[egbert]

Hi

Woke up this morning to find my windscreen was frosted over!

Was a little worried about my chooks, but they were up and perky as usual. However, when do you start worrying - what is too cold fo them? And what do you all do to keep them heated at night, and during the day in snow etc?

[doganjo]

Do you have feathers in your duvet?   well so do they!   Seriously though, so long as they have something in tehir run that they can perch on off the snow covered ground, and have a draught free coop with bedding of some sort to snuggle into if they want to instead of roosting, they will usually be fine.

[shetlandpaul]

you don't as long as its pretty draft free they just snuggle together.

[CameronS]

They arn't stupid, if it's to cold they will stay inside, just give them plenty of food, morning and evening - food before bed keeps them warmer at night as they are constantly digesting food, and make sure there is a decent layer of substrate on the floor

[OhLaLa]

As long as their housing is dry (no leaks) and clean they should be fine. I keep their perches clean, and line the nestboxes with dry hay or straw. I sprinkle woodchip on the floor to aid with the mucking out too.

Cosy.

 

[shrekfeet]

give them a handful of mixed corn per bird just before roosting time. Digesting that will help keep them warm over night

[bamford6]

iv kept them at minus 22 they need light for 2 houres in winter and hot food every other day till the cold spell lifts .i also put in a tubular heater to stop the water freezing up .at the end off November they go in the big shed for winter 3 months in the big shed its very cold in the  highlands off Scotland

[plumseverywhere]

mine get porridge or mashed potato just before their bed time 

[CameronS]

Vasailine on wattles/combs also helps protect them agains the cold

[crosser]

i hang a hot water bottle up in there house at the top so they cant touch it...  keeps the air warm for them..  they seem to love it.. 

[Rosemary]

As long as their housing is dry (no leaks) and clean they should be fine. I keep their perches clean, and line the nestboxes with dry hay or straw. I sprinkle woodchip on the floor to aid with the mucking out too.

Cosy.

 

Don't use hay for poultry - there are spores in it that can cause respiratory problems.

[OhLaLa]

As long as their housing is dry (no leaks) and clean they should be fine. I keep their perches clean, and line the nestboxes with dry hay or straw. I sprinkle woodchip on the floor to aid with the mucking out too.

Don't use hay for poultry - there are spores in it that can cause respiratory problems.

I've heard this but only if it gets wet. I've never experienced any problems with it. Probably because the hay is inside the henhouse in the nestbox - not on the floor. Plus it is changed regularly, and therefore dry.

Trying to research the pros and cons of hay/straw many arguments come up for not using/using either (even arguments for/against wheat straw or barley straw).

Is there a pic here for a can of worms..... nope, better put a chicken on instead then.....

    

[bamford6]

hot food every day till it gets warmer minus 16 iv cooked 50 eggs biskits rice etc

[Sylvia]

i hang a hot water bottle up in there house at the top so they cant touch it...  keeps the air warm for them..  they seem to love it.. 

What spoiled hens! Lucky them

[manian]

i've got loads of porrige oats with golden syrup
can the hens have this (if its made up with water)
Manian