How to keep chickens warm in the winter

[chickennuggt]

Is the garage attached to the house?

No need for heating a coop in Central Michigan(thank you for adding your location!).
You might want a heated waterer tho.
Oh, and.... Welcome to BYC! @chickennuggt

Thank you, do they sell heated waterers at TSC?

 

[Northwest PA chicken dad]

Ventilation is high priority as long as they are fully feathered I agree heat does more harm than good I have flat panel heaters in the coop that I use in very extreme cases I'm talking -20 and below with no wind I've used twice in 5 years but cross ventilation above the roost bars and deep litter bedding I've never had any problems and feeding a lot of protein in cold months helps too warm oatmeal mash with plenty of protein mixed as long as they are dry they'll be fine our coop in the middle of winter can get to 0 to 10 inside most days our 33 mini raptors are very happy. chickens are very adaptable but when the temp inside is 65 degrees and then go outside where it's 20 they will go into shock I learned that the hard way years ago

 

[3KillerBs]

The garage door is right by the coop and no the door doesn't stay open

This is not good.

Chickens need lots and lots of fresh air, not stale air inside a building. They are designed by nature to live outside.

 

[NatJ]

This is not good.

Chickens need lots and lots of fresh air, not stale air inside a building. They are designed by nature to live outside.

I think it depends on how many chickens, and how big the garage is.

When people have a small number of young chicks in their house, we don't worry about them having enough ventilation, because the air space of the entire house is just so big.

One way to judge: does the garage smell like chicken? If so, add ventilation.

 

[aart]

Is the garage attached to the house?

The garage door is right by the coop and no the door doesn't stay open

Pics of the garage set up, in side and out, would help immensely....if you want help.

Thank you, do they sell heated waterers at TSC?

Probably, lots of options out there.
Horizontal nipples are best, IMO, but it takes some practice getting the birds to sue them.

 

[Sally PB]

Thank you, do they sell heated waterers at TSC?

I got a heated dog water bowl there last year. It kept the water from freezing just fine. It was about $40, IIRC. I have seen other kinds of heated waterers there too.

I don't have electricity wired into my coop or run, so I ran a heavy duty construction grade extension cord to the run. It has 3 outlets, so I can have more than just the waterer if I need it.

@aart is right; if you can get your chickens to use a horizontal nipple (HN) waterer, that's the best option. No dripping like a vertical nipple, and the birds don't get as much water on them, which keeps frostbite issues down. My roo is a bit thick and couldn't figure out the HN, so I went back to open water.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Thank you, do they sell heated waterers at TSC?

Yep, several kinds. I prefer the heated base used with a galvanized metal waterer.

Most farm and feed stores will carry something like this, or you can buy on Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HHQDPM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

One other thought, on those reeeeeeealllllllllllly cold days, I treat my girls to a warm breakfast of warm water, their chow, and a few mealworms or a little crack. While it’s really cold and they‘re molting, they might even get a scrambled egg mixed in. They act like they haven’t eaten in days when I bring that bowl full of deliciousness out!