Think it's too cold for your chickens? Think again...

[emarble]

Chickens, like other animals, can suffer from frostbite when the weather gets cold. Most chickens are tolerant of or even prefer the cold over heat, but when the temperature drops, they're prone to frostbite, especially in unheated or exposed areas. If you own chickens, you should be concerned about protecting your chickens from frostbite during the winter.
.Occurence
Frostbite can occur in chickens any time the temperature dips below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for a long time. Chickens that are without shelter or in shelter that does not protect them in the wind may suffer from frostbite.
Frostbite Areas
Chickens suffering from frostbite usually are frostbitten on the combs, wattles or toes. Areas that are covered with feathers are usually sufficiently protected to prevent frostbite. Frostbitten areas may turn white or black and, in some cases, the chicken may lose extremities such as toes.
Significance
Birds that are frostbitten on the combs and wattles will not lay eggs and will be infertile until the frostbitten areas have healed up. Birds that lose toes will be crippled and have a hard time standing. These birds will not lay eggs or be fertile while the injury heals. When very cold, chickens may suffer from egg binding, a condition where the eggs stay stuck in the bird's body.
Prevention/Solution
Many poultry owners use petroleum jelly to help prevent frostbite, but it is more important to have good shelter that keeps your chickens out of the wind and dry. Ensure there is a good water source that doesn't freeze, and feed more to your chickens to help them maintain enough calories to heat themselves. Change your birds' perches to flat perches so that their feathers cover their toes. You may also wish to provide a heat source to keep them warm.
Considerations
If you live in a cold-weather climate, you should choose birds that are specially bred for handling cold weather. Those birds usually have small combs and wattles. Some cold-weather birds include Aracaunas, Brahmas, Campines and dominiques.
Below is a link that may help


http://books.google.com/books?id=mU...nepage&q=frostbite causes in chickens&f=false

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[geebs]

Elieroo I heat my coop and I blanket my horses... I have a 14 year old hen in there and lots of 8 and 9 and 10 year old birds... My horse just died at the ripe old age of 31. I rode her till she died... She was healthy and happy and sound...Never took a lame step and was never ill. the only vet bill I had was euthanasia... I am opting with the blankets and the heatlight...That is just me. P.S. All of my horses have lived into their 30's and a couple ponies into thier 40's... I wouldn't choose to be cold and given a choice... my horse run for that blanket... (I only stall in really inclement weather) I believe they are large muscled animals that need to walk around a bit...I do provide a shelter in case of storms.... They only seek it during that time. My chickens won't stand in the rain either and they will stand or lay and bask under the warm light... I get eggs all winter.

 

[Mrs. K]

Emarble,

May I humbly disagree with you, there are levels to almost everything, last winter, occasionally, mine would get black dots on their combs, which I assume was frost bite, it was bitter cold. And the egg production did drop, but as soon as it warmed up, the eggs came back and eventually the black dots healed up.

I have the round perches, and when I went to check them tonight, I could not see any parts of the there feet, and mine have never lost a toe. However, while we might be a couple of weeks at 15-20 below and have occasionally gotten a bit colder, for shorter period of time. (It always amazes me how warm 20 degrees can feel, if it has been 20 below for a spell ) We don't get really cold for long periods of time.

Now, I do think it helps to have a full hen house, I do have under the roost nearly packed with hay, and it is a smallish coop. But mine are doing all right. I have 3 more birds in there this winter, and hope that will be enough heat to prevent the frostbite.

I do agree that feeding them enough is very important in cold weather. You do have a valid point, the if your chickens are not laying, that is a signal that some need is not being met. But a little frostbite does not stop them laying. In fact did not seem to bother mine at all. MK

ps. after reading several of these posts, I do need to mention that in western SD, the humidity is about 20% in the winter. We are dry and usually windy. A humid cold is a different thing all together than a dry cold. And there fore what works here, may not work at all well somewhere else.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

...
But I will say this again... this thread was started in response to someone in FLORIDA that had two 250w heat bulbs on their birds and it wasn't below freezing. People in the southern states feel cold at 60*F and think their birds are too, when in all reality, the birds are just fine without the added expense of heat.

Each person needs to evaluate their own flocks and conditions. But I've read almost every post, and I'd have to guess that a solid 90% do NOT heat their coops, even those of us in the Interior and Canada that routinely hit -30F for weeks on end.

It is wise to choose birds that are suitable for your area and conditions.

...

 

[geebs]

Ha ha ha... GOCHA!!!! Tell them to bring their heater and parka... and join me in my coup in the great PNW!!!!

It is rarely above 60.... Oh we did have 3 months this summer that wouldn't freeze her to death... LOL

 

[HorizonSon]

Our birds freerange all day out in the wind and rain here on the southern coast of Oregon. Even with the 60mph gusts we've been having today with the rain, too. Our lil chicks have been playing outside in the wind and rain; starting at just two weeks old! Those lil chicks get ticked when I relatch their door, lol.

Our two surviving adult birds are one RIR roo and one RIR hen. They live in a little shack, just off the ground, with waaay too much ventilation and no roost. She is down to only about four eggs a week now; but she has been slooowly molting (both of them) and we have already forgotten what the sun looks like here.

 

[geebs]

Horizon... Just spent last week down there...Love the duns... you can keep the rain and wind though...Only 2 chicks left.. what happened??? Too much wind blew their feathers clean off I bet!!!

 

[HorizonSon]

We were naive and unprepared when we received them. I was not involved at all. We/they (my Dad) started with 19 RIR week old chicks. One cockeral was gifted away; but 16 were lost to dog, cat and most of all those darn racoons! We rent; and are prohibited from dispatching the racoons. The landlords wife has here over-educated head up her under-educated ass; and has no real developed connection with the very thing she holds so dear: "Mother Princess Goddess Earth"

Anyways; I know longer work 24/5 away from home. I bought the Delawares and I'm the one caring for them this time around. I still have to jump through hoops and cater to my Dad's ideal instead of more concrete experience <sigh> Things are going well though!

 

[Wolfwoman]

Mrs. AK-Bird-Brain :

Has everyone posted here?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=422186

It's a poll, to see who/how many add heat or not. It's interesting to see what people do, and how many birds they have.

I just added to it and am laughing... many that live in extremely cold climates do not heat, while those that live in more temperate climates DO add heat.​

 

[BeccaB00]

I'm glad to see I ain't the only one who don't give my chickens heat

my chickens are in a chainlink kennel. No coop. The only thing they suffer in the winter time is frozen water!