What's the temperature where you are???

[MROO]

10 degrees here. Gonna be -4 next two nights. Chickens are getting pretty good frostbite on their combs. Coop is wide open into the run so I don't think moisture is causing it.

Warm some Vaseline on your fingers and gently rub it on their combs and wattles. Be careful of any already showing signs of frostbite, as the skin will be tender, but the Vaseline should help stave off further chapping.

 

[kattabelly]

I cannot believe the humidity is 72% though!

Is that very high or very low for where you are?

 

[EmmaDonovan]

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[MROO]

10 degrees here. Gonna be -4 next two nights. Chickens are getting pretty good frostbite on their combs. Coop is wide open into the run so I don't think moisture is causing it.

The moisture is in the air. Try putting a little slightly warmed Vaseline on their combs & wattles. Just be sure to do it very gently, because frostbite hurts!

Oops! Forgot I'd already responded to this one ... but I guess it deserves repeating?

 

[5Australorpasaures]

If you can get it, heat trace cable it awesome at keeping line from freezing. I had to do this in my neighbour’s barn to their frost free hydrant (not supposed to freeze but it did!), wrapped heat trace around it, plugged it in and a few hrs later it was good to go.

Did I mention how much I love winter?

Took about 10 minutes to break loose. Have an electric heat cord but haven't used it in 20+ yrs. First freeze up ever.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

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Let's count them down day by day so it takes longer to get here. 

 

[Ponypoor]

We're all good, for now. None of my birds are brave enough to venture out into the cold for a couple of days. I don't see any signs of frostbite,yet, so I think they're more "highly irritated" than stressed. I'm going to Vaseline my roosters' combs and wattles, today as a precaution. That seems to help keep them from chapping ... and the little buggers enjoy it. I have weird roosters!
I took out some quick outs soaked in hot water, last night, but was too late and only a couple of hens were interested. I'm heading out there shortly with some more hot water, 'cause I'm sure what's there is frozen solid, now!
I only have two laying, right now, but can't access the nesting area. Mine refuse nest boxes in favor of a large wooden rabbit hutch that connects the upper and lower parts of their housing. The latch is currently frozen shut and there is no path cleared to that "back door," so I'm sure we're slowly collecting frozen eggs!

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This is the commandeered "Nesting Cave." This pic was taken when the top was a separate grow-out coop. It's since been raised up about three feet to serve as an access tunnel to the run, below. The whole right side of the box has become a communal nesting site ... and I currently can't get in there!

EDIT to add that the snow is above the bottom rung of the swingset ladder - and frozen so solid that my 100 pound (45+ kg) dog can easily walk on top of it. Have I mentioned lately that I want my flip flops back? I'm ready, now!

I want my flip flops also! Have had snow since Nov, sick of the cold and snow!

I can’t believe I haven’t had any frozen eggs yet. The next few days might have some frozen eggs.

 

[Ponypoor]

With that much humidity, are you expecting more snow?

No snow expected, humidity has dropped to 62%, it’s -16C and mix of sun and cloud now.

The same concept applies here with "The First Day of Spring." Winter's not really done, but its back's been cracked at that point. We usually get one good blast after the equinox. Sometimes it's just a cold snap, but it could be snow or just a really nasty wind storm. We figure it's just Old Man Winter playing Terminator. Y'all know the line. "Ah'm leaving ... but ah'll be bach!"

He and Mother Nature need to get with the program! Or go away!

10 degrees here. Gonna be -4 next two nights. Chickens are getting pretty good frostbite on their combs. Coop is wide open into the run so I don't think moisture is causing it.

Wind and excessive cold will cause frost bite, moisture is but one part of frost bite, and the one everybody blames on frost bite. If it is colder than -4C and your chooks are out and about expect frost bite. You wouldn’t go outside without your ears and nose covered when it’s cold would you?

Close up your coop.

Warm some Vaseline on your fingers and gently rub it on their combs and wattles. Be careful of any already showing signs of frostbite, as the skin will be tender, but the Vaseline should help stave off further chapping.

NO! Please do not touch or rub anything into frost bitten flesh. First (trust me on this) it’s extremely painful, and second Vaseline traps moisture against the skin causing more freezing.

Vaseline doesn’t prevent or cure frost bite. Cover up and keep out of the wind. Yes stay dry, but more important, stay warm and out of the wind. If it’s too cold for you to be wandering around in your drawers outside then it’s too cold for your chooks! Don’t want to freeze off anything too important

Is that very high or very low for where you are?

Fairly normal, though by tomorrow morning it should be really low, it’s supposed to be -27C when I get up so it will be dry, the snow will be very scrunchy!

Because I am between all these great lakes it acts like a maritime climate here, when we get high humidity and very cold temps everything gets coated in hoare frost - it’s beautiful.

Run for the hills!