Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: henamoured on December 02, 2010, 21:09
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Any idea what the lowest temperature chickens can survive is anyone?
Anyone up in Scotland or N Ireland know of the lowest temp their chx have managed?
Got a friend in Outer Hebrides (Lewis) that asked me.
I said mine have been alright down to -7 so far - but she said -20 isn't that unusual.
What temp would they need heating provided at?
Thanks for any info.
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Dunno, but I've lost one of my old cockatiels in the aviary :( We've had her about 10 years, and she wasnt young then. Bless her. Vaseline the cockerels combs, and if you have any hens with big combs, like leghorns, and legbars etc
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We are in central scotland and it is -7c tonight but temperature are said to be heading for -25c in the highlands. I'm sure someone will be along soon with some really cold temperatures
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Our coldest, so far, this week has been -14. Couldn't shut the hen house door tonight as it was frozen solid. Had to get my hubby to improvise!!! Have been giving the chickens warm layers mash in the morning and afternoon. Still getting eggs, can't understand why!!!!!
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Have a look at the poultry info stickies as there's a piece on there by Munty
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There has been an excellent series on BBC4 called Birds Brittania. In one it mentioned that birds have a substance like anti freeze in their blood. Thats why even tiny birds can survive the cold. Its lack of food and water that is to blame for a lot of deaths.
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I think a lot of it will also depend on the breed, for example Scots Greys and Scots Dumpy's will be better off in colder weather than the likes of the Mediteranian and Asian breeds. Nut there will still be a 'breaking point' I suppose even with the colder climate birds.
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And of course the age and general condition of the birds. Older and younger birds and those not feeling 100% will fare worse than the mid aged healthy ones.
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Thanks for the replies everyone.
I think'll advise she waits until the warmer weather at least. I think these would be very challenges conditions for a novice, particularly with young birds.
D: that's good advice about the breeds - hadn't thought of that, but presumably they're a bit more adapted to the cold already. She hasn't got birds yet so could get the Scots 'natives'.
Sorry to hear of your cockatiel, Teapots. At least she was a ripe old age.
Keep warm everyone. :ohmy:
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Hi What is layers mash? is that the layers pellets soaked in warm water or a different mix?
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Hi What is layers mash? is that the layers pellets soaked in warm water or a different mix?
LAyers mash is a powdery form of layers pellets. Welcome to the forum by the way :D
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Hi we have had it -10 here in Weymouth and the girls are fine they just huddle up together and keep warm. Feel so sorry for them though have been giving them porridge, thankfully its warmed up this morning and the snow has gone now its raining.
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Our lowest night temprature has been -9 so far, it was still -7 last night. All mine look really well now they're recovering from their moults.
I think they cope better with the cold than they do with the very hot weather - that seemed to affect them more in the summer ... ahh... the heat ... anyone remember that!
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Yesterday it was minus 14 here. I went out to see my girls and picked up Princess Eggy Chicken for a cuddle, errrrmm, I mean to inspect her, and honestly, her tummy felt so toasty warm! She doesnt even have a full set of feathers yet either, so I'm sure that chickens with a full coat will be nice and warm. I suppose it may have been a bit colder during the night, but then they were all tucked up in bed and they do huddle together to keep snug. I really haven't worried about the cold, they just dont seem to mind it. I have noticed how they stand on one leg, then swap legs after a while, I presume this is to stop cold tootsies!?! :)
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Yesterday morning,I asked Brian what he was looking at down the garden.
He said he was sure all the chickens were locked up the night before, but he'd missed 2 of the POL's. They were wandering around the gatden picking at the snow. they were fine. Took m a while to catch them, but once I put them back in their run they went straight to their food!
Must have slept in the trees, but they were fine!
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Yesterday it was minus 14 here. I went out to see my girls and picked up Princess Eggy Chicken for a cuddle, errrrmm, I mean to inspect her, and honestly, her tummy felt so toasty warm! ...
So if her tummy felt toasty warm to you - just imagine how cold your fingers felt to her! If someone came into MY house and put their frosty fingers on my warm tummy, they would get a good pecking, or worse!
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ha ha ha .... Princess Eggy Chicken was the perfect princess and didnt even wriggle!! A fine hand warmer!