Hi thanx for the advice on the outdoor time for the chix, today it is far to cold to open them up, -20f, and -36f windchill. Maybe later in the afternoon. This is very cold for even our region this time of the year, January and early Feb yes, but not early December, usually -2 to -4 f over night and 10 to 15 above during the day.I agree completely. For example, my situation with 5 birds and a coop that gives them 15 to 20 cubic feet per bird is very different from that of someone with 25 birds and 8 or 10 cu. ft. per bird. In the later case, the body warmth of all their chickens will warm the coop; in my case much less so.
Not at all. Give them a choice, they'll go out when they want, come in when they want.
Mine have free choice all day, and they come and go. If it's above 15 degrees they'll stay outside all day. If it's below 5 degrees they'll go inside for an hour, then come outside for an hour, then back inside.. they make their own decision. I have a ceramic emitter bulb (as I showed in a photo a page or two ago), it's on a timer, double bolted to the ceiling, basically raises the temp inside the coop by 4 to 8 degrees, just enough to take off a bit of chill. Inside they are also out of the wind. All their food and water is outside. When it was below zero yesterday morning they still came out for a while, then went inside for a half hour before coming out again.
When it hit -8 f overnight the heated dog dish did start to freeze up, although not completely.
I'm not a physicist, but I expect moving air has a different effect on inanimate things than does static air. Anyone able to confirm that?
I firmly believe that windchill can have an effect on a cop or building by creating a convection loss of heat much faster. I find if it is say -10f, and no wind, my house stays warmer easier, furnace cycles less, more comfortable, automobiles the same thing, warms up quicker, maintains warmth better. Now the ambient temp in a building or vehicle, may register no different than the actual ambient temperatures, they will need more heat to allow it to maintain temps with increasing windchill factors. I am, not a scientist either, but this has been my experience. Can you imagine -30f temps with a 40-50 mph wind, that's like -60 to -80 windchill temps.
I have a large heated dog dish outside, it is for my dogs when they go out, is mostly ice free believe it or not.
I am getting really tired of the rhetoric some must expound, on this topic. I would prefer no heating either, but am not going to subject my birds to that much of a deep freeze. I know many others in the past in this area raised chickens without heat, maybe I am wrong, but want to allow some comfort to these little bantams if I can.
In the winter up here, during these cold snaps, wildlife, will start to die, including wild chickens, partridges and grouse, this is very bitter cold.
I am considering staying off this forum for a while, sick of this debate, I have often wondered where the Moderators are, at times, not that people are feuding, but sometimes, it seems like it.......