Any Northerners NOT Use A Heat Lamp?

[nuttyredhead]

Quote:
Why would you heat with Silkies? I have several, they seem to be doing just fine! In fact all my bantams were outside yesterday, you would have thought it was 75 not 17!!!!

 

[egg proof]

Yesterday I had 20 wild turkeys feeding on the grass in my backyard. My chickens were all out calling to them in chicken language and it was 14 degrees. I finally shooed them off when several of the toms ventured close to the run. My coop is unheated and both species seemed unaffected by the cold.

 

[Keara]

I have a water heater so I don't have to work so hard, but I do not use a heat lamp. Have less frostbite since I stopped using one. By the way I am in Vermont and it was 0 F this morning. I will probably put out some suet feed today to keep them fat and happy!

 

[6chicks&aduck]

I'm in North Dakota and have'nt used heat and no insulation ,

i use a heater for the water and thats it . I put straw down in the run as they dont care to walk in snow , and my run is covered,

except the front so they can enjoy being out of the wind and snow when weather is'nt so nice .

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

We're in CT, and we don't use any heat in our coops. The waterers freeze, but we switch them out with unfrozen ones every morning. The chickens have a lot of hay and shavings in their coops. Even our little bantam frizzle cochin is OK, and she's been through four winters.

 

[mountaintopchicken]

Why would you heat with Silkies?

I've been sorely tempted by silkies for their broodiness, I want a small silky maternity ward, but I haven't looked into them in too much detail. It seems I read that they weren't as cold hardy because their feathers don't hold as much heat.

Now if the general census is that that isn't true and silkies can stand long periods of below zero weather without heat... I'm that much closer to giving in to temptation and getting silkies!​

 

[JLS]

Quote:
I've been sorely tempted by silkies for their broodiness, I want a small silky maternity ward, but I haven't looked into them in too much detail. It seems I read that they weren't as cold hardy because their feathers don't hold as much heat.

Now if the general census is that that isn't true and silkies can stand long periods of below zero weather without heat... I'm that much closer to giving in to temptation and getting silkies!

I have 2 silkies now and I have no heat/insulation.Here in S. Maine we have had nights where the temp has been as low as 3F and we're not even in the worst of winter yet. I can tell you that my silkies are one of the first to go outside when it's cold and one of the last to go in at night. Brave little buggers! They dont seem to mind the cold at all. Maybe you can get your silkie maternity ward afterall?

 

[cass1776]

I just put out my 6 8 week Old last weekend. I have a heat lamp in the coop right now.its been in the teens and twenty's. At night.I want to get the lamp out of there.they are fully feathered,just worried the sudden cold will be a shock.any advice? Should I gradually take away the light?

 

[grandmaof5]

I'm in Canada, and do not add heat. It is a pain making sure the water is always fresh, but I'd rather not get them used to heat, and then have a power outage (as we did yesterday for 6 hours) and have them shivering out there (DO chickens shiver?)

 

[JLS]

Quote:
Yes, you should reduce the heat GRADUALLY. They are still quite young. Great Question!!