Yet Another Winter Thread (-55C/-67F)

[eekay]

Good evening all,

I know this topic has been discussed to death. This is our first winter with the new flock of 4 Black Sexlinks, they are currently 10 months old.

I live in central Alberta Canada and this is the time of year we experience our usual run with the polar vortex.

Last night the temperatures dropped to -55C / -67F. For a brief few hours we were officially the coldest place on the planet.

I constructed my coop with 5" walls and R5 foam insulation. I've kept it as draft free as possible and I have 4 points of ventilation. (It holds at 43% humidity so I think I require more).

I do have a CozyCoop panel heater placed in front of the roost, wall mounted, set to the 200W setting.

So to toss my hat into the heat/no heat debate, would some consider -67F to be a reasonable temperature to provide this supplimental heat? We will head back into +1F range in a week or two and I plan on turning the heater off.

I'm fairly concerned at this point that they have not had a chance to properly grow in a proper layer of downy feather as I've had the panel running all winter.

Are there any immediate steps that anyone would recommend I take right now to avoid any kind of disaster?

Thanks.

Edit: For a baseline reference, at -67F, my remote monitor showed that the hen house did not drop below -8C / 17F, and that sensor is stuck to the wall in a far corner near the window. The temperature zone in front of the CozyCoop panel was likely higher. Should the power go out overnight they would definitely be in a word of trouble. Our ChickenGuard Extreme actually failed due to the cold and is likely bricked. When let out during the day the ambient temperature in the plastic sheeting enclosed run was -34C/ -31F and they didn't seem bothered by that at all.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I heat my coop when we have weeks of -30F.
If I had those temperatures like you are having, I would either heat the coop or move everyone into the garage or house.

 

[gimmie birdies]

We have -5 coming this week.

 

[MissE]

Good evening all,

I know this topic has been discussed to death. This is our first winter with the new flock of 4 Black Sexlinks, they are currently 10 months old.

I live in central Alberta Canada and this is the time of year we experience our usual run with the polar vortex.

Last night the temperatures dropped to -55C / -67F. For a brief few hours we were officially the coldest place on the planet.

I constructed my coop with 5" walls and R5 foam insulation. I've kept it as draft free as possible and I have 4 points of ventilation. (It holds at 43% humidity so I think I require more).

I do have a CozyCoop panel heater placed in front of the roost, wall mounted, set to the 200W setting.

So to toss my hat into the heat/no heat debate, would some consider -67F to be a reasonable temperature to provide this supplimental heat? We will head back into +1F range in a week or two and I plan on turning the heater off.

I'm fairly concerned at this point that they have not had a chance to properly grow in a proper layer of downy feather as I've had the panel running all winter.

Are there any immediate steps that anyone would recommend I take right now to avoid any kind of disaster?

Thanks.

At that point, I would add some heat. We've had -30F and while I haven't added any yet, I'm tempted. They seem to do ok, but this is expected to last over a week. If it was going to be -40 F I think I would have to. Heat for me would be a 75 or 100 watt bulb. Not warm, but it might get temp up around -10.

 

[mowin]

At those temps, I'd definitely add heat.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I don't have anything useful to add but just wanted to say that these topics are very good for us to see over here in England. People get in such a panic when it gets a bit chilly that their chickens will all freeze and in the meantime yours are strolling about in -34C

Sounds like you take great care of your chooks!

 

[aart]

So to toss my hat into the heat/no heat debate, would some consider -67F to be a reasonable temperature to provide this supplimental heat?

HellYes!!

 

[jreardon1918]

-67F Yikes. I get a bit chilly at +67F. This is a whole different kettle of (frozen) fish.

 

[catballou]

I believe I'd move the heater to a far wall. I would want them to be warm enough but if the power did go out, they wouldn't freak out since the heater was further away.
Mine do ok with it being -20°F and a wind chill of -35°F and no heat. I only had two back then!

 

[eekay]

I believe I'd move the heater to a far wall. I would want them to be warm enough but if the power did go out, they wouldn't freak out since the heater was further away.
Mine do ok with it being -20°F and a wind chill of -35°F and no heat. I only had two back then!

Really? Only 2? Good to know. I thought for sure 4 would be too few for them to heat the coop with their own body heat. I may have to try. I'm having issues with my Thermocube at the moment where in it doesn't seem to want to shut off at 3C, my hen house is reading +12 and I can see the power light glowing on it.

Right now the heat panel is right in front of them. Only place I can put its a small hen house, one side is the bracket for the roost, the rear wall is the access door and the other wall is my egg boxes + window.

The fact that we had stable power all winter is the only reason I believe they survived.