Three hens in single digit temps

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

SWVA here. My flock of 7, over time, has become a flock of only three (3) 7 year old hens. They have done fine with night-time lows down to around 7 degrees F, but on those occasions, it warmed quite quickly and was not en extended cold. They are currently out in the run active and bright at 10 degrees right now.

Should I take them into my basement for any portion of this? Perhaps the night it goes down to 2? My worry is the lower single digits and how extended the cold is... I heard cold stress accumulates.

Attached are photos of their setup amd the weather forecast. Run is wrapped in clear heavy duty tarps, plenty of straw underfoot. Coop is also wrapped for drafts with ventilation all along the top about 4 feet over their heads. Coop is insulated using cardboard and large amounts of straw.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They should be fine. They may stay on the roosts and sit close. Just watch for anyone being lethargic which may be hypothermia. Mine just went through a few nights of -25 degrees and temps will stay cold below 10 degrees for a few weeks. Chicken feathers and down are quite warm. Just watch that they are eating drinking and moving around. Your deep bedding will help too. If winds are moving through those top vents roo much you may want to block the side of the prevailing winds.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

They should be fine. They may stay on the roosts and sit close. Just watch for anyone being lethargic which may be hypothermia. Mine just went through a few nights of -25 degrees and temps will stay cold below 10 degrees for a few weeks. Chicken feathers and down are quite warm. Just watch that they are eating drinking and moving around. Your deep bedding will help too. If winds are moving through those top vents roo much you may want to block the side of the prevailing winds.

Thanks for your response. Luckily only the shortest ventilation side (right by the door) is where the predominant winds will come through, so that should be easy to block.

I checked on them again and they are just fluffed up in the coop. They look cold, but I'm assuming just standing together fluffed up is what they do in the deep cold--it'll just be tough to tell when that becomes lethargy. Would the lethargy mean they won't go for treats and stuff like that?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thanks for your response. Luckily only the shortest ventilation side (right by the door) is where the predominant winds will come through, so that should be easy to block.

I checked on them again and they are just fluffed up in the coop. They look cold, but I'm assuming just standing together fluffed up is what they do in the deep cold--it'll just be tough to tell when that becomes lethargy. Would the lethargy mean they won't go for treats and stuff like that?

I've seen some of my birds fluffed up during sudden drops in temps. They generally will do it for a day or so, than they seem to adjust to the colder temperature. They should still be willing to move to eat and drink, and should perk up when treats are offered. I like to make sure my chickens get lukewarm water in cold temperatures so drinking isn't lowering their body temperature.

Any bird reluctant to move may need to be warmed up. I don't know what your normal temps are. Taking them inside for more than an hour or so could make it so they have troubles adjusting when put back out. You could always get a flat panel coop heater, or heated perch if you feel they aren't doing okay. I would avoid risky products like heat lamps as those can explode and start fires, especially in colder temps.

 

[Mrs. K]

Thing is chickens hate change and I think will be stressed by moving to a new place. Personally I like your set up. Their age might be the problem but even if you lost one, at that age it could just be age and their time.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

I've seen some of my birds fluffed up during sudden drops in temps. They generally will do it for a day or so, than they seem to adjust to the colder temperature. They should still be willing to move to eat and drink, and should perk up when treats are offered. I like to make sure my chickens get lukewarm water in cold temperatures so drinking isn't lowering their body temperature.

Any bird reluctant to move may need to be warmed up. I don't know what your normal temps are. Taking them inside for more than an hour or so could make it so they have troubles adjusting when put back out. You could always get a flat panel coop heater, or heated perch if you feel they aren't doing okay. I would avoid risky products like heat lamps as those can explode and start fires, especially in colder temps.

As things warmed into the 20s yesterday and the upper teens today, they were doing great--active, out and about. We're plunging into the lower teens now, with an overnight low of 2, though it'll head back up to 31 tomorrow. I'm still on the fence on if I should bring them in for the night--I guess I'll see how they look closer to roosting time.

I appreciate your pointers on how to spot cold stress beyond what's normal/healthy. I do worry about bringing them in messing with their acclimation. My basement is cold but still significantly warmer than outside. I'm hoping they do okay through the dip, and since it's a brief dip, it won't be long enough for any of my hens to succumb to cold-related stress.

They've been used to below-freezing lows and highs in the 20s-40s in general this winter (we've had reallly cold spells and above average warm spells--so it's been a rollercoaster). They've also had a few nights in the teens and upper single digits prior to this, so while that's not our normal/average lows, they have experienced it as well as temps close(ish) to it.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

Thing is chickens hate change and I think will be stressed by moving to a new place. Personally I like your set up. Their age might be the problem but even if you lost one, at that age it could just be age and their time.

Honestly, because the path to their coop is a steep hill that is pure ice, I'm worried about carrying them up and falling. And, as you said, I worry about the stress as well as disrupting their acclimation process--which is well underway from having spent a good amount of time this past week in the 20s, teens, and upper single digits. I'm hoping a drop to 0 degrees won't be too much a dramatic shift from the low teens, which I know they've been handling. Thankfully, the same morning it goes down to 0, it'll go back up to 31 and sunny, so their coop should end up quite toasty if they can make it through the worst of it.

I'm considering bringing a closed bucket of hot water down at night to put in their coop, as that warms up it up a good bit and typically stays warm through the night--but again, I worry about carrying that kind of weight on an icy hill. I guess we'll see how I feel this evening.

I would hate to lose one of my old ladies due to the cold if they would have otherwise gone on to enjoy the spring/summer. I love them each very much. I appreciate your insights on this!