Baby, it's cold out there!

[Always Learning]

I'm new and we are expecting COLD temperatures out there this coming week. My girls have been handling 30's to 40's OK so far, but I'm wondering what else I can do for them to handle temps going down into the teens. I have a heat lamp, but it doesn't seem to do much. Their coop is solid, but not insulated. Should I just stop worrying?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

STOP!!!

You might be cold but your chickens aren't. They are wearing a down coat 24/7. The better they get acclimated to the temperature the better they will fare.

That's not cold - for most chickens.

What breed?

Keep them well ventilated.

Chickens don't die from cold. They die from heat and/or bad air.

 

[BantamLover21]

Glad you joined us!

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to the BYC flock, glad you joined us.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC and Happy Holidays!

 

[Book Em Danno25]

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC. I'm glad you decided to join our flock. If your temperatures only drop into the teens, I wouldn't even bother with a heat lamp as they are potential sources of fires. Feathers are wonderful insulators, and as long as your coop is draft free, dry, and well ventilated so moisture doesn't collect on the ceiling and walls, your flock will be fine. I've raised chickens where the winter temperature dropped as low as 30 F below zero, and with a dry, draft free coop, they did just fine. Moisture is a much greater danger than cold. Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock this winter.

 

[N F C]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Wyandottes7]

Welcome to BYC!

We're glad to have you.

 

[Bluebee]