CHICKENS IN THE WINTER!!!!.......HEAT...or NO HEAT??????????

[kittycooks]

It is amazing how well the chickens adapt to cold weather. I think of chickens as cousins of the passerines (perching birds > song birds) and how well they adapt. If a little tiny chickadee can survive, of course our chickens can with wind protection!
http://www.kittycooks.com/how-to-winterize-your-chicken-coop.html

 

[carladababe]

I bought one of those heated dog water bowls, do you put yours inside the coop or keep it outside in the run?

 

[dirtsaver]

Quote:
Carla we kept the heated dog bowl inside the coop last winter and will again this year. One word of caution, it should be above floor level and out of the bedding. We were lucky enough to find a metal crisper drawer from a fridge that was a perfect size for the bowl to sit on and raised the bowl about 6-7" off the floor. It worked great and being inside the coop night-time critters(varmits!) were not drawn to it. Plus it was insurance the girls had water to drink when they came off the roost in the morning in case we were delayed getting out to open the coop and take them water.

 

[JellyBeanCee]

Regarding the heated bowls...has anyone seen battery operated ones? I have no electricity in my coop.

 

[flowergirl60]

I've never seen a battery operated one.

 

[Linn Bee]

Quote:
In some other threads, putting a heated rock or brick into the bowl was discussed as an option where e- isn't available. I suggested heating them on the furnace rather than 'wasting' energy heating them on the stove or in the oven. Once they cool down a bit, they should keep the water from freezing for quite a long while.

Love, Linn B (aka Smart Red) Gardening zone 5a - 4b in south-est, central-est Wisconsin

 

[pawsplus]

MY house is heated, even though I, too, would be in trouble if my heat went out. I see very little difference. Just b/c they CAN survive in cold temps doesn't mean they should have to if there is an alternative. JMHO of course.

I have a heat lamp (infrared) trained on the roost and it's turned on when it will be below freezing. I've been doing this for 6 years and my oldest hen is now 8, so it's been working pretty well for me, LOL.

 

[goldies99]

you see very little difference in you and your chickens??....wow!....let me see you stay out one night in your coop...and let me know how you make out in the morning??
chickens ADAPT to weather!....something i do not think your capapable of!.....there IS a difference!!!!........do you like scratch too????

 

[Tambo26]

This is my first year with chickens. I have an insulated 4X4 coop for my 3 standard B.O.s. I am not heating their coop. However the weather up here in Maine has been odd. 60 degrees one day 20 the next. I don't want them to plunge from 50-60 degrees into a 20 degree night so I put a Hot water bottle under the pine chips in their coop when I put them to bed if it's going to be frigid. I'm not going to do this all the time, I just want them to slowly get used to the colder temps. When the temp made a huge dip the last time... everyone had runny poo and poo-ey bums. I like the look of a big, clean, fluffy BO butt!

 

[RiddleMe]

I have a crazy broody that hatched a chick just last week. My coop is not heated, though it does have a nice 6" base of shavings on the floor. I've made no special adjustments for them, other than checking on them repeatedly throughout the day, and mommy and baby are doing just fine. She even took it outside today, all day, for the first time. Temps here have been low 40's during the day and mid teens at night. Granted, the chick has mommy for warmth, but if a downy little chick is ok, the fully feathered adult birds should be just fine.