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

[featherz]

I have 24 of various breeds (all suppossed to be good cold weather breeds) and they are in a coop (converted barn) that is 12ft by 24 ft..so heat from each other isnt a factor that will help. I am worried as we are suppossed to get to a HIGH of -10 on onday meaning probably -20 at night. I am trying to decide if I should add a little heat or not. So far, its been down to about -5 at night and no signs of frostbite (I put vaseline or olive oil on the roos comb).

Breeds: Cochins, Opringtons, Faverolle, Barred Rock, Wyandottes, Sussex, Brahma, and Black sex link, Then some mixes as well

Been down to -25 here and I have similar breeds (but add some non cold hardies like leghorns in my case).. All were fine, no frostbite yet.

 

[Rachel96]

Wow. Honestly. I'm dealing with hyperthermic (overheated) chooks at the moment - it was 43 Celsius today and probably won't get much cooler overnight. I'm not sure it's ever gotten below zero here, even in winter.

 

[featherz]

Wow. Honestly. I'm dealing with hyperthermic (overheated) chooks at the moment - it was 43 Celsius today and probably won't get much cooler overnight. I'm not sure it's ever gotten below zero here, even in winter.

Yah, I have found that heat is a MUCH bigger problem for chickens. I don't even worry about my chickens in the winter but summer is a pain in the tush. water pans, fans, etc. The chickens that do so well in winter don't do so hot (lol) when it's 100+ F. That's when I'm thankful for my naked necks and leghorns. =)

 

[tashpotato]

I live in north east UK, it is currently -7 *C.
I have 5 hens and 2 coops, one coop is just an emergency one as sometimes the older 2 won't let one of the young ones in the original coop so she has somewhere to go.
The main coop is just wood, it does have a slide I can pull across to provide ventilation though I close it when it's this cold and I don't think the coop is too drafts for them.

All 5 of them huddle together, usually 4 are crammed in the small nesting area!
This morning it took me ages to open the door as it was frozen shut :/
Has anyone any tips - not including heating lamps/bulbs/bowls to stop water and the door from freezing? Isn't there a safe substance to apply?

 

[vmdanielsen]

I live in north east UK, it is currently -7 *C.
I have 5 hens and 2 coops, one coop is just an emergency one as sometimes the older 2 won't let one of the young ones in the original coop so she has somewhere to go.
The main coop is just wood, it does have a slide I can pull across to provide ventilation though I close it when it's this cold and I don't think the coop is too drafts for them.

All 5 of them huddle together, usually 4 are crammed in the small nesting area!
This morning it took me ages to open the door as it was frozen shut

Has anyone any tips - not including heating lamps/bulbs/bowls to stop water and the door from freezing? Isn't there a safe substance to apply?

Is the door freezing shut because of condensation? I use a heated dog dish(uses electricity) to keep the water from freezing. The dog bowl is kept outside because I found that it created too much condensation in the coop. I have used a heated brick(before I got the heated dog bowl), and put in the water to prolong liquid water. When I would come home for work I would add more warm water. I take away water at night as the chickens don't drink when they are roosting. They are opened up early, so they have access to water when they come out of the coop.

 

[tashpotato]

I pondered the idea of something heated but decided against it. Yeah I imagine it could be condensation but also it's is very snowy/icy/frosty outside so could of been from the outside. Took me ages to open it!

I had to pour a kettle of boiling water over their water today to unfreeze it, usually I smash the ice through but it was completely frozen solid!
Poor girls

 

[groverlvchx]

Check out this link--hot water freezes faster than cold water!
http://mpms-mythbusters.wikispaces.com/Freezing+Water--James

 

[Mskayladog]

Next week a couple days the high during the day is going to be 12 F, I can't heat the coop will the girls be ok. They are doing fine in the 32 to 32 F weather.

 

[JackE]

Next week a couple days the high during the day is going to be 12 F, I can't heat the coop will the girls be ok. They are doing fine in the 32 to 32 F weather.

My chickens have had no problems at all at those temps, in an open front, unheated, uninsulated coop. In the pic below it was around 15F, and there they are looking out the front, not hiding in the back, huddled up. When I cleared the snow( spoiled they are), out they came.

Jack

 

[tashpotato]

That's an impressive coop!!