Bantams & Cold weather

[cluckmecoop7]

Hello BYC,
I have a flock of 5 bantam chickens. (4 hens and 1 rooster). Our weather here in Maine is getting colder and colder and I'm worried about them. Tonight the low is around 25 F and most days are in the 30's and low 40's now. They live in the far back coop. (The brown one) if that helps any.

 

[Banana01]

Is that their coop (zoomed in on the photo)?

Do you have any blankets you can put over the top? It looks okay with a little insulation. They are fine during the 40's in the day right?

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Yes that is the coop I'm talking about

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

With my bantams, the SD OEGB, I put a small crate in the back of their coop, and covered it with a comforter for insulation. I sat it all up for them with everything they needed, including deep litter compost. They did very well in that set up. (Other than the fact they were complaining about the smaller space. ) To prove how well that worked, my bantams' waterer was the last waterer to freeze up in a day. (If you're concerned about frostbite, I didn't test this set up for that.)

Something I did with my first bantams, WCBP, I had them in a crate completely surrounded by hay bales, and had hay for flooring. That got them through fine as well, but I don't recommend hay ANYWHERE near chickens. Mine got Red Fowl Mites from the hay, and a BO nearly died from eating some. I'm letting you know about the hay idea, just in case you can figure out a similar idea WITHOUT the hay if you wanted that route.

As far as frostbite, which you're almost guaranteed that on a single combed rooster, many suggest good ventilation, and no drafts. I haven't perfected anything on that area yet, so you'll probably have to ask around for experts.

Your coop might be fine, especially if it's insulated. Going deep litter compost might be your best bet. Remember: Heat rises; and that's one of the few reasons why I like my bantams' perches up high. They'll warm themselves somewhat. (Though again, frostbite could still be a problem if too much condensation builds up.) Compare coop waterers' freeze time to tell you how good it is, or get a thermometer that keeps track of the coldest and warmest points in each of the coops.

 

[Killyhawker]

Insulate and make sure there are layers. With it being so small, you might be able to get some straw bales and put them around each side and on the top. That will block any drafts on the ground and I like the idea of blankets – – so strawberries completely around and on top, blankets or plastic around the outside of those and anchor it down. They definitely need some ventilation with maybe an inch crack on the south side of it so that any north wind or whatever side the wind is strong is from on your property does not barrel inside. Ventilation is important, just as important as not being drafty. We are down to zero at night in northeastern South Dakota. We were lucky enough to move to a place that had a barn. So my many mixed chickens(light Brahma, barred rock, Silkies, baru d’Ucclé, satin and Ayam cemani) just love to be in there. I have taken the litter method to heart—straw. I had to seal up most of the cracks in our barn, because we don’t have livestock they can actually stay in half of the side of the barn all the time— I have 15 chickens, three roosters. No rooster fights, no hens are getting picked on, I give him a half of an ice cream bucket of warm oatmeal one day a week. Sometimes twice if I’m feeling generous. I also have a wireless thermometer so I can tell what the temperature is in the barn. So far I have not used a heater just a heated waterer. Not many eggs—the silkies are the only ones laying eggs!!!