FEELING THE FREEZE

[lilrose922]

We are new chicken owners and looking for the best and cheapest way to keep are water from freezeing and chickens warm this winter
becouse we just moved dont have coops built yet need and cost friendly way please any help would be appreciated

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You don't need to keep the chickens warm. They do that themselves.
Water is a different issue. For just hens, I like a rubber bowl with a bird bath heater in it.

Do they have a predator proof place to sleep?

 

[lilrose922]

yes right now were using pet exersize pens with plywood cover

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Is the plywood cover bolted to the pen? Can anything dig under?

One could not believe how strong and ingenious a raccoon is.
No offense but a word of warning, if it is an ex-pen with the plywood sitting on top, that's a real gamble.

Watch this raccoon open a garage door.

if you don't think they're out there

I lost 22 chickens to coons this year alone.
They broke into my basement and killed all 10 chicks that were in the brooder.