Winter is Coming! Checklists, tips, advice for a newbie

[Bogtown Chick]

The Governor of Minnesota has already closed schools statewide for this coming Monday. ugh... I want spring already.

 

[sn0wwhite]

This winter has been TOO long already! Gah!
I moved my small, spare coop into the garage today and I set up a little run so they don't poop on the cars. Tomorrow evening they are coming in. They might be good to 40 below, but I only have 4 so I don't want to find out if they're not.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

This winter has been TOO long already! Gah!
I moved my small, spare coop into the garage today and I set up a little run so they don't poop on the cars. Tomorrow evening they are coming in. They might be good to 40 below, but I only have 4 so I don't want to find out if they're not.

Gosh you're making me think about clearing a spot in our garage now too. LOL . Maybe I'll add a smaller watt heat lamp along with the radiant heater. IJDK.... -40 is tough. Bunk up my snow again...Maybe do all sides of the coop tomorrow...That always helps.....

 

[mrchicks]

I'll be closing in the last open side of the runs. Darn, they said it may be -50 here. I was leaving that side open, it's pretty protected by the garage, but I don't want to take any chances.

 

[K Epp]

Y'all are freezing me to death. It's supposed to be 18* tonight here in GA. I would like to have about 8 inches of snow though.

 

[GAFarmGirl87]

Yea, and they are saying it will be 7 degrees here Monday night & Tuesday night. That's COLD for Georgia! I haven't seen temps get this low in many years. I'm a little worried for my gals. My coops aren't even closed up, or insulated. You think they'll be alright?

I want to get some hay to put down inside the coop, and maybe out in the run too...

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Yea, and they are saying it will be 7 degrees here Monday night & Tuesday night. That's COLD for Georgia! I haven't seen temps get this low in many years. I'm a little worried for my gals. My coops aren't even closed up, or insulated. You think they'll be alright?

I want to get some hay to put down inside the coop, and maybe out in the run too...

They'll be fine GAfarmGirl. I know it's cold for you and your birds though...colder than what you're used to. Big thing in those cold temps is watching for condensation or humidity where they are housed in your coop...sounds like it shouldnt be an issue if you got it pretty opened up. and then some dry bedding, thick so they don't get their feet too cold say on bare clay ground--or have wet feet that then freeze...etc. A place to roost wide enough to cover their toes with their breast feathers. Out of the prevailing wind is a good idea too. Mine go out in the run when it's 0 and above and horse around all day. So 7 degrees you'll still find them pretty active doing their chicken things....they'll surprise you.

 

[wantedman66]

That is true bogtown chick we had 7deg here in CT for a high today and tonight there saying -15 so far mine seem to be fine they don't like comming out of the coop though even when I leave the pop door open,but I think because of the amount I have it's easier for them to keep warm.40 is alot more than 4-10 ,no frost bite yet knock on wood.They really are alot more durable than we give them credit four.just think about how many thousands of years theve been around without humans and they survived just fine.

 

[K Epp]

Hi Neighbor. My coop is open and I wrapped it in thick clear plastic from Home Depot. In our normal weather I leave the door uncovered, but coverd it to yesterday. I also put hay down for them to walk on. They seem to enjoy scratching around in it too. I have old plastic bread pallets turned up side down and lots if hay for the Silkies to snuggle in to. Everyone seemed fine this evening. I'm going to put Vaseline on the combs of the d'Uccle tomorrow.

The thing with our GA weather is it was 46* on the 1st dropping 30 degrees to the teen s in a few hours. Down to single degrees through Monday and its liable to be 70* Tuesday. I think the rapid change is harder on them than the cold we get.

I do have my coop vented, but put the plastic to cut the wind. We had 35mph gust last night. I get lots of wind here in the mountains.

 

[GAFarmGirl87]

@bogtown chick Thanks for the advice. That makes me feel better!