Think Its Too Cold for Your Chickens Think Again

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Recollect information technology's too common cold for your chickens? Think again...

• Thread starter Mrs MIA
• First date Nov 17, 2010

• #1

ETA 12/10/10: This was posted in response to a FaceBook post from someone in Florida that had two 250w rut lamps on their birds and information technology hadn't even dipped to freezing nevertheless. I am not going to tell you Non to add estrus, simply if yous do, understand that you are restricting their normal acclimatization and will likely take to continue to pamper them through the wintertime. I personally cannot beget to oestrus all 4 chicken houses, and with careful observation have determined that they are perfectly fine down to 0F with so-so housing, and lower with properly ready/insulated housing. That said, proceed reading!

Information technology dipped to 0F this morning. I knew it was coming, so I added fresh shavings to the pen, added a pile of hay in the corner, wished them well and said expert dark.

Did I run effectually running extension cords from the business firm to plug in 500 watts of heat? No.

Did I add any estrus? No.

I have ~ 20 12-xvi week former juveniles in a hoop run - this is my "grow out" pen". The pen is nearly ten'x16', and is covered by your average tarp. Black plastic covers the areas that the tarp misses, only the end with the wooden door is open 1" chicken wire. It'southward not insulated, information technology'southward somewhat typhoon free, just with 20 mph winds, nothing is actually draft free. And did I mention no heat lamps?

All my babies were running around this morning like it was a summer day. 0F, no signs of frostbite, no signs of suffering... well, except for the fact that their water was frozen solid and they were thirsty... just they're happy now with fresh water. The adults were happy with fresh h2o, too.

Did I mention it was 0F? And no heat?

I'yard just saying... And so many people ask when they should add heat. I understand... I'M cold! Merely I'm not wearing a downwardly coat.

I, for 1, tin can do without a $600 electrical bill for 1 month. Want happy, healthy, safe birds this winter? Hold off on the heat.

Last edited: Dec 10, 2010

• #2

Jul 30, 2009

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Mrs. AK-Bird-Encephalon :

Information technology dipped to 0F this morning. I knew information technology was coming, then I added fresh shavings to the pen, added a pile of hay in the corner, wished them well and said good dark.

Did I run effectually running extension cords from the house to plug in 500 watts of oestrus? No.

Did I add any rut? No.

I have ~ 20 12-16 calendar week old juveniles in a hoop run - this is my "grow out" pen". The pen is near 10'x16', and is covered by your average tarp. Black plastic covers the areas that the tarp misses, simply the finish with the wooden door is open 1" craven wire. It's not insulated, it's somewhat draft complimentary, but with xx mph winds, aught is really typhoon free. And did I mention no heat lamps?

All my babies were running effectually this forenoon like it was a summer solar day. 0F, no signs of frostbite, no signs of suffering... well, except for the fact that their water was frozen solid and they were thirsty... just they're happy at present with fresh water. The adults were happy with fresh h2o, likewise.

Did I mention it was 0F? And no heat?

I'm just saying... SO many people ask when they should add oestrus. I understand... I'M common cold! But I'1000 not wearing a down glaze.

I, for one, tin practice without a $600 electric nib for one month. Want happy, healthy, safe birds this winter? Concur off on the heat.

You Got It!!! Just look till information technology gets to xxx below hither

My birds, and they are just that, birds, that I love, are well designed to handle the atmospheric condition, only like their wild counter parts

And I agree, adding heat creates condensation, which in turn causes frostbite.​

Last edited: November 17, 2010

• #three

• Thread starter
• #four

I use the heated dog dishes in the layer coop, and salve 1 gallon milk jugs to take h2o out to the "general population" of nigh fifty birds in the layer coop.

You can even fill up them with snow, and allow them melt if y'all don't desire to haul water and live where it snows.

• #five

Thank you for this thread!!! It says a lot when someone in Alaska does not add estrus, even with younger chickens.

Perchance as a result there will be a few less coop fires this yr.

• #6

gryeyes

Covered in Pet Pilus & Feathers

"But, but, but," she sputtered, whining, "What about the poor juvenile birds with no momma hen to cover 'em? They're only three weeks old! It got downwardly to 42 degrees terminal night - how could those 14 little non-all-feathered-out chicks stay warm without supplemental heat??"

Really, they huddled together and stopped peeping after about 20 minutes. Occasionally, throughout the night, there were brusque peep sessions when somebody moved and dislodged a closely huddled neighbor.

Last edited: Nov 17, 2010

• #7

• #8

Alaskan chicken-people: Practise you ever estrus? Are your coops insulated? This is our first winter in Maine, and the kickoff winter with chickens, and I'm debating the insulation affair. Thanks!

• Thread starter
• #9

• Thread starter
• #10

Quote:
What's the absolute lowest temperature you'll see this winter?

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