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- #11
Draft free, well ventilated (dry) coop is most important.
You are right to be thoughtful about such a sudden drop in temp. It is akin to birds having a heat source which goes off (breaks or power outage) and they have to deal with temps they are unaccustomed to.
However, your birds will only have these low temps for a day or two- certainly not usual low temps for your area in any year! Because they have a draft free, ventilated coop to use, they will be ok if you do not turn on the heat.
Since you have the heater, you also should not feel bad about using it for this extreme cold snap -you are not likely to lose power, and if you did, they would not have been accustomed to it yet. Using it just makes their coop a little warmer for them.
Birds CAN withstand pretty low temps, but a sudden 50degree drop in temp is fairly extreme!
Either way you go (heat or no heat), your birds will likely be fine.
Thank you @Acre4Me - I agree, the drastic, sudden drop would be like having the power go out for them if I DID use a heater... and it did have me concerned for sure! But you're right - it won't stay this way for long, especially here at the Jersey Shore! I think I'll keep the heat off... but... I may put it on... hehe... only when I'm out there cleaning!!!!!
But my coop's draft free & has real good ventilation... and the humidity stays low. I have Australorps & Reds... regular size combs - but made a salve to protect their little combs from frostbite... which I will apply on them later today!