Bleeding Comb

[Latestarter]

<--- rant... OK, please stop thinking about the chickens as if they are human babies. They are outdoors animals who are acclimated over time to their location. They wear a down coat year round. Really, cold isn't what you need to worry about so much as high heat. Heat can kill your birds. Cold rarely does.

Since you've started them this winter with heat, it would probably not be a good idea to remove it at this point as they've become used to it and it will be quite a shock. However, for future winters, a flock of chickens on roost do quite well to temps of -20 to -30f with NO ADDED HEAT WHATSOEVER. Caveat they can't have drafts or breezes blowing right over them while roosting but DO require excellent ventilation.

The temp outside has no bearing on whether a chicken wants to go out. Generally it has to do with wind or moisture or a combination of both. As I said, they can handle the cold just fine unless there's a wind lifting their feathers or moisture soaking them.

All that being said, they are your birds, to do with as you see fit.

 

[iml8agn]

<--- rant... OK, please stop thinking about the chickens as if they are human babies. They are outdoors animals who are acclimated over time to their location. They wear a down coat year round. Really, cold isn't what you need to worry about so much as high heat. Heat can kill your birds. Cold rarely does.

Since you've started them this winter with heat, it would probably not be a good idea to remove it at this point as they've become used to it and it will be quite a shock. However, for future winters, a flock of chickens on roost do quite well to temps of -20 to -30f with NO ADDED HEAT WHATSOEVER. Caveat they can't have drafts or breezes blowing right over them while roosting but DO require excellent ventilation.

The temp outside has no bearing on whether a chicken wants to go out. Generally it has to do with wind or moisture or a combination of both. As I said, they can handle the cold just fine unless there's a wind lifting their feathers or moisture soaking them.

All that being said, they are your birds, to do with as you see fit.

Thanks for your two cents, I don't see them as human babies but do see them and live animals and as I see you are in Texas and I am in Maine, I may still choose to add heat. Seeing bloody combs and frost bitten combs and feet makes me think your idea that they can handle -20 to -30 might not be completely accurate.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thanks for your two cents, I don't see them as human babies but do see them and live animals and as I see you are in Texas and I am in Maine, I may still choose to add heat. Seeing bloody combs and frost bitten combs and feet makes me think your idea that they can handle -20 to -30 might not be completely accurate.

Do what makes you comfortable doing. I'm comfortable with a bit of frostbite damage, and not with the idea of a heat lamp, so I choose not to heat. Thankfully there's no one right way to keep chickens, that's part of the appeal I think. Your birds, your choice.

 

[iml8agn]

Do what makes you comfortable doing. I'm comfortable with a bit of frostbite damage, and not with the idea of a heat lamp, so I choose not to heat. Thankfully there's no one right way to keep chickens, that's part of the appeal I think. Your birds, your choice.

I totally agree, I know I am a little too attached to my birds and do consider them as an animal that I have taken the responsibility of caring for. I also have a camera in the coop to keep and eye on the heat lamps that are screwed into the wall so they do not fall down. I was worried about the frostbite because it was my understanding that their combs are how they regulate their heat in the summer. I appreciate all the advise just don't like being scolded for caring about my birds. Thanks again for your support.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

People mean well, I think everyone gets a bit passionate about chicken keeping. I have learned from this site that everyone has a different set of circumstances based on where they live, and how they view their chickens. What works for me may not work or be right for someone else. We all can develop our own husbandry, and that's cool.

 

[Lennon.ch]

When I have the occasional scratch on a comb or leg or something I have this antiseptic powder I put on it just in case and then I leave it and it turns out fine. Just make sure that it doesn't get in their eyes, I don't think it will harm the chicken but it might be a bit annoying for her.

 

[Latestarter]

OK... for clarification, just because a person lives someplace "now" does not mean it's where they're "from" or where they've been. I'm in my 60s and was born and raised in MA & spent a great deal of my youth in NH. I spent ~10 years stationed with the US Navy @ NAS Brunswick, Maine, and after leaving the service I spent an additional 15 years living in the high plains of Colorado. All three (4) of those places saw -20 degree temps on more occasions than I can recall. And single snowfalls of in excess of 30" on multiple occasions as well. I retired to TX about 15 months ago (where it is presently 25°f & dropping ).

I'm sorry if I came across as "scolding" you as that was never my intent. OK... maybe the first line was overboard... again I apologize... one dimensional communication. I was simply pointing out pretty much factual information that is quite easily documentable and verifiable. Chickens can and do survive quite capably at those temperatures provided they are dry, in a well ventilated space, and have no breeze or draft blowing on them. I speak from experience. Many others on this site can also vouch for these facts.

I closed my post with:

All that being said, they are your birds, to do with as you see fit.

To try to get the point across that I wasn't scolding you.

I wish you and your birds nothing but the best in the new year!

 

[Drew mcfarlane69]

I also know of that but we don't really have a choice since we have been -10 or lower for over a week and the coop was zero degrees until we added the second heat lamp. Not really any other option, we watch it very carefully.

We have a flat heater on there wall that is not hot to the touch but keeps there coop very warm I recommend it I can find the brand of it if you would like