All that cold

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tygrysek75

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Hi Everyone.it is feell veryy chilly right now but some folks have worse than other.Just talked to a friend in Poland is -26C in some parts of the country.i remember this cold as a child had to brace -30C.The school was closead at -25C if i remember well.Despite of that cold we had some fun on the snow but you breed air inside and you nostrils sticking to each other.The chickens do not leeve the cops at those temperatures in Poland.I know that some of the parts of Scotland also afected with theese low temperatures I curious how the birds coping over there.Chickens houses in Poland usually well insulated.
 
Brrrrr!!! Now that is cold Tyg! :o

We have -3 tonight and over the next few nights, don't really mind..prefer a good cold snap to wind and rain anytime! :D
 
At least it's warmer than last year. I haven't had to defrost drinkers every few hours yet this year. And no cases of hypothermia either. Even the Leghorn bantams are managing with it, although tonight is right on the borderline of their tolerance (-5 degrees).
 
chrismahon said:
although tonight is right on the borderline of their tolerance (-5 degrees).
Click to expand...

Right on the borderline of my tolerance as well, Chris. I've just ordered us a lovely new dual-controlelectric blanket, should come tomorrow. I tracked its progress today, it was coming from Fife. I conclude that electric blankets migrate from Siberia in the winter and reach Scotland by late January - early Feb.
 
Marigold I conclude that electric blankets migrate from Siberia in the winter and reach Scotland by late January - early Feb.[/quote said:
:-)08

My weather station said -6.1 this morning!!
Click to expand...
 
I agree with you Cuwiar. It was -6 in the greenhouse and poor little Boris has frostbite of the comb. Bought him in for a massage and warm plus Vascelene, but I think it's too late and he's lost 3mm from two points. Still, he seems very happy anyway. Rigged up the gas powered brooder lamp for the greenhouse and set it on lowest -another bit of kit for France (Gasolec S2). Will get up during the night and switch it on, so it's nice and warm for them in the morning. Great unit at a good price, but costs a lot to run.

Electric blanket Marigold! Just buy a thicker Duvet; they migrate from Sweden around October.
 
It's come, it's come! They obviously hitch a lift on Citylink once they've made landfall in Scotland. Husband now having after-lunch nap and 'just testing it out' - all in the name of science of course. Ahh, the joys of retirement. Apart from all the bits that seem to be falling off, of course.
 
Minus 7.5C last night here in Hampshire, at the top of the hill where we live.
But the electric blanket was LOVELY! I get cold feet in the evenings, and then when I get into bed it's even colder at the feet end, despite my trusty bedsocks. The blanket has independent controls for feet and body areas, as well as dual control each side, so it was wonderful to just lie there and feel my feet gently warming up. another example of how far technology has developed since we last had a very basic one of these 30 years ago. Good old Amazon!
I was a bit late getting up this morning, though - at these temperatures, even I shut the pophole at night and the girls were a bit indignant by 7-30 and clamouring mournfully to be let out for their breakfast.
 
-5C here at 7.00 am this morning, I don't have one of those max/min ones - wish I did! Still flippin cold and all my drinkers are frozen solid! Hot mash for the girls and boys today for breakfast instead of at lunchtime. They'll get their wheat for lunch today!

So far no sign of frostbite on any of mine, but I don't hold out much hope for it not appearing before the end of winter!

Glad you were nice and warm with your electric blanket Marigold! It does make a difference climbing into a lovely warm bed when you live in an old cold house like mine! :-)17
 
Marigold they double up protection agaainst frost I gues
In Poland temperatures going lower -30 in some places.Just had a message from sombody they had -12 inside chicken house-they keep Green Legged Partridge Fowl there.
 
Just been down to the greenhouse to warm it up for the Bantams later. The calibrated thermometer reads a surprising -10 degrees. The drinker inside is frozen solid, so that one and two others are now in the bath defrosting. Still, it will warm up a bit when the snow arrives around 3.00pm.
 
Mine seem to love the cold! they're all out pecking away and all 6 hens are laying! Madness. :-)11 Poor lil Laya looked a bit cold fluffed up on one leg yesterday evening but she's fine now. I've put a bit of extra corn down this morning and an extra drinker that i've had in the house warmed up. Gonna make a nice bran and oatmeal mash for them tonight.
 
Let the girls out in the garden this morning, more for a bit of exercise than anything as the ground and greenstuff is all frozen solid. i'd just tipped the ice out of the birdbath/drinker and refilled it. Nutmeg and Marigold came along, ignored the nice clean warmish water, and spent 10 minutes pecking at the broken bits of ice on the grass...
 
it was -5C in the morning,but temperatures went up during the day and my chickens enjoyed sun.Now is snowing and feels very warm.I wonder their reaction in the morning when they all see the snow for the first time in their lives.I bet they freak out and refuse to go outside of they run(which is covered and will be snow free in the morning).
 
Freezing temperatures are hit UK tonight,How you Guys preparing for this?This is first winter with chickens for me and I know that in they hen house temperatures will drop way below 0C.
 
Well the Naked Necks are all outside as if not at all bothered. I was told they had excellent hot and cold tolerance which is one of the reasons for buying them. The Leghorns have only just been let out into the greenhouse wnich was -7 this morning, they are coming in for the next few nights. It was much colder last year and the birds are strong so don't anticipate any problems, except with the one 'light' blue laced Wyandotte. I'm wondering if red mite is a problem so will check later? Won't be closing the vents that's for sure.

Just make sure the drinkers outside are not frozen. Its important they drink first thing in morning, last thing before bed and somewhere in the middle. We will empty all the drinkers tonight and part-refill them in the morning, otherwise they will be solid.
 
I've not done anything special for the birds, and mine live outdoors in 6ft x 6ft pens, covered on three sides, with an open front. They have perches so are up off the floor. No sign of frostbite in any of them, and they are eating well, boys are treading and even getting eggs from the girls!

I empty all the feed in the evening and also their water containers, if a wind is forcast (or snow!) I put up windbreak netting across the bottom about 3ft high, - just enough to slow the wind down, and let them get on with it.

Even the chooks that are in coops, I just empty the water and feed containers overnight and make sure that there is stacks of ventilation without draught.

Works for me! :D
 
Yes Philcott. What you have is fine for many, especially small or rosecomb varieties and no ventillation or red mite issues either. But large single combs are a problem, particularly those with well defined points, like our lovely Buff Orpington Basil. Worst of all are the Leghorns with disproportinately large combs and very well defined points. The usual treatment to prevent frostbite is 'dubbing', where the comb is removed with a hot knife -not something we would entertain. So the Leghorns come in overnight and go out when the heater has got the greenhouse temperature above zero -which is going to take a long time tomorrow!
 
I take your point Chris :) but just to say that the dorking, ancona, rIr all live in similar pens and so far, (touch wood) I have not had a problem! Maybe I have just been lucky so far!

Bearing in mind what you have just said about the leghorns, I will make alternate arrangements for them in that case. Don't worry, they will be well taken care of - I don't want frostbitten combs any more than you do. :)
 
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