The Poultry Keeper

Clucky · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 2187 Location: Shropshire

Its cold out there...I know cos it should be this time of year, but do you think the chooks are OK. I know that its harder to keep them cool rather than warm, but I shiver with the thougth that they are out in that wooden box with just each other for heat and company. Sad

Anyone do anything special with the bedding etc for nights like these? I have lumped twice as much shavings in as normal but is there anything else I could do?

Look you get to see my sensitive caring side for a change Laughing

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7311 Location: isle of lewis

i don't use shavings although they're just as warm i'm sure
when i've mucked the goats out the straw looks so inviting so i just have to lay in it ,it's ever so warm snuggled up with the goats their body heat is Cool

really warm ,
i suppose the hens must feel like that half the time ,snuggled up in their own duvets Very Happy

,i don't normally shut the pop holes or the door to their coops they can come and o as they please ,but this time of year ,i do shut the main door to make sure they are not sitting in a old daught Confused

Lisa · Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:37 pm Post subject:

I think along the same lines as milkmaid - the chooks are wearing their own custom fit personal duvets, they'll be fine. And lucky them - no-one can pinch more than their fair share of it leaving you with a cold <...fill in the blank...>!! Laughing

I was always told it was damp and/or draughts that caused problems for the chooks, not the cold. I used to keep a min/max thermometer in our shed. Its been down to -4C inside (-6C outside) and they've been fine. So I don't bat an eyelid if its above that.

Oh - the thing I do watch out for is that their water doesn't freeze over in the daytime, leaving them with nothing to drink...

debcat · Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:45 pm Post subject:

the only thing I do different in the winter is to shut all the pop-holes at night
and turn the coops away from the prevailing wind (westerly), 9 s out of 10 as soon as I've turned them round the wind changes direction Confused

nigel · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 5:38 am Post subject:

It's -15.8°C here, we had the first real snow of the winter yesterday, no trafiic chaos, no mass panic buying, everything moves along as normal.

We put the chickens out on Sunday took them back into the barn again now.

Lisa · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:09 am Post subject:

Now that's cold! Razz

Do you do anything special in your barn for them or is it just a case of being out of the snow and any wind? Do you know how cold it gets in there compared to outside?

mojo · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 10:16 am Post subject:

0 degrees here wet and windy.........i think the chooks are better equiped to stand the cold than i am.................

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2205 Location: North Cornwall

Clear blue skies here, but ice on the puddles. Smile

mojo · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:50 pm Post subject:

look at nannys piccys of the snow

stephen · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:07 am Post subject:

CP · Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2007 10:16 am Post subject:

We have had quite a snowfall overnight. So much that we're housebound at the moment due to the fact we live on a hill & they haven't gritted the roads around here! Evil or Very Mad

I'm not risking an unecessary trip out if I can help it. The boys are very happy as it means a day off school!

NannyP · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 11:34 am Post subject:

C'est tres froid ici

http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/europe_forecast_7days.asp?locationID=1809
but not as cold as Sweden Shocked

stephen · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:23 pm Post subject:

I'm in Italy today, and it's a balmy 3C! I'm getting ready to put my shorts on Wink

CP · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject:

skye girl · Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 638 Location: Isle of skye

dont forget the shades Cool