Advice on Cold Weather?

[FlockofManyColors623]

My hen Hei Hei weighs 2 pounds and is not a bantam, I guess it was just a growth defect. Anyway, it has been pretty cold here in Middle Tennessee in 40s and 50s (F) with lows in the upper 30s, and little Hei Hei just stands with her feathers puffed out, shivering. Is there any way that I can keep her warm? We don’t want to do a heat lamp.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I often see some birds acting like this during the first few temperature drops. They eventually acclimate to the lower temperatures. As long as she's eating, drinking, and moving about I would just keep an eye on her.

Puffing up and shivering is them warming themselves up. You can toss out some scratch to get her moving around which will help.

 

[Race3]

My hen Hei Hei weighs 2 pounds and is not a bantam, I guess it was just a growth defect. Anyway, it has been pretty cold here in Middle Tennessee in 40s and 50s (F) with lows in the upper 30s, and little Hei Hei just stands with her feathers puffed out, shivering. Is there any way that I can keep her warm? We don’t want to do a heat lamp.

I am also interested in learning more about this...this March I got my first chickens, 3 RIRs and 4 ISA Browns. Living in northern Indiana I was nervous about how the high production ISAs would do, but instead they seem fine and it is my RIRs with problems! One of them is constantly shivering like Hei Hei and the other 2 are lethargic and either standing on one leg or laying down. (all 3 stand on only one leg)

 

[PoppasGrill]

My hen Hei Hei weighs 2 pounds and is not a bantam, I guess it was just a growth defect. Anyway, it has been pretty cold here in Middle Tennessee in 40s and 50s (F) with lows in the upper 30s, and little Hei Hei just stands with her feathers puffed out, shivering. Is there any way that I can keep her warm? We don’t want to do a heat lamp.

Good looking bird!! I have a Polish with the same coloring.

Our Ladies free range , when we are able to stay outside with them, and catch them basking in the sun, or dirt bathing in the sun on cold days, and huddling together at night on the roosting bars.
For our younger pullets we put a radiant heat lamp at night in the coop that they can get under if they feel it’s needed. Most don’t use it though, they’d rather cuddle.