[Nails]

i have just read the thread on winter tips for chooks, if the temp drops to -10 should we be doing anymore for our chooks, we have chooks in separate runs in out field, all hen houses are fully enclosed and as near to draft free as we can get them. the main flock are in a big run with two hen houses, they are old pig houses and measure 8ft by 8ft. fully enclosed when they are locked in of a night time.
What else can we do other than the really useful tips we have already been given.

[karlooben]

there isnt much more we can do really except give them a warm cosy house at night that has gone ventilation even though its cold they still need that .

i am now back at work after having the past 18 days of work so i have kept a close eye on them but now i am back to work and i spent  all day worrying about them and the horses personally after what i went though this morning my girls were probably a lot warmer then me my boss on Christmas eve shut down the heating system at work instead of turning it down low it must of been minus 8 in my works building .they have feathers to keep them warm an they will huddle up at night so try not to worry to much about them .

[Ice]

I give my girls hot porage during the day and the very last thing at night.  Picked up an egg today so fresh it was still wet and it was lovely and warm.  It reassured me that their core body temperature was ok.

There was another thread with a thermal image of a hen and it showed just how well they are insulated by their feathers.

[Nails]

i am sure they are, but still not liking the fact that they might get cold, but i know your right, just want to make sure like everyone i do the best i can for them.

[bee]

What is worrying me is going back to work and not being able to change their water, which keeps freezing. How long can chickens go without water, as by the time I get home they'll be in bed and that means they could have gone a number of hours without water, before they went to sleep?

[joyfull]

I am out today (usually work from home) so I am going to try sitting a hot water bottle under their drinker to see if that helps keep their water liquid for a bit longer 

[scrappydoo]

Hi All Happy New Year.
                When I went in to the coop yesterday morning the condensation on the ceiling was frozen, but having let the girls out into a temperature of -8 Deg.C the girls were still out all day in their run, so the cold isn't bothering them too much, and I'm still getting 8 from 8 on the egg front.
   Almost tropical this morning (the poo wasn't frozen to the litter trays in coop  ), It was comical watching them come out and inspecting the snow today .

Best Regards

Steve

[amj]

After reading this on monday I put a thermometer in the hed house..
3 girls 21 week old in a house about 4' x 3' off the ground with no draughts an vents at the top
I was amazed to see the dial at 10 above ' must be the corn before bedtime !
and it was minus 4 last night here in Herts.. I will do the same tonight just to see
..warm as toast they are .  I'm quite shocked at the heat they generate.

[Sarah Mitchell]

The frozen water worries me - I put out fresh water before going to work (takes ages as I have 8 runs to do) but not sure how long it's lasting and whether they are getting enough particularly as when I get home they are already asleep. Really interesting to read how warm their houses get!  More snow forecast so will probably have to dig them out tomorrow.  Have moved Polands inside my barn as I don't want their crests freezing!

Roll on summer!

[Caralou]

If you have snow on the ground I wouldn't worry too much as mine have spent all day eating the snow  instead of drinking from the fresh water I top up for them! At least they are getting their fluids, even if in a silly way 

[Sassy]

Agree with Caralou. I have seen my hens eating the snow even when I have liquid water available for them.

[joyfull]

well I placed the hot water bottle underneath one of my big waterers (think they hold 15 litres) at 09.30 and placed it on a tilt with the level bung towards the bottom to prevent it pouring away and then left the other as normal. Both were left until 4.30 this afternoon and the one that had the hot waterbottle underneath it was still liquid unlike the other so will use that method again. Think this method though would be too unstable for smaller containers.

[amj]

sorry all i think i got it wrong with the thermometer yesterday
used a new one last night an it was at zero this morning
and minus 4 outside the other one must have stuck
even so a few degrees hotter in the house an they look well in the morning
I am sure that corn just before bed is a good thing.....

[compostqueen]

I made mine a shelter from straw bales which they go in to get out of the snow or rain. They also climb to the top of it and snuggle there. They have even laid eggs up there  I've used the ground sheets from the army stores attached to the netting by the eyelets to keep out the wind and driving snow and rain.  If it gets any snowier I might attach some clear sheets of Coryline (wavy plastic) that I've got. They like to see what's going on so using the clear plastic means they can still see out but they get shelter from it.  it all depends whether I can drill holes in it without cracking it