Chicks in the winter

[Trenda50]

I have been ill and my husband has been collecting the eggs. Somehow we missed a broody hen in the barn and yesterday, December 1st, my husband heard peeping and we now have 4 chicks. I never had winter babies before and am concerned about it because our weather is regularly dipping into the teens at night. I will have to keep running water out to them during the day due to freezing until I get a heated waterer for the small ones. I will pick up chick food today when I go to town. Anything else special I should do?

 

[BullChick]

Mom is going to take care of the heating duties. She’s even going to bring them outside in a day or two. All is well, just be sure the water is shallow, and they have crumbles.

 

[azygous]

Really, the broody has this! She's a portable chick heater, 100F or a bit more, and those chicks will be just fine.

Your job is to be sure they have food and water near, and the chicks can get to both the food and the broody without any hassle so no chick gets stranded and chilled.

Be aware that water can kill chicks not only by drowning. If they get into the water and get wet, they can die quickly of hypothermia. So rig the water up with pebbles or marbles so the chicks can't stumble and get soaked.

 

[Trenda50]

Really, the broody has this! She's a portable chick heater, 100F or a bit more, and those chicks will be just fine.

Your job is to be sure they have food and water near, and the chicks can get to both the food and the broody without any hassle so no chick gets stranded and chilled.

Be aware that water can kill chicks not only by drowning. If they get into the water and get wet, they can die quickly of hypothermia. So rig the water up with pebbles or marbles so the chicks can't stumble and get soaked.

Awesome, Thank You so much. I have had lots of chicks, but never winter babies and was concerned if they would survive the cold. Again, Thank you!!

 

[chickens really]

I always set my Hen and Chicks up the first week with a heat lamp over the feed and water for the babies. Then they do so much better once Momma has taught them more things.

 

[mstricer]

I have the same thing broody hen with 2 eggs, going to place her in playhouse with 250 watt bulb, by herself. She will be able to take out without the hassle of other hens. 10 x 10 run with tarp over and around.

 

[Trenda50]

My chickens live in the barn. We had them in their own coop, but every winter the snow got so deep, they would make their way to the barn, but not return to the coop. My husband and I would go out every night and collect them and take them back to the coop. However we finally gave up and I turned a stall into the coop. However we have several tons of hay stored in the barn for the cows. I just am not comfortable using heat lamps in the barn. That crazy hen, hatching babies in the cold and snow. What was she thinking. Hahaha

 

[Ridgerunner]

This thread by @aart might interest you.

Winter Brooding

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/947046/broody-in-michigan-winter

Personally I would not provide any extra heat, the hen should take care of that. I especially would not provide an supplemental heat of any kind in a hay barn, not just a heat lamp but anything else. My younger brothers burned down the hay barn, that's not a pleasant experience.

 

[aart]

This thread by @aart might interest you.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/947046/broody-in-michigan-winter
Personally I would not provide any extra heat, the hen should take care of that.

I provided no heat, they were fine in temps -0°F at times.

I will have to keep running water out to them during the day due to freezing until I get a heated waterer for the small ones.

Yes, the waterer was a PITA...luckily she was used to a nipple waterer and it was easy to swap out a few times a day.
I also mixed up some wet crumble a few times a day so they got liquid that way too.

 

[RoosterML]

I provided no heat, they were fine in temps -0°F at times.

Yes, the waterer was a PITA...luckily she was used to a nipple waterer and it was easy to swap out a few times a day.
I also mixed up some wet crumble a few times a day so they got liquid that way too.
View attachment 1972767

@aart is that the only waterer you have out for the chicks to use also?