Mrs

[Patricia W]

I wondered what's the lowest temperature anyone has had chickens out in a cube or an eglu?

 

The temperature in the cube was below freezing last night ( -10 or more here last night). I know that as I left a dish of water in there and it was completely frozen. Having said that they all survived although Phillip and his wives won't come out of the cube at all. So it's room service for them.

 

It's forecast to get even colder here over the next few nights so is there a point at which I should bring them in?

 

Tricia

[madchickenlady]

I was also wondering this

[Griffin]

It was definitely the coldest night last night, I know this because the water in my growers brooder had frozen! It's at the opposite end of the run from their heat lamp but even still I wouldn't have expected that in the garage. They've got the electric hen back in there now so there are two heat sources for them to chose from.

[legend21]

Hubby has hung a thermometer outside the cube and at 11.30am it was -11, I just keep giving them there food mushed up in hot water, poor wee souls, every morning I am surprised they are still here, we have had the freezing weather for over two weeks, but they are now talking -17, I dont know what I should do for them

[Patricia W]

The water I put inside the cube this morning is freezing over so I' ve just been out to break the ice. However, the sun is shining on the bench that they use as a step into the cube and so all three have ventured out - but no further, thank you very much!

 

Tricia

[PhilipCaldwell]

its minus 11 here, the water is freezing up already again.Poor chicken

[Redwing]

I've put some chickens in with other chickens so they generate more warmth, no problems so far (either growers that know each other and were split or cockerels in with girls) conditions are a little more cramped than usual but the chooks arent as lively as normal so its not really causing a problem

 

All of my coops that dont have doors are now empty

 

All of the growers are protected by plastic over their hutches

 

I have two chooks emergency housed in my kitchen as they seemed to be suffering a bit

[prof]

-17 here last night they seemed fine this morn & have spent all day again out in the snow

[Guest]

I have never had a chicken die of cold - even years ago in a home made basic hen house (30+ years ago). They do come with their own duvet after all, and fluff up their feathers. The wild birds don't suffer either.

 

My friend who had bantams for many years, said that hers used to roost up in the trees and refused to come down to go into a barn or anything - and in really thick snow and freezing frost used to fly down to the ground with snow and ice on their backs and just used to shrug it off.

 

Maybe they are tougher here is the countryside.

[Patricia W]

Dilly- thanks for that reassurance. My two bantams in the eglu have decided to roost outside on a branch I put up because I thought they were bored!

 

Tricia

[chelsea]

It was -15 here last night and they were fine this morning.

 

I must admit I am getting a little bit anxious, especially as my smallest chook doesn't have much meat on her.

 

Have put in extra straw, 2 snugglesafes, 2 hot water bottles and an old duvet on top of the cube tonight (not covering ventilation slits at front)

[Patricia W]

I've just shoved the two perchers from the eglu into the cube so there are now 5 in there plus a hot water bottle, and then put extra straw in the cube with the four in ( they are much smaller than the other 5 so can't put them together.

 

The wind is biting now- but at least they are out of the wind.

 

It was -17.7 last night I've just heard only about 12 miles from us! I've not checked yet, but I reckon we are going to beat the -9/10 of last night here.

 

Tricia

[Redwing]

Something I have done in the past is to put a sleepy chook/s in a box with lots of bedding and some airholes and placed that inside the coop as the smaller area will contain more warmth

[JS1]

It's been so cold here that our diesel car wouldn't start (this can happen below minus 15, apparently). But the chickens have been fine so far, and it's been going on for a fortnight now (we're in the Highlands).

 

The original girls are spending quite a lot of time perching on the edge of their run (they have plenty of shelter) and the new ex-batts are still in the Eglu run, but all seem happy enough and I'm getting an average of four eggs a day from six. I'm going out every couple of hours and refreshing their (frozen) water and giving them a handful of corn just before bed to fill their little tums, and they are cuddling up together as usual quite the thing. I close the house doors, but do that anyway. I've also been giving them lettuce as a treat at lunchtime as the snow is so deep they aren't getting their usual grass.

 

All the above is really to reassure people - I worried about going out the first day it was minus 17 but they were fine. Mind you, today it feels the coldest yet....

[Patricia W]

Thanks Redwing and JSL, its very reassuring to hear of the low temps that others have survived - and I like the box idea!

 

Tricia

[sandyhas3chucks]

this is a bit like the worming question, there are 2 distinct camps! them as worry and them as say they are fine.

Practical thought for worryiers (thats me) Snugglesafes are brilliant. best popped in Eglu approx 9 pm to last well past coldest part of night.

Pop a hot water bottle in before they are due to go to bed, to warm the inside before they go in. (I use this before the snugglesafe!)

Personally feel all the chooks are different, mine were hilarious venturing onto the snow , the tentative "0ooonoooo don't like this" expressions and with some getting stuck in a non white spot and to scared/cold/whatever to move! they don't do cold/wet or snow really!

