Well today we tried one microwavable heating pad in one of three nest boxes. It was 28 degrees this morning and the early layers seemed to love it. The temps went to 37 in the afternoon. We had five eggs in an unheated box and six in the other. We have 13 pullets who rarely all lay in the same day.
So, i felt good knowing it was in the nest but they were fine. We are using the deep litter method and added lots of flakes to keep the flooring dry and changed out the inside waterer to a horizontal nipple one from premiere. It is not heated but has an insulated top. No freezing water but we took it in last night.
I have the acurite system reading temps and humidity inside the coop and run which can be monitored by cellphone and bought a regular thermometer that is in the shed section to check, the shed seemed colder so now well learn if the deep litter is keeping the coop section warmer even with windows opened. No condensation on the windows, which was good.
We did learn our girls love to bathe in the sand in the coop by the pop door and in the tire in the run. No holes in the dirt yet.
So we survived the first day of freezing weather, but i will admit i didnt sleep worrying about them.
In the am they got warm quinoa with bananas and lentils because they can sure throw the guilt!
