Surviving Minnesota!

[Tfred1399]

What are the temperatures predicted? I really doubt you need a heat lamp. Your routine sounds good, it's about what I have my chicken sitters do. Make sure to tell her to feed them.

Lol. Forecast is for single digits for highs, -20 at night. I'll have a couple of days if highs below zero before we leave. Feed is out in the run for them.

 

[BantyChooks]

Lol. Forecast is for single digits for highs, -20 at night. I'll have a couple of days if highs below zero before we leave. Feed is out in the run for them.

I'd move the feed as close to the pop door as you can. I don't add heat for my birds at those temps.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

TFred she might have ice still with the negative temps in that fount. Can she get warm water to run over any stuck ice?

One or two days of sub zero will not hurt. It’s the extended day after day. When I’m using heat I’m checking and rechecking points of connections to be sure the lamp is secure. Might not be worth risk while you are away. You have the right birds for ten below I might say.

 

[Tfred1399]

TFred she might have ice still with the negative temps in that fount. Can she get warm water to run over any stuck ice?

One or two days of sub zero will not hurt. It’s the extended day after day. When I’m using heat I’m checking and rechecking points of connections to be sure the lamp is secure. Might not be worth risk while you are away. You have the right birds for ten below I might say.

That's why I got the PCs. She'll have to slop water out a few times in a small waterer I use in the coop so it doesn't freeze as fast. I wouldn't heat if we were home. I'll probably dump another bale of shavings in, since they don't roost, but sleep on the floor. The feeder hangs next to the ramp.

I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

On the PCs... what color is desirable for their legs? I have some that are real dark and others that are real yellow.

 

[duluthralphie]

I do not use heat lamps. Weak birds die.

I assume I will lose a couple birds next week. The first extended cold snap does that. I lost one when we were in the 15 degree spell. The 15 below spell will take a couple of older ones I am afraid.

Personally, I am relying on my Chinook warming wind dance to get us through the cold snap.

I do use heated founts or the heated fount bases for water....OR heated dog dishes.

 

[BantyChooks]

On the PCs... what color is desirable for their legs? I have some that are real dark and others that are real yellow.

Yellow, as rich as possible.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

TFred do they have a roost available just in case they want to learn in this cold and pop up and wrap some fluff around the feet? Extra shavings are good. Im going to be doing that myself.

 

[ejb3810]

They definitely need fresh water at least daily. If it freezes the water supply that is no good. They should not need any supplemental heat in the coop.
Do they have a ramp to get to the roost? That may help initially, but mine have never used one. They just jump up on it.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

The water does seem to disappear in that cold too. I don't know if they drink more or if it's evaporating faster at times. Or a combo of both....? Birds do need it more in the frigid temps ...more than you realize.

 

[Tfred1399]

No ramp to the roost. They use it during the day. They just don't sleep on it at night. Never have. They're all up on the top roost as we speak.

I just swap waterers out multiple times to keep fresh water out there. Probably time for a dog dish.