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How cold is too cold? - Page 2

post #11 of 14
12/3/11 at 3:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lalaland 

I've had chickens who have had a very hard molt when it has been below zero outside.  Up the fat content a little, you probably are upping the protein too for the feather building.  Give them corn before bedtime - might be an old farmers tale, but thats what I do.

I have added heat at night to keep the coop above freezing when there is lots of bare skin - they've been fine and I've never had a problem.   When their feathers come in more, I go back to no heat unless it gets below zero.  Like to keep it above zero, but I don't think it is necessary to do so as long as it is pretty draft free.


Who knows they will sleep better with a full crop.

I'm out of eggs. But I know where some brown ones are. I now raise big Ol' Honkin' Bob Whites & Layed back Coturnix. Pray For Rain In Texas!

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I'm out of eggs. But I know where some brown ones are. I now raise big Ol' Honkin' Bob Whites & Layed back Coturnix. Pray For Rain In Texas!

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post #12 of 14
4/11/12 at 9:21pm

my five chickens have been inside in a hutch since the day i brought them home..(about 3 days old). i used a heat lamp for them ...and slowly weaned them from it as they got older and bigger. they are about six weeks old now, and i put them outside today in a newly finished coop...it seems sturdy and well ventilated. (we are finishing the nesting boxes and roost tomorrow...) the chickens have seemed to be very happy in their new home...more room and fresh air.  my concern is that we have a freeze alert for tonight.  i have been reading a lot about the fact that chickens do well in cold as long as they are dry.  i am wondering if i should leave my chickens in the coop with a heat lamp tonight...or bring them back inside until the weather warms up...and put them outside when they have time to get used to the cold. the hutch i have for them inside is really too small for them at this point...but, of course, it is warmer.   i checked on them about an hour ago (11:30 p.m.) they were eating and drinking but seem to be returning to the pine shavings in the corner where the heat lamp hangs above them.  i do not plan to keep a heat lamp on all of the time...but am nervous about their first night outside.   :)  obviously, i am new to keeping chickens.   i want to do my best to take good care of them.  thanks in advance for any advice!

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post #13 of 14
4/12/12 at 10:34am

you probably figured out they survived if you left them out.  With a heat lamp, they would be absolutely fine.  Without one, I think, since they are fully feathered and since they were in a shelter, they would still be fine. 

 

If you ever worry that they are too cold, work your fingers next to their skin and you will see how warm they are.  Bet they are enjoying their new coop!

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post #14 of 14
4/12/12 at 8:21pm

well fed chicken will produce a lot of heat. And they will huddle together, mine frequently do quite well 25 below zero. and even colder wind chills. However, if you have a very large coop, and few chickens, it could be a problem. More chickens = more heat.

 

They will need more feed, feed = energy to produce heat. When it gets warmer, cut back on it. Scratch is high energy, low protien feed, and fed at just before dark, will keep healthy chickens just fine in very very cold weather, if they have shelter from the wind and wet.

 

MrsK

Western South Dakota Rancher
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Western South Dakota Rancher
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