Salop Chuck Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 We were -8.7 the other 2 nights ago and the hens in the morning were so so toasty - I checked them out before I let them out in the morning. They are so cosy in the eglu with the door shut on them. The temp outside the cube was -8'oC this morning (Shropshire). Two of my girls were fine but Saffie (a gingernut) doesn't cope with the cold very well, running round the frozen garden making distress noises. As soon as I let her in the house she goes straight to 'her' box (a large cardboard box with shredded packing material in it). As soon as I put her in it, shut the lid and leave it in a dark corner of the room, she settles down and goes about the business of laying an egg. Once she has laid her egg and eaten something (in the house) she is then happy to go out. Do some hens find it difficult to lay eggs in the extreme cold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 I had 3 eggs from mine today and it was -7 here this morning. The last time that happened was the Friday before Christmas and that was the first time in a couple of months. One egg was only 53g more like a first egg We just shut the door as soon as possible after they go to bed. I have been shocked this year to find the nest box and poo tray frozen solid. We have plastic roosting bars this year whereas we had the wooden ones last year, I don't know how much difference this makes? Although this winter is so much colder. I had read somewhere that hydrids are more hardy than pure breeds i don't know if this is true or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 The temp outside the cube was -8'oC this morning (Shropshire). Two of my girls were fine but Saffie (a gingernut) doesn't cope with the cold very well, running round the frozen garden making distress noises. As soon as I let her in the house she goes straight to 'her' box (a large cardboard box with shredded packing material in it). As soon as I put her in it, shut the lid and leave it in a dark corner of the room, she settles down and goes about the business of laying an egg. Once she has laid her egg and eaten something (in the house) she is then happy to go out. Do some hens find it difficult to lay eggs in the extreme cold? I don't know a scientific answer but I always bring my girls in in the warm (Even during our chilly summer/autumn) if they were laying a softee. The thought being 2fold. 1. that they are not wasting energy trying to keep warm whilst hunched & trying to lay.Only if hunched outside in the cold (not if taken themselves into the nest. 2. the feeling that it has to be eaasier/better for muscles to work in the warm. My girls have several places to lay & the 2 that ARE laying tell me where they want to be, quite clearly! so I guess your girl is only doing the same they are all individuals with many people saying their girls are quite happy grubbing in the cold. Mine areonly if there is any sun to be in but half hour at a time is their top whack this weather, with no sunny patch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 [. The temp outside the cube was -8'oC this morning (Shropshire). Two of my girls were fine but Saffie (a gingernut) doesn't cope with the cold very well, running round the frozen garden making distress noises. As soon as I let her in the house she goes straight to 'her' box (a large cardboard box with shredded packing material in it). As soon as I put her in it, shut the lid and leave it in a dark corner of the room, she settles down and goes about the business of laying an egg. Once she has laid her egg and eaten something (in the house) she is then happy to go out. Do some hens find it difficult to lay eggs in the extreme cold? I don't know a scientific answer but I always bring my girls in in the warm (Even during our chilly summer/autumn) if they were laying a softee. The thought being 2fold. 1. that they are not wasting energy trying to keep warm whilst hunched & trying to lay.Only if hunched outside in the cold (not if taken themselves into the nest. 2. the feeling that it has to be eaasier/better for muscles to work in the warm. My girls have several places to lay & the 2 that ARE laying tell me where they want to be, quite clearly! so I guess your girl is only doing the same they are all individuals with many people saying their girls are quite happy grubbing in the cold. Mine areonly if there is any sun to be in but half hour at a time is their top whack this weather, with no sunny patch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 It was -9 when I turned the car on yesterday morning and that is sheltered - it was only up to -3 when I came home at 4 pm and all the waterers by that time were completely frozen again. I had considered putting them in the garage overnight but then thought they are probably better coping at one temperature than being warmed then put back in the Eglu during the day - so far they seem fine and are getting some fattening mixed corn. I am still getting 2 eggs a day (3rd layer moulting) so I am sure they are fine. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 They really are the most amazingly adaptable creatures,aren't they? Both extremes of hot & cold don't seem to bother them too much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pistachio Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Mine seem fine without any extra warmth or covering, but I do shut the door at night. The main problem for me is that the water has been freezing over, which is fine in the morning - just a bit of hassle. The problem comes when the water freezes in the day when I'm at work and they get a bit thirsty until I can get back and put more out. I'm going to search for the thread about what you can add to the water to help that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
