Bringing chickens in the house

Tiempo

Songster
11 Years
Oct 19, 2008
196
2
128
Stockbridge, MI
I'm freaking out with this cold.

my Japanese bantie roo has clear frostbite on his comb this morning.

I'm considering bringing at least the combed birds in the house, that would be 4-5 birds out of 15.

Is it a good idea to bring them in the house in dog crates for a couple of days or no?
 
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I check all my birds and if one is acting cold and or not eating then yes I do bring mine into the basement. Here in Indiana it was -10 degrees this a.m. and I was worried about mine out there in the barns.
I do use milk house heaters and the oil filled heaters also.
I am not going to take back out the ones that I brought in till it warms up above freezing. That way I feel it will not hurt them to adjust back to the cold weather ahead.
I love my little ones and rather enjoy them in the basement.. My hubby does not share the love so much especially when they crow in early hours and it travels up thru the registers
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I had to do it with a young silkie pullet that was getting pushed away from the food. Now she has been in the house for about 3-4 weeks. I bring her into the basement at night. It gets about 50. That way she doesnt get too used to the warmth.
 
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If you have a garage it might be better. You don't want them to get too warm as it will make it hard on them when they go out again. Be sure they are out of drafts and can get water and food. I greased my combs last night and no one got frost bite but we are not as cold as you. Only 5-10 below.
 
I know what you mean. It is 4 degrees here now (at noon!!!!) I think if you decide to keep them in crates for the coldest part of this cold snap, maybe you could keep them in an unheated garage or some other place that is warmer than your coop but not heated. That is what we do when it is so cold outside. If they are inside for a while and then put back out, it might be quite hard for them going from a warm house back to their coop. Sure hope it warms up soon.
 
Right now it is -15 without the wind chill, I did add a 250W heat lamp out to the coop the other day. I put diaper cream on my roo that has huge comb abd wattles. They seem to be doing fine. I has also added extra bedding in the coop. So know they have about 6 inches of straw on the floor.
 
Right now it is 5 degrees in the coop and the chickens all seem pretty happy I really think if there are no drafts they will be fine outside without added heat. It is not a good idea to heat them up and then put them back into the cold they need to stay conditioned to it and remember they have custom made down coats for times like these.
 

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