Cold rooster??

[BantyChooks]

My 8 month old mixed breed rooster seems to be cold intollerent. Around Thanksgiving we had a cold front move through, and I noticed he appeared to be shivering off and on. Later that night he got a full exam, from top of comb to bottom of feet. Nothing found. When the weather got warmer over the next few days I didn’t see any more shivering.

Now it’s gotten cold again (I’m near Buffalo, NY) and tonight when he went to roost I saw him shivering again. It’s 35 in the coop tonight but will be heading to the mid 20’s. An unseasonable cold front will be here in a few days where the highs will be in the mid teens and lows in the single digits- and that’s pretty much what mid January to end of February can be like, so if he doesn’t like mid 30’s he’s gonna hate the next 3 months.

He’s otherwise healthy, eats well, mates with the girls, crows, etc. The girls don’t seem to care about the weather. He’s a large, active bird who shows no other unusual signs. I have Musher’s Secret for his comb and wattles to avoid frostbite.

The coop has good ventilation (I’ve posted about it to confirm), no drafts, and is not heated. It’s big, especially for only 6 birds- about 8’x8’, cinder block floor and wood walls, metal roof over regular shingle roof, about 10’ from floor to ceiling. Using sand as litter, have double foil insulation around the walls (starting about 2’ above ground to about 6’ up wall), the 3 windows covered in plastic. I really didn’t want to heat the coop, but will get a flat panel radiant heater if I have to.

If he’s shivering from the cold now, shouldn’t I heat the coop? Or is it normal/ to be expected? The girls don’t seem cold. I’ve read a lot about heat vs no heat and didn’t plan on doing it, but I’m afraid months of this- and colder- will take their toll on him. Does anyone else’s chickens shiver all winter long??

I have a few that start shivering at about 40°F. I bring those in if it's -15F or lower.

 

[Chickassan]

I was going to say besides make him a sweater "in jest @BantyChooks " there isn't much you can do except give him some heat. He's cold and you know it's just going to get colder.

No chicken sweaters, please...
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2015/01/chicken-sweaters-just-say-no.html?m=1

 

[BarredRockMom]

I’m not sure why he’d be shivering, but there are ways to keep him warm. Getting a heater is risky, because it can raise humidity in the coop, cause fires and shock your chickens when they leave their nice warm coop and go out into the cold. I’d suggest googling chicken sweaters. You can knit/crochet them yourself or buy them off eBay for about $15 each. Just make sure you get one big enough for him so that he can fluff up his down a bit. I use sweaters on my silkies when it gets down to the -20s/-30s here in Ontario

I was going to suggest a chicken sweater, too! There are patterns you can get on-line for free if you know how to knit or crochet. Search for "Battery Hen Sweaters" to see some of the coolest examples of people helping former Battery Hens in England by giving them sweaters to wear when they don't have a lot of feathers. I know that your Roo has plenty of feathers, but maybe just giving him a sweater would help him fight off the chills?

 

[leighks]

Well looks like my chilly roo is getting an early Christmas gift- I ordered the flat panel radiant heater after all. This way I can plug it into the thermo cube and let it do its thing, safely and without heating coop up too much.
Thanks for all the suggestions, this is what seems like the best thing to do for my lil flock This way they can all be warmer- but not real warm, just around mid 30’s or so.
Ps- speaking of the English ex battery hens, saw a great documentary about them-called the private life of chickens- was very interesting!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It is perfectly normal for birds to shiver, especially during sudden temperature drops. They don't require extra heat. Shivering is a way for an animal to warm itself up. Your rooster will acclimate to the new lower temperatures. He probably will shiver when temperatures drop again.

His feathers will thicken up in response to the colder weather. Heating will interfere with that natural process. People always feel sorry for them, but you shouldn't. Providing extra heat can in my opinion be bad for them, they will be dependent on it. Let him adjust naturally, let nature do it's job. Chickens have been living and thriving through winters for a long time without help.

 

[RodNTN]

I have some chickens that shiver off and on, I'm sure that your boy will do fine without a heater. Spread some Vaseline on his comb and wattles, to prevent frostbite; and I am sure he'll be okay

 

[8 Chicks 1967]

sweaters trap moisture that's worse. Nice looking guy.

 

[Machineryqueen]

I have one of the radiant heater pads that can be placed on the wall or the floor of the coop without igniting any materials. So far, it has been down to 8 degrees windchill and they do not seem to notice it exists. They do not huddle near it or stand on it to absorb the warmth. However, it is inside the coop which is typically 5-7 degrees warmer.
We had 8 degree F wind chill today and they still went into the run area. Part of it is wind protected and part is open. They were in both areas. They can withstand the colder temperatures as long as it is not wet/humid. If you feel the need to heat the coop you can purchase the thermostatic controlled heaters. There is a potential fire hazard to be concerned with.