Period chickens and frostbite

[Feltwell]

I've certainly noticed recently that my garage is much colder in the mornings on the inside than it is outside, and vice versa in the evenings.

It's walls are well insulated (cavity walls with 2" of insulation in the cavity & a thermalite block inner skin - a lot better than the house!) but the roof has nothing at the moment, just tiles with a roofing membrane underneath.

 

[worms]

As far as I'm aware, windchill only affects warm objects. If something is already at ambient temperature then the speed of the wind can't make it any colder.

Is it not normally calculated by the difference between a dry-bulb and a wet-bulb thermometer?

 

[rebeccac]

Never know a chicken to get frostbite -that's after 30 years of keeping them!

Is it scaly leg??

www.myabruzzohome.blogspot.com

 

[Flyfisher]

As far as I'm aware, windchill only affects warm objects. If something is already at ambient temperature then the speed of the wind can't make it any colder.

Is it not normally calculated by the difference between a dry-bulb and a wet-bulb thermometer?

Not sure, but I'd be surprised because I'd expect a wet-build thermometer to read colder than a dry one even when there is no wind at all, because of the cooling effect of water as it evaporates.

Wind can certainly speed up the cooling of something that is warmer than the air temperature, but it can't cool something that is already at the air temperature. If it could then the thermometer in many cars today would read colder as the car travelled faster.

 

[Feltwell]

Never know a chicken to get frostbite -that's after 30 years of keeping them!

Maybe the location of Cornwall / Italy is a clue there Rebecca - neither are noted for their extreme cold!

 

[dalivar]

Our hens have access to an unheated, non-insulated shed year round. This winter has been mild for us in North Wales so far but last year was awful. So long as they have a snug shelter (by that I mean quite small) and proper sized perches (probably a bit smaller than 2" diameter) a short distance from the ground they can roost up close together which keeps them comfortable. Feather condition is important as this is their primary protection, more so than body condition I would say since ours are always quite lean... Otherwise, I always try to site the shelter near trees, bushes, another shed or some other wind break if possible.
I just looked up wind chill, its very complicated! Derek Brockway told me it was the temperature minus the wind speed but I don't think its that simple!

 

[Flyfisher]

Wind chill (often popularly called the wind chill factor) is the felt air temperature on exposed skin due to wind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_chill

Exactly. We all know it feels colder when the wind blows, but it is just a feeling.

 

[Penners]

neither are noted for their extreme cold

I think we meant to say, "neither IS noted for ITS extreme cold", didn't we Feltwell?

Standards, dear boy, standards.

 

[Feltwell]

Standards, dear boy, standards.

:roll: Slip gently by......... :wink:

 

[philpjuk100]

We have a friend who works as a HGV mechanic,one of the lorrys had returned from delivering chicken feed to a large egg producer 10/12 miles from the depot when two chickens jumped down from under the vehicle and ran round the yard.They were caught after a bit of a chase and the farm contacted who said they should "neck them" but Dave being "a softie" brought them to us as part of our flock.Real "chicken run" stuff! phil.

 

[Feltwell]

Glad they've gone to a good home Phil. I'm not at all surprised that the transport company staff hadn't got the heart to wring their necks - not many people would. Looks like the chickens have done rather well out of their little escapade!

 

[LadyArowana]

We have a friend who works as a HGV mechanic,one of the lorrys had returned from delivering chicken feed to a large egg producer 10/12 miles from the depot when two chickens jumped down from under the vehicle and ran round the yard.They were caught after a bit of a chase and the farm contacted who said they should "neck them" but Dave being "a softie" brought them to us as part of our flock.Real "chicken run" stuff! phil.

What a nice story, I always feel that daring exploits ( by animals or humans ) should be rewarded. I am sure they are very happy in their new home.

 

[CliffordPope]

My peacocks prefer to roost inside to get out of the rain, but appear to be able to withstand any degree of cold.

Last winter the hen insisted on raising two late chicks entirely out of doors. She perched up a tree overnight with the chicks hidden under her downy feathers, in a biting wind and a temperature of -10.

 

[tobydog]

Birds are remarkably tough. One of ours chose the week before our recent deep freeze to go into molt. She hardly had any feathers on her head and very few on her neck. The rest of her didn't look much either. At first I thought she was being attacked by the others, however, I didn't see any aggression and all the feathers are growing back nicely. They just get on with it.

 

[Penners]

Birds are remarkably tough.

The chicken we had for lunch wasn't. Tender and juicy - yum! :wink: