Very cold coop

[hagoesch]

*** edited after a bit more research and a correction of football locations***
I think insulation and heat are unneeded. Here in SE Mass we have neither. Just a draft free coop with a covered run. The temp inside our coop later this week will be in the teens. I imagine we both have occasional days below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

A search of the internet shows me that our typical temperatures along with rain and snow are similar. Compare the sites of our football teams. Milwaukee? Really. Sorry folks. I would have thought your area would be a bit colder. Also, I suspect these are average temperatures. So maybe the Internet is misleading me.

Weather Highlights
Foxborough, Massachusetts
Summer High: the July high is around 83.3 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 16.4
Rain: averages 50.3 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 45.5 inches of snow a year

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Summer High: the July high is around 82.7 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 13.8
Rain: averages 34.8 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 44.6 inches of snow a year
January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Milwaukee with an average of 13.8°. This is one of the warmest places in Wisconsin.

January has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Foxborough with an average of 16.4°. This is colder than most places in Massachusetts.

LOVE THIS -- both for the amazing detail and for the good chuckle I got. However, you have some truth on your side in that the Packers split their home games between Green Bay (NE WI) and Milwaukee (SE WI) for many years beginning in the 1930s AND played a championship game in Milwaukee in the late 30s (against the Giants, no less -- we won ).

We're a bit more inland than Milwaukee and don't benefit from the slight lake effect warmth but it's a pretty good representation, and I *really* appreciate you taking the time to look at the similarities between our two areas for my peace of mind.

CHEERS (and go Packers)

 

[hagoesch]

The first winter is tough, until you realize just how tough they are.
The thing I look out for is cold stress, same as heat stress, lethargy...which I test by tossing out a few treats. If a bird won't go for treats, they are in need of some attention.
Here's my notes about cold weather......

Birds can get dehydrated in winter as well as summer so I've started soaking rolled oats in a Sav-a-Chick electrolytes/vitamins solution.
This avoids the 'wattle dippage' of an open waterer.
Gives them a boost and gets them hydrated.
1/8 teaspoon to 1 cup of warm water, mix until dissolved.
Add solution to 1 cup of rolled oats, stir well on occasion until all liquid is absorbed, might need to add more oats. Takes an hour or two, then give it to the birds.

Have done this every few days during extreme cold(<10°F), and I believe it's really helped them, they all stayed mobile. Gives me a good chance to assess mobility, any bird that doesn't go for the oats gets watched very carefully and may be brought to a warmer place for a couple hours to 'reset'.

@BantyChooks taught me about 'cold reset'. I bring bird into the slightly warmer garage for just a couple-few hours. Makes sure she eats, give her a dose of electrolytes, see what's coming out the other end, and just observe. Then take them back out to coop, has 'saved' a few here, it's pretty amazing how they bounce back.

These are great ideas. Every morning I bring out warm water from the house for their two water dishes (and do that again mid-afternoon to avoid it freezing and ensure adequate hydration since they drink more before bed) + crumble feed that I've turned into a porridge of sorts with warm water, a bit of ACV and some dried oregano. It's even smarter to do the vitamin/electrolyte solution. I have Poultry Nutri-Drench and could try that I imagine. If the treat test fails, our garage is heated to 50 F and will be a nice place to warm up.

Thanks again! CHEERS

 

[jreardon1918]

LOVE THIS -- both for the amazing detail and for the good chuckle I got. However, you have some truth on your side in that the Packers split their home games between Green Bay (NE WI) and Milwaukee (SE WI) for many years beginning in the 1930s AND played a championship game in Milwaukee in the late 30s (against the Giants, no less -- we won ).

We're a bit more inland than Milwaukee and don't benefit from the slight lake effect warmth but it's a pretty good representation, and I *really* appreciate you taking the time to look at the similarities between our two areas for my peace of mind.

CHEERS (and go Packers)

You let me off the hook, unlike Brett Favre and Desmond Howard, SB XXXI.

 

[hagoesch]

You let me off the hook, unlike Brett Favre and Desmond Howard, SB XXXI.

Ooohhhhhhh, a CLASSIC

 

[aart]

These are great ideas. Every morning I bring out warm water from the house for their two water dishes (and do that again mid-afternoon to avoid it freezing and ensure adequate hydration since they drink more before bed) + crumble feed that I've turned into a porridge of sorts with warm water, a bit of ACV and some dried oregano. It's even smarter to do the vitamin/electrolyte solution. I have Poultry Nutri-Drench and could try that I imagine. If the treat test fails, our garage is heated to 50 F and will be a nice place to warm up.

Thanks again! CHEERS

I don't do warm food, nor any special food or water additives.
Except the rolled oats soaked in electrolytes/vitamins solution.....the electrolytes are key.
A good chicken ration and plain fresh water is best.
Do you have power to your coop?
A heated waterer is the best.thing.ever!

 

[hagoesch]

I don't do warm food, nor any special food or water additives.
Except the rolled oats soaked in electrolytes/vitamins solution.....the electrolytes are key.
A good chicken ration and plain fresh water is best.
Do you have power to your coop?
A heated waterer is the best.thing.ever!

I will try adding the Nutri-Drench vitamin/mineral supplement to their routine every few days. It's not specifically formulated with electrolytes but is suggested for extreme weather issues. I also have Rooster Booster Poultry Cell if you think that might be better -- again, another vitamin/mineral supplement.

We do have power in the barn but not in the coop. We also keep no water in the coop to help keep humidity levels lower. I refill their water outside twice daily with warm water. We'll see how that goes this winter, and if I need to get a heated base to put out there with an extension cord from the barn.

 

[aart]

I will try adding the Nutri-Drench vitamin/mineral supplement to their routine every few days. It's not specifically formulated with electrolytes but is suggested for extreme weather issues. I also have Rooster Booster Poultry Cell if you think that might be better -- again, another vitamin/mineral supplement.

Again I'll say, I think the electrolytes are key to protect against dehydration.
...and I only give them during extreme prolonged cold(3-4 days/nights <10°F). .

 

[hagoesch]

Again I'll say, I think the electrolytes are key to protect against dehydration.
...and I only give them during extreme prolonged cold(3-4 days/nights <10°F). .

Point taken! Was trying to work with what I had but can certainly order out for some electrolytes. Good to stock anyway. Appreciate the cajoling CHEERS, aart

 

[aart]

Point taken! Was trying to work with what I had but can certainly order out for some electrolytes. Good to stock anyway. Appreciate the cajoling CHEERS, aart

Think there's a link to the SavAChick product in my notes I posted earlier,
but I get them at the local Tracter Supply.
I always keep a few on hand.

"Cajoling" is a good word, glad you took it as intended

 

[hagoesch]

Think there's a link to the SavAChick product in my notes I posted earlier,
but I get them at the local Tracter Supply.
I always keep a few on hand.

"Cajoling" is a good word, glad you took it as intended

But of course -- here to learn from those who've succeeded before me