DANGER DANGER: Winter has arrived!

[lyndatu]

Frostbite

Not exactly snow because I live at the Philippines (tropical climate), but it's really cold here! I estimate it to be around 21.5 degrees Celsius. It often rains, too!

I am not yet finished with my coop, but it's almost done! And since we have a tropical climate(often very hot), I designed my coop to be heavily ventilated (chicken wire everywhere lol) but since it's cold, what should I do to keep it warm? A heat bulb probably isn't enough. I'm thinking about covering the chicken wire walls with a heavy cloth or something. Any advice? Thanks in advance!

 

[silkiechicken]

Wait... 21 deg Celcius! That is our summer temperatures!

Start to worry about cold chickens at like 5 deg Celcius. Mine sleep outside when it is 0 deg Celsius or even a bit lower.

 

[JudyMcKinn]

21.5 degrees celcius. That's about 70 degrees F. isn't it? Not exactly cold, but if you are talking about baby chicks, they definately need protection. I would think a cloth, or cardboard, around the sides--something to turn the wind, then a heat lamp, would surely do it. Do you have a screen bottom, or a solid one? I would definately fix a solid bottom for babies, so the breeze, or draft, can't come up from below, while they are little.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Yeah, that's about 71 degs F. If your chick's are older than 5 weeks, they should be fine, just keep them out of the wind. They will need a wind break and a place to get out of the rain.

Boy, I wish it was 71 here. Burrrrr.

 

[schmoo]

Thats so funny. My friend lives in Vegas and everytime she comes here when its less than 80 degrees she needs a coat and is freezing all the time. Your chickens should be just fine.

 

[lyndatu]

Oh? 21 degrees is hot for you? Boy, that's cold for us!

Yes, I'm having baby chicks and I have a solid floor. Thanks for the help! I'm just going to sew some hard old cloth to make a "curtain"

 

[chickenranchwife]

It's been in the teens here in South Dakota and you think 70 degrees is cold. Come on up this way, and I'll show you what cold is.

 

[thndrdancr]

Yeah, its 21 degrees FAHRENHEIT here this morn. brrrrr! Poor chickens! I wished it was 70.

I hate winter.

 

[silkiechicken]

Ah, since you are having baby chicks, yes, box in the coop and put in a heat lamp. Get the "brooder" to be about 35 deg for the first week and lower 3-4 deg each week till you don't need the light. That will be about 4 weeks if your temps are always 21!

 

[JudyMcKinn]

I am with you, thndrdancr. I hate winter, too, and I also am not too hopped up over what the holiday season has become. I will be happy to see Jan. 2. Then either a warm winter (not likely) or for spring to get here.