When do chickens freeze?

[Stonehead]

We regularly have temperatures down to -15C in winter and have three to four feet of snow, sometimes for weeks, but out chickens thrive.

One of the key things is to have relatively confined housing, preferably with low headroom. You don't want the chickens to be overcrowded or forced to duck their heads, but you wanted them perched just under the roof in the warmest air. Their perch should be above the height of the pophole to keep them above cold draughts. You want just enough space for them to move about, and to fit a feeder and waterer inside (but not where droppings are going to foul them). The bigger the space the chickens are in, the colder they will be. (If your chickens are in a large house relative to the number of chickens, reduce the space with boards until the weather improves.)

Make sure there's a good layer of bedding on the floor, to act as insulation and for the chickens to scratch in if it's too cold to go outside. I like to have the house about six inches off the ground, then block the sides in, as this provides an air gap for insulation. However, you need to check under the house regularly as rats like to move in.

A lay of insulation under the roof also helps, but can provide a home for red mite. You have to balance the risks and, in less cold places than ours, you should be able to get away without the insulation.

Wooden pophole doors on wooden runners get damp, swell and then freeze in place. Plastic or metal runners, rubbed with a little grease or lard, will reduce the risk. But it's worth having a blow torch or weed wand to thaw the door if it freezes in place. (Just be careful not to burn the house down!)

If the chickens enter and leave their house via a ramp, make sure you de-ice it before opening the pophole. Even though they can usually flap themselves to a safe landing, chickens will get caught out by a slippery ramp and can be injured.

If the ground is frozen, put down some straw, wood chips or shavings for them to stand on and scratch in. It doesn't need to be a large area—just enough for all your chickens to move about on.

If the ground is covered in snow that's more than an inch deep, sweep or shovel it away to make a scratching area and strew that with straw, wood chops or shavings. A handful or two of feed scattered on the area will help keep the chickens happy. (Not too much or birds will take it, especially as the chickens won't stay out for long stretches of time.)

If you have glass bottle waterers, never fill them more than half full when you're expecting sub-zero temperatures. They will shatter as the water freezes and expands. And even half full they may still shatter.

We've found that the plastic used in many waterers gets brittle in sub-zero conditions and will shatter at the slightest provocation. We usually place frozen ones in a bucket of warm water to thaw, then refill them.

Metal waterers and troughs are best in really cold conditions. You can thaw them with a blowtorch or over a camp stove, or you can chip the ice out (we use an old tack hammer).

When the temperature stays below zero for more than three days, we up the morning feed by 10 per cent. We also give the chickens mixed corn about half an hour before dark—one of the mixes with maize. This heats them up and keeps them warm overnight. Don't do this year round or you'll get fat chickens.

If you're in an area that's genuinely cold most winters, consider your breeds carefully. Some are hardier than others. We have Scots Greys: they're as tough as old boots, and go out in almost all weathers—even blizzards. They still need good husbandry but they have an extra chance of surviving. We also have ISA Browns and they're also quite robust, although they prefer to stay inside or only make brief forays outside in bad weather.

We do all of the above and have very happy chickens. When I go out of a morning and it's -13C with three feet of snow on the ground, I do their chicken chores in order of: clear ground, strew straw, scatter feed, clear waterers and fill with tepid water (much appreciated by chickens), fill feeders, and finally open the pophole. The chickens have their warm drink, in pecking order, then make happy chook noises as they go out. About 15 minutes later, most return inside for breakfast.

But if I get the order wrong, if the drinking water is cold, or if it's blowing a hoolie when they venture out, then I'm treated to the scolding chicken noises: "tut, tut, this really isn't good enough!"

[wulf]

Very informative and reassuring. Fortunately conditions aren't nearly that cold down here and the parameters of shelter, etc, seem to be keeping the chickens happy (and laying).

Wulf

[Millymollymandy]

I don't think mine would care for a warm drink as they seem to prefer to peck the snow off my wellies! They also like to eat the ice that I've broken off their water. But they won't actually go out in the snow!

Who knows what goes on in a chicken's mind?

[red]

my hens like their warm water.. they are onlyg etting it cos the water containers keep freezing.. so we go down to the run with a 2 litre bottle of hot water tucked into the jacket - can recommend it even if you dont have chickens!

pour hot wter onto frozen water.. chickens like. but yes.. they eat the snow too.

my hens sulked for the first two days of snow, half of them refusing even to come out of the house, then clearly got over it cos are happily charging about now, dust bathing under the shelter etc. and laying eggs. I haven't touched the stash of frozen eggs yet, as we have had fresh throughout. (they'll stop now i said that...))

[gunners71uk]

I believe it acts like a tonic and helps ward off bugs. Cider vinegar is best.

how much in the water for chooks a tea spoonful ?