Chicken bald back

[sparkysmum]

My ladies have been struggling with the big freeze for the last ten days or so. Some days they hardly venture out of their Eglu and only rarely come out the WIR. I was thinking of investing in an infra red lamp but a bit pricey Have just read Angels4 post & saw the bales of straw. Could this be the solution Should I buy a bale of straw & fill up their run Would they enjoy it Would it actually warm up the environment Would love to hear you ideas. A&H & our freezing ladiesxx

[Redwing]

You could do, its not a long term run bedding obviously but would get you through short term

 

Rake it up before it looks damp and compacted though

[Guest]

I don't see how it would warm up their environment, unless you used the bales as a wind break!? Try and give them some protection from the cold wind with something....some clear plastic sheeting on the side of the run or somewhere in the run where they can shelter, a table on its side maybe?

[sparkysmum]

I think you're right Poet. I think I'll cover their WIR with tarpaulin & see if this cheers them up a bit. A&H

[Angels4]

Like Poet suggested I am using the large bales as a wind break, I also have a tarp over the top and sides of the run. I never thought the wind would be soooooo intense here. The straw in the run was to help melt the snow drifts inside and is a temporary fix, I will be raking that out this weekend and replacing it with wood pellets weather permitting.

[Redwing]

My neighbour has clad their run in corrugated plastic sheets, it works really well and the water in the drnker in their run hasnt even frozen in the cold weather where mine have frozen solid

[Guest]

corrugated plastic would possibly flap/vibrate less than sheeting.

[Egluntyne]

I have corrugated sheeting over one Eglu and plastic over the other. Both are secured with luggage cords.

 

The plastic doesn't flap as far as I am aware, but the corrugated sheeting does offer slightly better protection. The water has been frozen in both runs, but less so in the one with the sheeting.

[beulah59]

I can't run it all the way round, but for a wind break, I use green garden wind netting ... have a length pegged to the side of the fruit cage we use as a run.

 

See here http://www.knowlenets.co.uk/garden/garden_netting.htm#windbreak, about half way down the page.

[chelsea]

We invested in an infra red lamp last winter and they love it. The lamp was approximately £15 with the bulb being about £5/6

 

 

I put it on in the really cold weather usually just after their tea (3pm) for a couple of hours before roosting. They love to dustbathe under it!

[Jules.]

We invested in an infra red lamp last winter and they love it. The lamp was approximately £15 with the bulb being about £5/6

 

 

I put it on in the really cold weather usually just after their tea (3pm) for a couple of hours before roosting. They love to dustbathe under it!

 

that looks lovely & warm

 

 

I have no power to my run, so I wouldn't be able to use that great idea.

[Tutti Frutti]

 

How cool is that! In a warm way, of course!

 

Some days they hardly venture out of their Eglu and only rarely come out the WIR.

 

Are you run walls covered? Ours weren't and our chooks were too daft to stay inside - at least your girls aren't so silly! So as a desperate but temporary fix (my slightly bald BHWT hens were shivering), I pegged up plastic sacks (from the feed, woodchips etc - you name it, it was pegged up!) half way up the walls to just keep the wind and snow out. I pegged them up intact, with with the sealed end at the top, so there was air trapped inside to act as insulation. It worked a treat but I've since replaced them with shower curtains and clear PVC from floor to roof. I've also put a tarp on the roof, as the snow (even though I removed it!) cracked the corrugated sheets and they leaked like a sieve and soaked (then froze!) the woodchips It's now completely dry in there so we dug out the woodchips on Monday and replaced with Aubiose!

 

It must be really bitter where you are so I reckon bales for a wind break/insulation is genius! Some on the floor will make the ground more comfortable but might turn into a soggy mess quickly (if they venture out to do their business!) but worth it if it makes the girls happy.

 

Good luck!

[sparkysmum]

Hi folks thanks for your replies I investigated a heat lamp previously and was advised by the farm supplies shop that I use that they are for indoor use only. However they do look very snug chelsea, and I think I'll check out other suppliers. In the meantime I'll try to cover another side of the run with feed sacks etc. One side is already covered & it is roofed so hopefully this will help in the short term until I can get another tarpaulin. Happy New Year everyone

 

Allison xx

[Henhathnofury]

A couple of weeks ago I was very worried about my chickens - they weren't going out and one was moulting. Worst time of the year for it! I did invest in the infra red lamp and we have it in an outside aviary. It is wonderful and as well as warming their feet and giving them a little bit of comfort, they can see their way to bed and have a little extra 'light' as well. I also give them warm water to drink at regular intervals and they seem to love it.

