cold weather and chickens

[NSB]

Its 2 degrees here and -4 overnight is there anything extra to do for the chickens over night as I have 3 small bantams

[RichmondHens]

No, you need not worry about the temperature. Chickens can handle it fine. As long as their house is dry and draught proof, that is all that's required. Chickens can cope with cold, it's the wet and windy weather they hate.

[Bramble-Poultry]

I agree with Richmond, as long as they are dry and out of draughts then they should be fine. As a precaution here - as we have severe weather as we are exposed on all four sides here, i put a drop of glycerine in the water to stop it freezing. I also (if its really gonna be cold) smear some vaseline on the tips of the cockerels combs to stop them getting frost bite.

Also make sure that the birds are on the perches as this lifts them off the floor and into the warmer upper layers of air in the coop.

if there is a hard, hard frost on the ground, they may benefit from a bit of straw to insulate the feet from the ground, but in all honesty they should be ok.

[dexterdoglancashire]

OK, OK, so I know already, I spoil my girls. I've put some extra straw into the hutch at night so they can arrange it to their satisfaction. OH has wrapped a piece of carpet around the little roosting bit so that the frosts don't get to their little bits and pieces! And, yes, if you want photos that can be arranged...............as OH says my girls are the most pampered ever! I don't care, I love my girls!

[tlck9]

OK, OK, so I know already, I spoil my girls. I've put some extra straw into the hutch at night so they can arrange it to their satisfaction. OH has wrapped a piece of carpet around the little roosting bit so that the frosts don't get to their little bits and pieces! And, yes, if you want photos that can be arranged...............as OH says my girls are the most pampered ever! I don't care, I love my girls!

I'm interested in seeing those photos

[jimred]

i have half filled the coop with straw to keep the girls nice and warm.

I also lay some newspaper over the straw at night to collect a the poo, keeps the coop and straw nice and clean, just remove the paper first thing in the morning.

What about a hot water bottle!

[mr darcy]

i have half filled the coop with straw to keep the girls nice and warm.

I also lay some newspaper over the straw at night to collect a the poo, keeps the coop and straw nice and clean, just remove the paper first thing in the morning.

What about a hot water bottle!

that's a really good idea about the newspaper!! our cold started here in south west France a couple of days ago, so I put straw in coop as it has a wire floor, but it is a wee bit pooey now! also put straw in run, they are mainly out on forage but in run if I'm not home, garden not fenced, don't trust neighbours dog!
still no new henhouse, oh has let me downdue to too much other work inside house but will be on to it in xmas hols, Mr D and scarlet still like bonnie and clyde!!

[NSB]

what about guinea pigs are they ok outside this weather?

[TPeers]

Taken from the omlet site.

Brr - don't forget your Guinea Pig
By now it is getting cold again. The eglu is well insulated, and if it is also packed with hay, your guinea pigs will be cosy. There will be less grass around, so it's back to the supermarket again! Guinea pigs should not be put out on frosty grass, as this will cause digestive upsets (similarly, salad should not be fed directly from the fridge).
Remember that the drinking water may freeze, and need to be replaced more often. It is often easier to have two bottles, and rotate them, bringing a fresh one from indoors each time, rather than having to crack the ice each time. It may be worth considering adding some extra vitamin C to their drinking water at this time, either in the form of sugar-free ribena, or as soluble vitamin C tablets.

[Snadger]

My two outdoor cockerels have always perched in the run outside in all weathers. Poor beggers looked rather wet and bedraggled tonight but for some reason they won't go inside and sleep with there individual Harims of ISA's where its dry and warm inside.
The roosts are about 4 foot of the ground and they've always perched there.
The third cockerel which has the greenhouse run sits on the floor in the coop with his Laydees even though there are nesting bars there!

Strange things chooks!

[Nicos]

Can't you just pick them up and shove them inside???..flipping male egos


( they won't thank you..but ....)

[shadegrow]

Will glycerine be ok in water that has battles poultry drink in it? I like to give 'em a little bit of a boost wherever I can but defrosting drinkers can be a pain.

[petal]

We have given ours extra straw, they are snuggled up with the rooster, quite cosy.

[chickencol]

My chickens are quite pampered! If you visit Poundland now you can get two small hot water bottles, about the size of A5 paper, for a quid! Mine are ex-bat hens so I do take extra care in winter. Plenty of straw and a hot water bottle in each end does a treat. Put the bottle under the straw or wrapped in towelling! Mine sit on them!

[lettucegrow!]

Think I'll be off to pound today to get hot water bottles,that sounds a good idea.Out of my three girls ,two don't seem to mind the snow at all,but Betty will not wander around in it and just stays by the coop in one little snow free spot!!