*BURR Cold chickens!!*

[Tripp16]

Ok so I just took the dogs out and it is FREEZING! I live in NC and it has gotten cold these last few nights, it is around 52 degrees here not including wind chill.....

My question is, will my bantams be ok? I have a rooster and 2 hens. I know my big breed hens will be fine but what about my little ones???

I cant put a heat lamp out because its to dark to get a drop cord and do all that tonight.....

 

[I-Have-Happy-Hens]

I don't think they will need one tonight though I did bring my lone partridge silkie in for the night I am in NC also. but when it gets colder (later OCT/ early NOV) you could put a heat lamp in there.

 

[featherz]

They will be fine, as I said in another thread. I had four young bantams in a tractor coop last year, protected from wind and snow. We stayed well below zero almost all winter and they made it through fine.

 

[Judy]

I agree, in NC they don't need heat. They are well insulated with their down and feathers. Protect them from any draft on the roost, keep some ventilation open at a high point in the coop to let humidity and ammonia out, and have a wider roost so they can sit on their feet. If you're still worried, add hay so they can cuddle down into it if they want, or put bales of hay along the outside of the wall for added insulation.

If you add a heat lamp and the bulb burns out or power goes out at night, they will be worse off than if they had had no heat, because they won't be acclimated to the cold.

 

[7L Farm]

I wouldn't use a heat lamp they can possibly cause a fire. My chickens are loving the cooler weather. I worry more about hot weather. Chickens will normally snuggle next to there neighbor on the roost if their cold.Last winter it was 19 inside my coop & the birds did fine. Chickens wear a down jacket. My only concern in cold weather is keeping the draft off the birds. I don't raise bantams but your bird will be fine in 50 degree weather.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Cold and Rainy here in wv, they don't seem to care, but everybody is hungier than usual, prob all the bugs are dead, so making sure they have plenty of internal fuel...they are wearing down coats after all!!!

 

[Tripp16]

Thanks everyone for your replies. They all made it. The hutch they are in has a open wire front I may cover that up during the night.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Ditto

 

[welasharon]

Quote:
Just make sure you leave some spaces for ventilation or you will cause more problems for yourself (and the chickens) than the cold would be.
sharon