Sunday is calling for 50 and rain, to 9 degrees farenheit

[ronott1]

Better they fill their crops with a good chicken ration feed before going to roost...
....just as 'warm' and more nutrition

X2! The warm and cool food is a myth.

 

[ronott1]

I am going to do a little experiment to show different.

Check out poultry studies--this experiment has been done already on large scales

 

[centrarchid]

Check out poultry studies--this experiment has been done already on large scales

No it has not! Wait till you see the experimental design. No commercial producer in their right mind would do what we can do with flocks where temperature variation and lighting are less controlled. Just wait till lunch.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

My girls always get at least a little wet in the rain so I'm worried about frostbite. I don't heat the coop (it has TONS of ventilation). The news is claiming the temperature is going to drop fast. Am I being a worry wort? Should I just keep them inside during the day so they dont get wet then literally freeze?

I just checked the weather app and the high is projected to be 42F with snow and the low is 8F

 

[runt325]

I just checked the weather app and the high is projected to be 42F with snow and the low is 8F

I was wandering the same thing it's supposed to be 29F here and low of 14F I was wandering what to do

 

[Chickassan]

I make mine an oatmeal/crumble mix slightly warm, maybe put a few mealworms or raisins.
It seems to me they fill up more on this mashy mixture than their normal crumble and it gives some added moisture.
Do not know if it keeps them warmer, but they are full and that makes me feel a little better.

 

[WVduckchick]

Got it. Hopefully others with repeat. Must be repeatable to stand test of time.

I'd be interested in this. Participation if you want others to test too, or just seeing your results. If you could tag me too, that would be awesome. Or come back here with a link?

Apologies to the OP for the off-topic, yet related, content.

 

[centrarchid]

See thread linked for how this to be tested.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...g-cold-winter-night-using-shell-corn.1287981/

 

[aart]

Materials and Methods

This really should be in another thread.

 

[centrarchid]

This really should be in another thread.

Done.