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

[77horses]

Quote:
I don't see why it would be different than for a dog. If I see a dog that's seeming overly cold I'll bring them in for a few hours to warm up, I haven't seen any ill effects in putting them back out. And I know some chickens are far more insulated than some of my short haired dogs!

Dogs are completely different from chickens. They have a different skin type, different covering (feathers vs. fur), a.k.a a whole different system and a whole different way when it comes to dealing with cold temperatures. And so, in return, the way that things affect them, in this case bringing them from a very cold environment to a much warmer environment in such a sudden or dramatic way, their bodies won't react in the same way. Dogs seem to handle going from extremely different temperatures easier than chickens do. I'm not sure why, but using common sense and what I've always been told, it's not good for a chicken to be moved around and have the temperature go from something like 20*F to 70*F in a matter of minutes. I think it may have something to do with stress; when chickens are moved around a lot, since they dislike change, it tends to stress them out because they have to get used to their new surroundings. And maybe since they are used to living in a cold environment, and if you suddenly bring them into a 70*F environment for a day or two, and just when they adjust to that, you suddenly bring them back outside because it may get a little warmer outside after a day or two of colder-than-usual weather. In doing so, it probably tends to stress them out a lot. Dogs, on the other hand, seem to cope with changes much better than chickens can.

 

[Wolfwoman]

Hmm... well I wouldn't do it for a day or two, just a few hours to warm em up and then back out. Actually, some of my birds I bring into the house on occasion, just because I can, and they haven't seemed to have any ill effects. The ones I bring in are the ones I'm trying to tame the most, and ineraction away from the other birds seems to help...

 

[team guava pastry]

Sorry to get off the post but I love talking about this trip

We went to hollow bay, and the bears were right there. We ate our lunch on the stream with our group watching a mother a her cub fish for salmon. Unbeliveable, unless you have been there and seen it in person you can't appreciate it. This is our favorite pic.

 

[mkearsley]

I was so happy to see mine outside again! They finally decided it was time to leave the coop/run on one of the sunny, warmer days (around 40F). They're only outside for a short time before they decide to run back to their nice covered coop/run. They were pecking between the clumps of snow, & frozen leaves to find some green grass & dandilions

I think that now they've decided the snow isn't so bad, they'll be out more often, especially since our snow tends to get rained on a few days after it falls, so it doesn't stay very long

I am very glad to see read this thread & to see that my chickens aren't "chicken" when it comes to the cold

I do have a straw bale on one side of the run, a cedar fence on the other side, and the shell to my truck on the third side. I've also got a tarp over the top of the coop & run to keep it dry. And there's bundles of tree branches where the tarp & shell & straw don't cover. all in all, its a pretty well protected home.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Guava, looks like you had a fun trip!!

Thank you for posting the photo!!

Well, it's 2.8°F at 2:30pm. The sun is SO low on the horizon, that driving at noon feels like that last hour before sunset in the southern states... you know, late afternoon when the sun is in your eyes because it's below the visor? It finally peeks over the mountains and lights the trees on fire about 10:30am, and here it is 2:30 and the light is only on the tops of the trees. The low of -3F was just after 10:30am... right about the time I finished my chores.

It's only supposed to get colder tonight. I've had a couple of the younger chickens getting picked on... found them huddled in the corner trying to be invisible to the bullies, so I brought them in. One is learning to crow, so he's going to have to be moved to the breeder coop tonight. No crowing chooks in the garage at night... our bedroom is right above the garage, and we can hear everything! But for the most part, everyone is doing fine. I found a couple of roos with bloody combs this morning but it was due to fighting. Go figure.

Once we get down into the -10 to -20F range on a continuous basis, I will likely add a heat source to the breeder coop. But it all depends on how they do.

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

Sorry I haven't been following the thread as closely as I should.
We went away for 2 weeks just before the cold set in. When we left, it was generally in the 30s - 50s. When we returned it was in the 0-15s. They stayed in the slightly heated garage while we were gone since we have a coyote issue. Today I took them out. It's 20 degrees and sunny with snow on the ground. Their first snow ! Our most tame chicken jumped onto my shoulder wand refused to get off even as I was walking, bending, haulling, refilling the waterer, plugging it in, going inside to grab my purse to go to work, etc. They are so confused and look cold. The hens don't want to walk on the snow. Please advise on warm oatmeal. Watery or Firm? How much for 23 Chickens? Just a taste or a bellyfull? How do you serve it...in a cookie pan? They seem to not want to step on the snow and were standing in their treat dish to eat out of thier feeder.
Thank you and I appreciate the support.

 

[theblackridge16]

Im surechickens can make through cold weather just fine, then again so could we, but we dont we like to stay warm in our homes and i just try to do the same for all my animals

 

[vanridge]

Well,here in southern Canada it can get a little nippy. I just scrolled through 35 pages of opinions and I like the ones from Alaska. Kind of similar to my situation. I really like the idea of heated dog bowls. Clever. We have a heat lamp in our little coop right above the water but it doesn't seem to do much. The chickens are much happier when I take the board away from the door. (they can't go outside) They seem to like the fresh air and sunlight. Moment a breeze picks up I close it again, and every night too of course. I have never seen the birds close to the lamp, even when it is cold. Usually, if my toes are freezing, them chicks are up on the roost, side by side cozy as ever.

 

[usmcmp]

first winter with chickens getting 20 at night already does anybody put anything on their roosters combs to prevent frostbite?

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
I have found that a generous slathering of Vaseline on the combs puts a protective barrier on them. I use it on my cheeks when I have to be outside to help prevent FB on my face.