What is too cold for Orpingtons ?

[WindingRoad]

I have a towel. Washable even.

Oh and I taught them how to shake like a dog.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Oh my gosh. Reading this just relaxed me so much. Thank you, thank you! This first winter is hard on my nerves. They’re 10 months old and they still seem like helpless little peep peeps in my eyes. But in reality they’re huge, puffy, tough girls.

I actually find my younger birds handle the colder weather better than older birds. Mine from last year are the main ones that go outside daily and don't seem to notice the temperature. Seems the older birds are most likely to look colder.

I still worry and feel guilty sitting in my heated house, but I have yet to have a bird just freeze to death. Getting them moving, giving them a bit of warmer water so drinking doesn't lower their body temperature, providing good wind breaks, maybe a patch of sunshine, and maybe some hay or straw on the floor can go a long way to keeping them comfortable. Hay too is a good winter forage for chickens, they will pick out the leaves and seeds.

If my birds are cold they often hunch up in a bunch to share warmth, or they go up on a roost to build up body heat.

I'm glad yours are doing okay. I do understand the worry though.

 

[aart]

I have a towel. Washable even.

Ha!...Yeah, not a Wattle Wiper here...I just don't give them wet food.

 

[WindingRoad]

Ha!...Yeah, not a Wattle Wiper here...I just don't give them wet food.

Ha I actually took your advice and just gave my birds some warm beef stew. Honey it's cold outside. And my BO and ISAB turned their beaks up to it as usual for them. But the 2 SLW are chowing. Should have cut the potatoes up more. LOL

 

[LizzzyJo]

Ha I actually took your advice and just gave my birds some warm beef stew. Honey it's cold outside. And my BO and ISAB turned their beaks up to it as usual for them. But the 2 SLW are chowing. Should have cut the potatoes up more. LOL

I love it, haha! My blue orpington grabbed a big potato chunk and the others chased her for a full minute. The best piece of food is always the food in another girl's mouth!

 

[WindingRoad]

I love it, haha! My blue orpington grabbed a big potato chunk and the others chased her for a full minute. The best piece of food is always the food in another girl's mouth!

And when I went back out to get the pan they had only eaten the carrots, celery, and potatoes. Most of the beef was still in the pan. They love hearts, gizzards, and livers (chicken). Get a package at Walmart. Walmart also has chicken paws. I always thought the were called chicken's feet.

 

[kwhites634]

The weather says it may be -6 degrees tomorrow night. My coop is not heated and not wired for heat. When do I need to bring my lavender and blue Orpingtons into the house? I’ve heard -20 and -10 defrees. Is that wind chill or real temp?

Thoughts?

They'll be fine w/o artificial heat; safer, too. Just make sure they're dry & out of drafts, like any other breed. My 5 do just fine. In fact, unless it's raining, they prefer to roost in the open pop door frame, on a little porch.