Another heat question

[ChickenMack]

Chickens, as a rule, don't get too cold- that's why they have feathers. But what you do have to worry about is frost bite to their combs and waddles. If they are in the wind and or wet conditions, this could lead to frostbite. This can be VERY painful for them, as it is for humans. So as suggested, you need to close the coop and alleviate drafts and water seepage. A light for heat may not be necesssary, it just depends on how cold it is going to get in your area in the winter. If the conditions are so cold that you could get frostbite your chickens can too.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Quote:
You will want to block the drafts/wind... use a tarp, canvas, anything that breathes but blocks the wind. They will be fine at that temp (mine have been down to 17F already without heat and are fine).

Could we please see a picture of your coop or barn so that we can have an example of a structure that allows the chickens to comfortably survive an extended low of 17 degrees? It is 17 degrees outside, I presume--that is not the temperature in your unheated coop, certainly? I assume it is insulated?

Outside temps got down to 17F a few mornings ago. Right now we've been hovering in the upper-teens/lower-20s at night, and in the mid to upper 30s during the day. It's 38F right now.

I have two coops... one is an 8x8' layer coop, with about 50 birds and a large covered run. The other is my breeder coop. It's a 12x20' building with several pens inside (pictures are on my page, under breeder coop). Both are insulated, but not that well. I'll have to see if I can get some pics of the layer coop here real quick... it's clouding up, looks like snow.

BRB.

BTW, our lows in Jan/Feb are usually in the -20 to -30F range... I'm happy when it's only -10F or even 0F.

 

[Mrs MIA]

I'm trying to upload to a Picasa album... taking forever...

 

[Mrs MIA]

Photos of layer coop

Finally got them up.

There's R19 2" foam insulation in the walls... but it really doesn't matter too much because the pop-doors and window are open most of the time. I close the man-door at night, though.

 

[JodyJo]

I would say drop a tarp over the door to stop the draft as well...we are in the teens at night already, no added heat, they can't build up a tolerance if you keep it too warm, frostbite can also occur with build up of moisture inside...