Getting colder

[krstng]

I'm me at this,I have 4 chickens I got as babies at Easter, and 2 Silkies a few months younger. It has been warm since they've been outside. It's starting to get cooler and I'm wondering what adjustments I can or should be making to keep them all warm? The 4 older hens just got over being sick, and one hen is starting back with the cold symptoms again so I want to get on top of the weather getting colder.

 

[allpeepedout]

Healthy, winter-hardy chicken breeds are cold-adapted; they do not experience the cold as we do. If yours have dry shelter free from drafts, they should be fine. I have some breeds with large combs that I move to a warmer area when temps remain below 15F for any length of time.

Summer heat can be much more stressful than the cooler temperatures of autumn.

I would think any birds who have been ill or are ill should be isolated, treated, and kept in moderate temperatures.

 

[krstng]

Healthy, winter-hardy chicken breeds are cold-adapted; they do not experience the cold as we do. If yours have dry shelter free from drafts, they should be fine. I have some breeds with large combs that I move to a warmer area when temps remain below 15F for any length of time. 

Summer heat can be much more stressful than the cooler temperatures of autumn. 

I would think any birds who have been ill or are ill should be isolated, treated, and kept in moderate temperatures. 

Thanks, I just went to close then in their coop and the chicken that is sick again is really bad again now. She got sick first, then got the others sick. They've been on antibiotics for a week, plus vitamins, probiotics, and electrolytes. And I used vet rx a few times. The others are doing great. But she's been sneezing again since yesterday and is now wheezing again really bad. She also hasn't been laying and is very pale. I have her separated, I hate to, but I may have to put her down. I don't know why she keeps getting sick but I can't have her keep getting the others sick.
But thanks for the info. They did seem to have a hard time in the heat. So they will be OK without a heat lamp or other type of heat source.( like I've heard about these hearing pads you put under the floor, like for dog houses) Right now they just have a small coop to sleep in inside a larger pin. They also like going under their coop which is partially walled. I thought about building a larger coop, but now I'm wondering if it would be better to keep them in the smaller one so they can share body heat.

 

[allpeepedout]

In general, heat is a much higher risk to your chickens than cold. Chickens do not need or benefit from supplemental winter heat, with the exception of risk of frostbite to large-combed breeds as I noted. Adding heat is not doing your birds any favor. They are much more apt to suffer and die of overheating than cold. If they are panting and lifting their wings up, they are getting too hot, and a shut-up coop in summertime (and in winter, to clear out moisture) needs excellent ventilation. 1 square foot of ventilation per chicken is recommended. They may tend to snuggle up together on the roost regardless of coop size.

I don't know what your climate is, but I run a fan for mine in the coop when temps are in the mid-80s and above. At temperatures higher than 95 / humid, they can really suffer and be at serious risk without adequate shade and cooling. They are perfectly comfortable at winter temps in 20s and 30s, and even teens, and people keep many winter hardy breeds happily at lower temps. Think of your chickens like cows or horses. They don't need ski coats!

It sounds like you have done a lot to try to resolve the illness. Maybe post in the Diseases sub forum to try to get some more help? Good luck. I'd make sure your coop has enough ventilation and that temperatures stay comfortable in the summer.

 

[krstng]

In general, heat is a much higher risk to your chickens than cold. Chickens do not need or benefit from supplemental winter heat, with the exception of risk of frostbite to large-combed breeds as I noted. Adding heat is not doing your birds any favor. They are much more apt to suffer and die of overheating than cold. If they are panting and lifting their wings up, they are getting too hot, and a shut-up coop in summertime (and in winter, to clear out moisture) needs excellent ventilation. 1 square foot of ventilation per chicken is recommended. They may tend to snuggle up together on the roost regardless of coop size.

I don't know what your climate is, but I run a fan for mine in the coop when temps are in the mid-80s and above. At temperatures higher than 95 / humid, they can really suffer and be at serious risk without adequate shade and cooling. They are perfectly comfortable at winter temps in 20s and 30s, and even teens, and people keep many winter hardy breeds happily at lower temps. Think of your chickens like cows or horses. They don't need ski coats!

It sounds like you have done a lot to try to resolve the illness. Maybe post in the Diseases sub forum to try to get some more help? Good luck. I'd make sure your coop has enough ventilation and that temperatures stay comfortable in the summer.

Thank you!! Yeah I'm going to try posting under that category again. Just that one chicken is even worse this morning.