I am inclined to agree with some of what Robert Plamondon has to say . . . on most any subject. But, only some of it -- however, I have been pleased that Mr. Plamondon has been willing to
get out there, and say it. He can and does stimulate discussion.
First of all, any animal will need to consume more calories to stay warm in very cold weather - even if they are wearing a down coat. I notice increased feeding about when the temps begin to stay below freezing thru the day. And, the hens stay in their insulated coop a lot during those "days" because - there is only about 8 or 9 hours of sunlight during December and January here.
When I lived out in the country, my chickens decided that they would prefer to sleep in the barn rather than the coop one winter. The lower part of the barn was open to the outdoors and when temperatures dropped down to 10 below and lower, they were obviously suffering. They would spend their days huddling together in the loose hay on the floor.
My Hamburg rooster's comb froze during weather like this. Despite it being a cushion type comb the entire top of the comb froze, turned black and slowly peeled off later :/. It was obviously very painful and he lived out the remainder of his life with a very different and scarred look . . .
The chickens still seemed compelled to roost in sub-zero weather and will leave an insulated floor to perch up in the open air. I had a Cochin die in that open barn during that winter. One might have thought that a Cochin would be the last to go, not the first.
I became a believer in the need especially for protection against drafts. I also really shorten those long, dark nights by maintaining the same hours of light as they had during summer months. Actually, for awhile, I ran lights 24 hours a day during the coldest weeks but haven't done that for the last 6 or 7 years. It just seemed very important to me that they could EAT whenever and however much they want.
Now, if you want to keep feed costs low - do a little something to keep the especially frigid weather at bay. Still, a chicken only has so much capacity - probably about 30% to 50% more than in comfortable weather. And, there is a limit to their capacity to generate body heat and keep each other warm, also.
Open waterers - yep. Even in their insulated coop - the water will freeze when outdoor temps are low enuf. I recently found a real good place for the metal bowl. (You'd think that after 12 years, I'd have that coop figured out
.) The hens have a very steep and narrow ladder to their nest box. I always thought that they'd poop on anything directly below their ladder. I finally noticed that they
never do. They don't hang out on that ladder at all and the bowl is wedged in where it is difficult for them to turn it over.
Steve
