Help Its Getting Cold

[Kovalciks Chickens]

Alright this is my 2nd winter and I would appreciate it if people gave me ideas on how they keep their chickens warm. All my birds have big combs so frost bite is a factor. We have little windows of screen that run along the top of the coop and it is very drafty. Last year we made boxes with lights in them but I only had 5 chickens now with a ton of em idk how to keep em warm. Can someone post ideas.

 

[LynneP]

You're certainly in a cold zone, some thoughts with pics in the link below!

The two big things are keeping water liquid and avoiding direct drafts while maintaining ventilation.
One trick I use when it's unbelievably cold is to leave small apples in the bedding in case there is a power failure and the water in the electric dog bowl freezes..the hens are used to pecking at them.

 

[Kovalciks Chickens]

Quote:
What do the apples do?

 

[woodmort]

Read through this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=421122

 

[Ed62]

My thinking is that if you can't keep the coop draft free (which it seems you'd have a hard time doing), you wouldn't want to keep the coop *too* much warmer than the outside temps, unless it's really *very* cold. Here is my reasoning, which might be all wet:

The difference in the temperature of the draft, and the inside temp - A big difference relates to more problems. Think of the chickens being outside at cold temps, and have no problems doing so. Bringing them into a warm environment with the cold draft equals problems.

The warmer you make it, the more problem you'll have with moisture. The more moisture, the more likely you'll have frostbite.

I have nothing to base my opinions on except possibly common sense (which I might not possess much of).

Ed

 

[Kovalciks Chickens]

well my chickens never go outside in the winter they stay inside and try to stay warm. I just went in the coop and their are icicles hanging from the ceiling so idk what to do. Even if it was 0 degrees outside and a 5 degree difference inside wouldnt they still get frost bitten. I have used vaseline but i have so many birds now thats not really an option.

 

[Ed62]

My first question is "Why are there icicles in the coop? Not enough ventilation?

Ed

 

[Kovalciks Chickens]

too much ventilation cuz we have lil wire screen windows in there and since it rained last night and then the water must have froze so i mean water gets in and its pretty drafty cuz u can see cob webs move from the wind.

 

[Ed62]

Quote:
I did not mean to suggest that the difference leads to frostbite, only that it might cause other problems. Low temps will cause frostbite (therefore I use Vaseline), not the difference between the 2 environments.

Ed

 

[Kovalciks Chickens]

okay cuz it would take me an hour or 2 just to apply vaseline on all my birds they have sheer number so they wont be cold. I just need to protect from frostbite