Unsecure chicken perches

[madchickenlady]

...will you move your bantams indoors? My pekins and silkies are doing ok for now, but I'm not sure for how long they can stay healthy in these conditions. They seem to be eating less (although all bar one are not laying) and huddling in the coop more and more. I imagine that over time the cold could wear them down?

[sandyhas3chucks]

have va read on the other threads already running

[Redwing]

I've started feeding my bantams some high energy food just as a short term measure and am shutting them in at night in straw filled houses where I would normally leave doors to coops open

 

I figure that will be just fine

[Patricia W]

Just filled the eglu with straw and added a hot water bottle for my 2 who sleep alone. The others are in two cubes - 3 in one and 4 in another ( I know I really ought to shove them all in together but not sure I won't have a bloodbath in the morning.... ) Strangely, the cubes seem to be warmer than the eglu - which I discovered had frozen to the ground!

[madchickenlady]

I'm giving them porridge (made with oats) mixed with raisins and poultry spice just before they go in for the night in an effort to keep them warm, but I am concerned. The silkies don't seem to mind the ice/snow too much, but the pekins are not happy at all. Having feathered feet can be a hindrance in this weather . I'll keep an eye on them

[Egluntyne]

Mine are fine at the mo. Active and cheerful.

[Daphne]

Although we don't have it quite as cold as those of you further north (but it was -6 last night) my poland bantams are a lot happier and perkier and doing more running about than my LF orps. One of them is also laying so all in all I figure they are fine. I give them warm pellet porridge once or twice a day and a large dose of mixed corn before bed. I think the prolonged cold may sort out any weaklings but actually I don't think thats a bad thing - natural selection and all that.

[whoopsie]

My chooks are decidedly unimpressed with the cold weather but seem ok - they're still laying anyway. I am making thiem oat/veg porridge and taking them warm water in the mornings which they seem to like. Not sure if I should up the straw content though?

[madchickenlady]

I did throw in a lot more wood shavings today, and quite a thick layer of newspaper on the coop floor (some of my girls don't roost). Have to say I am worried about them

[chick wiggle]

I have to admit i am getting more worried about my banties. When you say 'shove more straw in the eglu' Do you just put a load of straw over the roosting bars or in the nest box. Sorry I need precise instructions here

[Redwing]

Yes CW, I just put a load in the Eglu over the roosting bars (so that when I fluff the straw in the mornings the poo falls through to the poo tray as straw can get damp, flat and smelly if you dont keep a close eye on it, I bank the straw round the edges

 

The chooks then come in and flatten or push it to where they want it anyway

[chick wiggle]

Thats great Tash, just what I needed to know, thanks

[Tulip]

We've had to bring our one serama in for the week anyway as he's recovering from myco, and have decided he's staying inside for the harshest part of winter. Waiting on getting some serama girlfriends for him as he keeps crowing when can't see the big girls! He's so much more perky than even before he got poorly.

 

Hubby is plannng the mother of all bantie houses/run for them, with heating and everything for next year. (And hot running water, if I know my husband...)

[tom123]

My 2 are now living in a small ark in the garage One of them is 4 years old though so am keeping them nice and warm. If they were both young and fit then they would be living with outside as normal as they would be fine.

[Mrs P]

It was -14 here in Northwich last night but the girls still sprang out of the Eglu bright and sparkly this morning.

 

I have been putting loads of straw in the Eglu and giving them warm or room-temperature porridge for breakfast. They have just been coming into the kitchen every now and then to defrost but voluntarily going back out to eat snow!

 

They are Omlet girls - a Miss Pepperpot and a Gingernut Ranger - I assume they are pretty hardy breeds. Of course, as soon as the temperature plummets they have both begun to moult!

 

I noticed when I was scooping poops from the Eglu this morning that the poops were frozen - I assume that this happened after they went out at 8.30am. I have put extra straw in for them but no extra heating - is this necessary? Their Eglu is in a sheltered spot and they have still been using their dustbaths so I think they are doing okay - both are generally still laying too despite the weather and the moulting.

 

I'm sure the girls are much less concerned about the weather than we are! They seem like tough old girls - lets hope so anyway!

 

Bring on summer!!!