 

I hope that they 'cheer' up. I think they get as grumpy as we do with the freeze!

[cathybc]

interesting thread. When I have done my big garden clean out (bunnies and girls) the last two weeks, Harriet and Hermione have sought shelter in the conservatory. It is freezing being glass and not heated at all but they seem to think it is beter than outside / their run.

 

Their run is already covered with corrugated plastic but the water is still frozen. May well look at a heat lamp for them as they do seem a bit fed up

 

Timmy the tortoise has one, baby chinchilla Cobweb has a private radiator, the bunnies have snugglesafes, the cats have me (!), I have Landsend fleece, so I guess it is only fair the girls have something too...I do have a mobile socket I used in the shed with previous poorly bunnies, but am not convinced the eglu run would be waterproof enough. Will have a go tomorrow...

[K-F-C]

I have corrugated sheeting over one Eglu and plastic over the other. Both are secured with luggage cords.

 

The plastic doesn't flap as far as I am aware, but the corrugated sheeting does offer slightly better protection. The water has been frozen in both runs, but less so in the one with the sheeting.

 

 

I've put corrugated plastic over my run. (partially so that the roof still slides open) I've fixed it with bamboo canes and cable ties. (the bamboo supports the edges and ensures that it doesn't flap.)

 

 

The water has frozen on a couple of occasions. I am onto it now and bring it in at night and put warm water out in the morning.

 

My hens don't 'seem too cold'* They are not huddled and seem to behaving normally. They are in a relatively well sheltered area of the garden.

 

*What are the sighs of a cold chicken?

[docsquid]

Our three seem blissfully un-bothered by the cold. They are desperate to get out and FR in the garden, even if it ground is hard with frost. They don't really seem to mind at all, just behave normally. I do take in their water at night and put out warm water during the day, but otherwise they are doing pretty much what they always do.

 

Today they didn't get out as we were out and busy and they didn't half let us know. They were in their nice warm run with dry bedding and a tarpaulin cover but they'd have preferred the rain, mud, snow, ice and everything else!

[emchook]

I have just put corrugated plastic sheeting over the first part of my run and left the 1m extension with the winter cover on. [ 3 pieces of sheeting attached to each other with duct tape and held down with bungee cords.]

 

The plastic is working really well and the run is beginning to dry out !The hens also seem to be enjoying some sunshine in there too !

 

I will be removing all the yucky- soggy bark chip and replacing with aubiose. !

Edited January 2, 2010 by Guest

[Henhathnofury]

Aubiose/Hemcore is miracle stuff. I am seriously thinking of using it in our house as well! Go back to medieval times when they put sawdust or straw on the floor!!!

 

LOL

 

 

I think I might have wimpy chickens. I can but admire these well 'ard ladies who dance out in the snow and scoff in the face of ice. Mine tremble at raindrops. Dear oh dear.

[sandyhas3chucks]

What are the signs of a cold chicken?

sitting shivering.

not coming out of Eglu

sitting in a corner.

maybe even bleating at you(my disabled girl)

[Henhathnofury]

Oh yes the bleating. My poor little moulted ragamuffin does that.......

[sandyhas3chucks]

ooo makes ya doesn't it.

I had a moult + illness, with one and she was real sad walking sideways low to the ground, head low AND cheaping like a chick.

She is stunning now and walks up straight all be it with a limp & a her shoulder pad slipped, Normal voice too.

thank goodness she regrew before the cold or she would be a house chook for certain sure!

[Henhathnofury]

Oh that walking sideways! My girl is doing that, plus the very odd noises...it's as if they become chicks again.......

 

Glad to hear that your girl recovered....

[sandyhas3chucks]

took 2 loooong courses of 2 dif antibiotics

was very worrying.

[Tutti Frutti]

What are the signs of a cold chicken?

sitting shivering.

not coming out of Eglu

sitting in a corner.

maybe even bleating at you(my disabled girl)

 

Looking tired/closing her eyes

Not being as active/Standing still

Loss of interest

Edited January 2, 2010 by Guest