it to me (no charge) Lucky for me, I had 2 large unused trash bags in my car, the man, his son and I bagged the hay up and put it in the trash bags. Well he definitely has a new customer. I will go back to him and buy my hay from him from here on out. He is also the cheapest. He sells his bales of hay for $4.00. All of the over feed stores sell their hay for $6.50 to $8.00.

 

[greathorse]

Quote:
I am not busting on you I promise, and I think it is admirable that you are taking steps to make sure your chickens are OK, but I can tell that from a place that see 20 degree night temps as just awesome and negative zero F temps all the time this just makes me laugh. We BBQ on the veranda in 20 degree weather. Light jacket for doing chores shirt sleeves for going for the mail.

Keep em warm

 

[beaken]

It was 27 below here in Isanti, mn saturday. Its my 1st year ever raising Chickens . I have a 13 foot by 14 foot by 14 foot high coop UNINSULATED NON HEATED with a window open 12 feet above there heads. It's draft free . Gotta admit I was a little nervous when I went to check on them .. They looked GREAT NOT A TOUCH OF BLUE ON THE BUNCH.. RUNNING AROUND THE COOP LIKE SPRING CHICKENS.. 4 BARRED ROCK AND 10 GOLD SEX LINKS ! It's been -15 plus every night for 10 days now. Good luck don't worry about the chickens they are hardier then you think.

 

[DonnaBelle]

Thanks Beaken for your post!!! I'm in Oklahoma, and it's supposed to get to -3 tomorrow night. Wow. I have a chicken house, 12' x 24' with about 8 inches of litter on the floor. I have 2 heat lamps hanging from the ceiling over the waterer to keep it from freezing. I have ventilation, plus the heat lamps help with humidity. I worry about frozen combs. I know people in Northern climates laugh at us Southern petunias, but thanks for letting us know we are being a little overprotective. DH keeps telling me about his childhood on the farm in Northern Iowa and how his Mother didn't baby her chickens any and they made it just fine. Still...........

DonnaBelle

 

[LALADY1101]

Hey my fellow Louisiana folks!!

I'm in Lake Charles and I sooooo agree with ya'll on these ridiculous temps. We are just not accustomed to this kind of weather. I'll take 95 degree temps and 100% humidity over this anyday. I have RIR and Silkies that are kept in seperate coops. My silkies refuse to go into the enclosed area of their coop. I've been afraid to check on them the last couple of mornings for fear of finding them frozen to death. So far, so good but I am gonna have my husband wrap a tarp around the open area this afternoon. Good luck to all of ya'll!!

 

[elmo]

They roost on 2" metal pipe from a pipe gate I had that fell apart

Metal can be a very hard surface for a chicken's feet in cold weather like we're expecting here in Texas tonight. Any moisture and their toes will freeze to it. I'd swap that out for something made of wood, like a tree branch or a 2 x 4.​

 

[outdoorkenny]

I live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana! I just discovered BYC
I have 3 RIR's, 2 New Hampshires, and 1 Exchueqer. They are all layers.
I hope they are ok. I have a flood light mounted in the coop. The coop is not insulated but it is enclosed.

 

[RocketDad]

Cable ties on all clamp lights, please!!

 

[Mountain Sunshine]

Quote:
We have our light in a ceramic fixture then that is mounted to a cement board that is mounted to the wall in the chicken house and the light has a cage around it.

 

[chickenlittle32]

I am so happy we got the coop ready for this weather ahead of time...its gonna feel alot colder because everything is so wet..just listened to the weather and we will be below freezing for 36 hrs...I am glad they are gonna be somewhat warm....