As a point of choice they would choose the warmth, with one finding the warm patch in the Eglu with the snugglesafe in deciding she would like to sleep here tonight, please.

I saw and had to show her, her warmed Eglu and she went in happily

the other night one disable girl decided on top of the snugS was THE place to sleep!

I would definately cover the back draft. and have put net over the front vents allowing air flow and slowing direct blast.

And like Redwing if you feel they are struggling for whatever reason, bring them in overnight. (not too warm a place though!)

[jess1merlin]

I was thinking of bringing my 4 into the garage overnight and putting them in a dog crate, there is no heating in there but it must be warmer than their cube. Not sure if its a good idea or not as I have only had them since the summer and have no previous experience with chickens.

[Redwing]

I have to say a couple of weeks ago I was definitely all for leaving them to it but the temps here are really quite low and its pretty unrelenting

 

The odd cold night I wouldnt worry about at all

 

I am not in Snugglesafe territory at the moment though but stranger things have happened

 

I have however moved some of the chooks on to a high energy feed and the rest on to a mix of pellets and corn with added cod liver oil

 

Jess - I would say that the cube would be warmer than an airy unheated garage even with them in a crate

[wiganchooks]

Tonight is the 3rd night this winter I've taken mine in, but I have an easy space to put them in in the utility room (unheated) and one of them (ex-batts) has always been a bit of a weakling and was looking a bit miserable again today.

 

I suspect it is more for my peace of mind than anything, but it's easy enough and they've not been bothered or stressed by it the other times I've done it.

 

The other nights I've been putting in hot water bottles. Not sure how long into the night they stay warm, but it must help. Just play it by ear and watch them closely in the day to see how they are coping.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I would agree with Redwing about the dog crate in the garage unless you are going to put some sort of heater in there extra covers on the Eglu and lots of straw and hot water bottle or a snugglesafe if there are any left in the shops.

I think they are brilliant! I bought my hubby one

[madchickenlady]

Can I ask a question about the snugglesafe/ho"Ooops, word censored!"er bottle use? At some point the heat must go, so is the plummeting temperature then more of a shock to the chooks? I'm thinking about how pet shops tell you to acclimatise rabbits etc before sticking them outside.

[sandyhas3chucks]

put briefly without getting off my bum to get box.

The 1st 3 hours the snuggle safe keeps it's starting temp(V hot) then gradually losing heat. Some boxes say 10 hours some 12?

I put mine in at 9 pm now,, which saves me worrying about the coldest time 2-4 am

My thermometer Remote tells me this works perfectly

unlike hot water bottles that lose ther heat rapidly at the end of there heat life(so to speak)

just an few hours

[jkl]

Hi,

 

it was minus 17.7 where i live last night (confirmed by the weatherman at work) and when i let them out this morning they were absolutely fine (although grumbling as i had a small lie in this morning and let them out at 0730!)

 

i've been shutting the eglu door and bringing their water in at nights as i really cannot be bothered with battling with an iced up glug!

 

no problems so far!

[batcatz]

I have to say a couple of weeks ago I was definitely all for leaving them to it but the temps here are really quite low and its pretty unrelenting

 

The odd cold night I wouldnt worry about at all

 

I am not in Snugglesafe territory at the moment though but stranger things have happened

Redwing, I remember that thread. I was the same. I've shut the eglu and wooden coop doors for the last two nights, since it snowed and min temp of -4 overnight. I'll keep shutting the doors until its above freezing.

 

My chooks felt nice and warm when I opened up the eglu and the other wooden coop this morning. I don't think they need to be brought inside unless they are struggling with the cold i.e fluffed up, standing still, looking cold during the day or a delicate breed like the Poland. I can see the temptation of bringing them in though cos they are simply lovely. hehe.

 

Since last night I emptied the water containers ready to refill in the morning as it took me ages to defrost them with the kettle, in my dressing gown at 8am yesterday morning. My 30l metal bucket drinker isn't very practical for this...v heavy! I will revert back to the smaller plastic drinker tomorrow!

 

This was the first year I haven't been to Oz for xmas/new year. I'm not sure how I will arrange chicken sitters for the winter if it snows next year. I can't expect them to drive in the snow, shut/open eglu and defrost the water 3 times a day. eeek. I'll have to start bribing neighbours. haha

[Lydia]

I have to say that last night was the first ever night I worried they might be cold. I was trying to listen to the Common Sense Voice - there are 10 of them in the cube and they all snuggle up together and we're not in the coldest part of the country by any means, but the Worry Voice was asking whether I should steal the snugglesafes off the cats and add those.

 

A night of no sleep later and this morning they are fine. It's much warmer in the run than outside as it's in a fairly protected position and plastic/shades cover the bits that aren't protected.

 

Ablett, however, has been living in the downstairs loo with the radiator turned off since Monday afternoon as she collapsed. I brought her in to die to be honest but she's still here, although not for much longer I think.